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Brandy Brandys My Hobby was nominated by his owner Ashley who spends much of her time with the horse she loves! This sorrel Quarter Horse gelding is clearly much more than a "hobby" for Ashley. He is a large part of her life. Here's what Ashley wrote about him: "Brandys My Hobby or "Brandy" is a 19 year old Quarter Horse gelding with an incredible history. Over time and with much training, he accumulated over 500 points and $8,00 with the American Quarter Horse Association, and has qualified for the AQHA world show two times. Brandy is a flashy horse. His face has a very large white blaze, and he has two large rear stockings and a small front sock. Although he is 19, he looks like he is 5 years old. He is in wonderful shape. He has many successful years of showing left in him. "His beauty has brought me so many joys since I've owned him.... This gorgeous horse has a heart of gold. He'd do anything for a small child. Children love him for that simple reason. He has brought me great luck in the showring. ..He is the kind of horse that is a confidence builder ... and has taught me everything I know."
Brandy and Ashley |
Mandy and Baby Dot Mandy and Baby Dot are an adventurous pair. Linda, their owner, sent in a nomination for Mandy (Amanda Jo Starr), her Half Arab. But when I arrived to photograph Mandy, the pair were inseparable. So this painting features both! You many have read about Mandy and Linda in the December 2005 issue of Horse and Rider Magazine, where they were featured in "Your Horse Your Life." Linda's story about her special relationship with Mandy can also be found in Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul II. Linda credits Mandy's constant companionship with helping her through two tough years battling cancer and depression. It's an inspiring story I recommend for everyone! Linda wrote in her nomination: "Mandy is co-founder of Horses of Hope, an Ohio based non-profit that promotes horses and partners in healing for those coping with catastrophic illnesses." As a librarian, Linda has taken Mandy (dressed as a unicorn) to work to the delight of the children in her summer reading program. Horse healer, entertainer and friend. Mandy is a special horse and Linda is a special person. Together they are making a difference.
Mandy and Baby Dot pose with Linda |
Micah Joy is a volunteer at Pegasus Farm, a Therapeutic Riding Center located in Hartville, Ohio. She nominated a dapple gray gelding named Micah, who is owned by the program. Here's what she wrote: "Micah was bought by the farm with his mother. They were both taken from a farm where they were starving and malnourished. He was 4. He came to the farm already full grown, and he was quite aware of his size and our inabilities. "He learned everything that he needed to make him a wonderful horse. He excels as the vaulting horse for the program, and is now only limited by his arthritis in his hocks. He makes a very good therapy horse -- always aware of what his riders are doing. He is calm and patient and beautiful in everything that he does, even if he is just standing in the pasture." Joy bought Micah out from the barn and we had him pose along the walkways that crisscross along the grounds of the farm. Micah could not resist sampling some daylilies in one of the many colorful flower beds. Pegasus Farm is an outstanding therapeutic riding program. Here's an excerpt from their website: "Pegasus was founded in July 1985 to maximize the potential of persons with disabilities. Today 36 horses and ponies carry 190 riders aged from 3 to 73 to new levels of mobility and self-esteem." Learn more at: http://www.pegasusfarm.org/index.php
Joy and Micah |
Lesta and Her Herd Rolling hills greeted us as we drove into southern Ohio looking for Haflinger Fohlen Bauer, where Jacquelyn had promised we would find over 60 Haflingers! I couldn't wait to meet them all! She was right. There were lots of horses! Jacquelyn, my husband Will and I loaded into her golf cart and drove out into the hills! Well, I should say up one GIANT steep hill. I got out to get a better look at the herd of Haflingers, and could see the lead mare, Lesta, taking a good look at me. Then she led the whole band over toward me! I was taking pictures and hoping Lesta and her herd were friendly! They were! And very curious. They all walked over to look at my camera, then climbed further up the hillside, Lesta leading the way. Jacquelyn had written on her nomination, "Our farm has been breeding registered Haflinger horses for over 30 years. Lesta was one of our first imported mares from Austria, and she is a wonderful representation of the breed. She has had 14 foals for us, many still on our farm. We have over sixty Haflingers here, grazing on 200 acres of rolling hills." Jacquelyn also told me Ohio has the largest number of Haflingers in the US. Her home seemed a perfect spot to raise this breed that breed to climb through the mountains of Austria.
