Horse Paintings Blog - March 2011

Keegan J
Posted March 24, 2011

Keegan was nominated by his owner Emily and his friend Larrisa. They both wrote glowingly of Keegan’s accomplishments and how he has touched the lives of his fans.

Emily: “I am giving Keegan a nom because #1 he is mine, #2 he is beautiful, #3 he's got personality, & #4 I think he is a great ambassador of the breed. Keegan is a very tall, modern built Friesian with over 3 ft of mane. He has done the Hoosier Horse Fair expo for the last 3 years putting on a great performance each time. . . .He is an amazing trail horse. Have taken him all over our local state forest. He is a local celeb. You say his name or say the big black horse & most people know who he is. Keegan also works at the Noble Horse Theatre in Chicago IL where he performs in their version of The Nut Cracker & they are currently doing quadrille. Keegan is just an all around amazing horse. He has a playful personality & he loves children. To learn more about Keegan go to www.trailsendranch1.com or just Google Friesian Stallion Keegan!”

Larrisa: “Keegan has been like the little brother I never had.  I've trail ridden him.  I've ridden him in the amazing ancient riding hall in Chicago. 

At the Hoosier Horse Fair 2009 Emily and Keegan gave a "pony ride" to a mentally handicapped volunteer that was totally smitten with Keegan.  All three days he lingered around talking to us and petting Keegan.   Emily told this man to bring his riding clothes Sunday afternoon because she was going to let him ride Keegan.

The next day he showed up dressed like a cowboy and beaming. Keegan being the perfect gentleman even as a six year old stallion stood stock still while we got the fella up on his back and walked quiet as a mouse in the round pen while Emily and her husband led him. 

People gathered three deep to watch because everyone recognized the fella.  He said he'd been volunteering at the HHF for eight years.”

Keegan is an awesome horse! It was so fun to see him put on his “photographer’s special” show for us! He is a perfect Friesian!

posted by Karen Brenner

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posted by Karen Brenner

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Kodak Moment
Posted March 22, 2011

MM Perfect Kodak Moment is a Tobiano Buckskin Missouri Fox Trotter, and might I add, a real sweet heart! His family, Barry and Deanna, love to go trail riding, and “Kody” is the perfect mount.

Deanna writes, Kody is a unique color for the MFT breed. His color draws people to him and then his personality wins them over! He is a prince in horse clothing and is loved by all who meet him.

And true to his "Kodak" name, he is extremely photogentic!

posted by Karen Brenner

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Come see the
Beautiful Horses of Indiana Paintings!
All 50+ paintings will be at Eiteljorg Museum's
Women in Art Market
in Indianapolis on
March 26, 2011.

Find out more here.

Tuscani Dundee
Posted March 17, 2011

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Did you know that St. Patrick, whose day we celebrate every March 17, was actually born in Wales? Wales is also the home to a fabulous breed of horses, the Welsh Cob. Today's painting features Tuscani Dundee, who was imported from Wales a weanling 18 years ago.

Lisa, Dundee's owner, wrote, "He is my very own Da Vinci horse." Upon reading those words, images of flowing drawings depicting raging horses, flaring nostrils, boldly emerging from the famous artist's drawing board popped into my mind, and of course I was absolutely including Dundee in the Beautiful Horses of Indiana project.

I have to say, I LOVE this horse! I could have watched him run around his hillside pasture for days. He is beautiful!

Here's more of how LIsa - who does get to spend days with him -- describes Dundee: "He is the embodiment of the Welsh Cob. He has all of the fire and spirit of the Welsh pony, coupled with the power and strength of the Welsh Cob. His visual image is smoothly and powerfully blended with incredible muscular curves and lines. His type and characteristics so closely resemble the ideal that the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America selected an everyday pasture photo of him to use on their website as their example of a Section D Welsh Cob. Non-horsey visitors have asked, 'Does he work out?' And, 'Do you curl his hair?' Visitors at the Hoosier horse fair have said, 'I came back this year just to see him.'"

According to Lisa, "One judge stated, 'He has the best head in all of North America." Take a look at this photo with Lisa, Dundee and Lisa's daughter Amanda.

Lisa wraps up her description of Dundee, stating, "He is my very own Da Vinci horse, my living piece of art, and . . . . he makes my heart sing!"

posted by Karen Brenner

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Miss Mary
Posted March 15, 2011

(This entry is reprinted from my newsletter. If you'd like to subscribe, click here.)