Jacquelyn and one of the stallions from Haflinger Fohlen Bauer
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Peanut Peanut, a gentle Belgian mare, is a dream come true for her owner Becky. Becky wrote, "Peanut is the most wonderful thing that could have happened to me. I have always loved draft horses and when I got the opportunity to buy her, I had to do it. She has a long tail, not cropped. She is kind and gentle. We use her in a Therapeutic riding program. "Peanut has kind eyes. She has not always had them. When I first got her she seemed sad. I just kept loving and working with her. I wanted everyone to see what a beautiful horse she is. She is my dream come true." When I was visiting, a curious cat came strolling by. Becky warned me that Peanut enjoys stepping on small things. The cat must have heard to, because it hurried off.
Peanut and Becky |
Fine Details and Friend Fine Details, an Appendix Quarter horse mare, was nominated by her owner Betsy's mother, Donna, who wrote, "Although she is 17 1/2 hands, she always dips her head down to greet our trainer's one year old son." It's true! I met Betsy and Fine Details at their trainer's home to take photos and got to see the special friendship in action. You can see the special relationship picture in the painting above. Donna reports that Fine Details is "so quiet, [the trainer's son] can go in her stall and lie on her when she is lying down....She is a bit of a princess. She does like to lie down a lot." Betsy, who is pictured below with Fine Details, trains with Hank and Dawn Clason of Medina. Donna wrote in her nomination that Fine Details "became a Congress Champion last year and was the leading AQHA Hunter Under Saddle mare in the nation... She moves with a majestic gait and never in a hurry."
Betsy and Fine Details
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Sultry Sonnet and her colt, AR The Soul Patrol When I visited April's farm near New London, Ohio, I was so impressed with the beautiful American Saddlebred horses there. April invited me to take lots of photos, and this painting is based on my favorite shot, which captures Sultry Sonnet with her 2006 colt, AR The Soul Patrol. Sultry Sonnet was April's first broodmare. April wrote, "She had all the qualities that I wanted, except she wasn't proven. I bought her out of a training barn! She has been such a special mare for me. She has that regal beauty that you sometimes see in broodmares where you can see the alertness yet calm and serenity in her eyes. She has proven herself to be a kind and loving mare, and the colt by her side here, AR The Soul Patrol, (Taylor for short) is her second colt. This American Saddlebred mare has been a wonder to own, she has made so many of my dreams come true. "Taylor was born on May 28, 2006, at about 10 p.m. Coincidentally, this was the exact same time and day that Taylor Hicks was announced the winner of American Idol, hence the name AR The Soul Patrol. Taylor is an exceptional colt, and he has been left in tact in the hopes that he will be the future stallion of our breeding program."
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Aarial Aariel, a gray Arabian mare, certainly doesn't appear to be 26 years old! She showed off her classic Arabian beauty posing beside Christine's overflowing flower beds. Christine has great admiration for her friend, Aariel. Here's an excerpt of her nomination: "I have owned Aarial since she was 4 months old, so you could sort of say we grew up together. I was 18 when I purchased her. We've been through thick and thin these last 26 years. She is a Classic in every sense of the word and comes from a very strong, hardy pedigree of Arabians. ...Her grandsire was SX Potentate, a multiple time Top Ten U.S. Formal Driving Champion. SX lived to the age of 30. "Aarial has been a 'show girl,' a trail horse, a companion and a best friend to me over the years. We trail rode up until she reached the age of 25, when she developed sever arthritis in her knee. She is now 'living the good retired life' with her pasture-mate, Hank, a 16+ hand Paint gelding who turned 20 this year."
Aarial and Christine |
Gable's Secret Sun is a fabulous, big Morgan gelding, who reinforced what I learned when photographing Morgans in Texas.... they are super photogenic show offs. And I love them! Here's what JC wrote about her special horse.... "I grew up with horses, but went 29 years without owning one. Sunny is my first horse back in the saddle so to speak and I got an amazing one! He is as beautiful as he is funny, personable, ornery, sensitive and talented. He came from Blue Gable Farm (thus Gable's), was conceived through a gate unbeknownst to his owner (who didn't even know her mare was pregnant)(thus Secret), and on his first birthday when they named him, there was an eclipse of the sun (thus Sun). His name fits him to a tee! He plays with me, runs with me and follows me around like a puppy, but is an absolute beauty and show-off! " JC and Sunny demonstrated his antics and playfulness when I visited! He is a character! And a beautiful horse!
JC and Gable's Secret Sun
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Potentially Famous Potentially Famous is a beautiful, muscular quarter horse stallion that glimmered in his sunlit paddock. Galloping around his enclosure he was followed by a cloud of dust. He paused for a moment, and I captured this pose as the cloud of dust settled at his feet amid shadows from the fence rails. Jon and Leslie, his owners, greeted us cheerfully when we arrived at their farm. The are so proud of Potentially Famous ("Stevie"). And when I saw him I realized why. He is an amazing quarter horse. Here's what Leslie wrote in his nomination: "Stevie" is a little bay stallion that is as gorgeous inside as he is outside. When we take this gentleman to shows, it is amazing how many people come to us and say, "He is Gorgeous!" (Literally, these are comments made every time we have him out.) We have never had the money to promote him nationally, and doesn't even matter. He will always have a home on our farm, and most importantly in our hearts! Coincidentally, when I read the piece in the Corral that said "Beautiful Horses of Ohio Project," I had to smile as I remembered what his previous owners listed in the sale catalogue: 'You have to see him in person to realize how beautiful he is!'"
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Walnut Creek Sun Walnut Creek Sun is a dark chestnut Rocky Mountain gelding with a flaxen mane. Linda, his owner and rider, praised his wonderful gait and natural ability to cover long distances with ease. While we visited, Walnut Creek Sun seemed to float around the pasture, happy to exhibit his wonderful movement. He held his head high, proudly ruling over his pasture. I wanted to capture his fluid movement in his painting so I painted him flowing across the canvas. Linda wrote, "He is a beautiful horse inside and out. He is the standard of his breed and has been well recognized in the Rocky Mountain Association. He is my friend and I would love him [to be part of the project]. Your work captures their essence."
Linda and Walnut Creek Sun |
Wildfire
Feisty is the word I'd use to describe Wildfire. This 20ish Arabian gelding raced around the small enclosure with glee -- showing off for his photo shoot. He took a moment to scratch an itchy spot near his shoulder, and I thought this pose highlighted his fine features. Sherry, his owner, nominated Wildfire. "I am a Camp Director at YMCA Camp Tippecanoe. We have a herd of about 20 horses. Most all of them are beautiful. But one in particular captured my heart. This little Arabian came to camp, skinny, sad and so scared. We didn't have him long when he impaled himself on something in a field and seriously inured his leg. During this time he and I bonded. I now own him, though he is still part of the camp's equine program. He healed well and is such a beautiful little horse. "When I'm on his back and he looks over his shoulder at something, it's just enough to break your heart -- he has THE kindest eyes in the world."
Sherry and Wildfire
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Patches and Joe Jack Because my first pony, Buttermilk, was a black and white paint, I was excited when I received Mary Beth's nomination for Patches, who she described as being black and white - lots of both! Imagine my delight when we arrived at Mary Beth's and found not one, but two brightly colored black and white paints! She had recently added the second, Joe Jack, to her herd. The two paints were fast friends and gladly posed in the grassy pasture set in in beautiful, hilly southern Ohio. Mary Beth wrote that Patches was a PMU foal, although she did not realized it when she bought her. "She was 7 and had apparently been shuffled around a lot before I found her. She is a gentle, loving little horse who has not had much of a chance to prove herself, except as a broodmare. Three weeks of training with an excellent little trainer and now I am able to ride Patches and expect to ride many fun miles from here on out!"
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Aramis Aramis, a big chestnut Trakehner gelding, was nominated by both his owner, Lisa, and her daughter, Jessica. Jessica wrote, "He is by far one of the most beautiful animals I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. His lovable, inquisitive nature makes him like a little brother. When a child dreams of their own magical, phantom horse, he is the unbridled beast they think of." This painting is of the magical, phantom horse, flying with tremendous speed --like a blur you are not sure exists.
Lisa and Aramis |
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BeautifulHorsesof Ohio
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Knightz on Broadway It was stormy the day I met Ashley and her Arabian stallion, Knightz on Broadway, and I had my umbrella along. Just for fun we held it up for a colorful backdrop for some photos. Knightz on Broadway didn't mind at all! And he looks striking - like a Broadway star - posing in front of it! Here's what Ashley wrote about Knightz on Broadway (aka "PeeWee"): "PeeWee is the epitome of what the Arabian horse is all about. Beauty, grace, and the 'in your tent' personality. Striking jet black with a white star, he attracts little children at horse shows with his beauty and they think he is 'The Black Stallion.' His gentleness with them is a beauty to behold in itself." Knightz on Broadway is a classic Arabian! I hope you get to meet him one day.
Ashley and Knightz on Broadway |
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Andalusians
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MORE PAINTINGS Home / Commissions / Newsletter / About the Artist / Contact / Blog Copyright 2013. Images cannot be copied or reproduced in any way without permission of the artist.
MORE PAINTINGS Home / Commissions / Newsletter / About the Artist / Contact / Blog Copyright 2013. Images cannot be copied or reproduced in any way without permission of the artist.
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