You are the first to see the newest painting in the Beautiful Horses of Indiana series
featuring Miss Mary who lives at New Beginnings Animal Refuge (NBAR) in New Salisbury, IN. And, as you can see, she’s not a horse, but a mule! And one  very popular mule at that! After receiving FIVE nominations for Miss Mary, she was shoe in for the project. And because all her nominators signed up for my email newsletter, it’s only appropriate to unveil her painting in this venue

Meeting Miss Mary was a treat. Rolling into the farm we saw pastures dotted with equines of all sizes and ages. Donkeys, Quarter Horses, Arabians, crosses . . .
What a menagerie! And then we saw Miss Mary, calmly waiting for whatever the day would bring. She’d seen it all already . . . .

Before being rescued, she was horribly thin and abused; Miss Mary was no longer wanted. She had been trucked from one sale to the next — rejected by all. Unsalable. Becky, her new owner, explained that white mules and horses are not wanted by the meat market due to their propensity for melanoma. There came a day when Miss Mary was to be put down in 24 hours. But hold the phone! Through a network of caring people a home was provided for Miss Mary at New Beginnings Animal Refuge.

Once she reached her new home Miss Mary, who is around 17 years old, flourished. This 16+ hh mule became an inspiration to volunteers and a companion to her fellow equine refugees. One fan wrote, “She has quickly become the QUEEN of NBAR and has an extensive following!” Miss Mary is the tallest mule I’ve met — her withers rose above the top of my head! I was amazed by not only her height and distinct, angular mule form, but also how docile she was. She was clearly at home at NBAR.

Miss Mary’s painting will soon be added to my Beautiful Horses of Indiana web page and featured on my blog. But if you’d like to see the painting in person — along with the 50 other works in this new series — come to the exhibit! The paintings will be at the Eiteljorg Museum’s Women in Art Market, which will include paintings, fiber art, ceramics and more from 40 regional women artists, from 10 AM - 5 PM on Saturday, March 26, 2011. The Eiteljorg Museum  The museum is located at 500 West Washington St., Indianapolis, IN.

posted by Karen Brenner

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Grin and Bear It
Posted March 10, 2011

Grin and Bear It is pure Appaloosa! He has the most wonderful spotted coat pattern plus neat stripes along his sides, which I'd never seen. His owner Chris calls that "ribbing." How cool!

Grin and Bear it and Chris are part of Red Chaps & Purple Hats -- an equestrian chapter of the Red Hat Society! Chris explains that "instead of going to theaters and out to dinner, we work our horses to prepare to be ready for parades. We also trail ride and drill team. Red Hats and Purple Chaps was started by Indiana resident Jane Howard."

I think that the only way to make Grin and Bear It even flashier, would be a red-hat-and-purple-chap attired rider!

Grin and Bear It's painting is part of the "Beautiful Horses of Indiana" series. Check out that special section of my website which showcases paintings from the series. More paintings will be added each week until the series is complete. (Just a few more paintings to go, and all 50+ will be done!)

posted by Karen Brenner

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Jewel
Posted March 7, 2011

Jewel (14 Karat Gold) is an Arabian/Oldenburgh sport horse.

Her owner Christine writes, "Jewel is a very proud mare who is a smaller yet powerfully built ladies/youth sport horse mount. Only 15.1 hh she carries herself like a 16.2 horse."

Jewel was in foal to imported Hanoverian, Dacaprio, when I visited. In her painting you can see she was due to give birth soon! She was not pleased to pose -- perhaps not wishing to appear quite so pregnant in her painting. But I thought she looked lovely as a mother-to-be.

Jewel's painting is part of my Beautiful Horses of Indiana series. The "Beautiful Horses of Indiana" web page showcases paintings from the series. More paintings will be added each week.

posted by Karen Brenner

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Dun New York Style
Posted March 3, 2011

Dun New York Style is a paint stallion with a super calm demeanor and laid back personality. His owner, William, was happy to show off this great looking horse! And happy to explain how Dun New York Style came to live in Indiana:

"I will tell you how that happened. I was in Arizona and went to look at a filly for an anniversary present for my wife. I got to the breeder and there I saw him. Just 2 months old and he stood like a seasoned stallion full of confidence. I just had to bring him home and he has been my friend ever since. He is so gentle and easy to handle. I swear he gets better looking every year. Last year he sired 3 foals. All of them have his great personality and looks. I plan on having him stand at stud here in Indiana for many years. We are expecting a foal this year from the filly I went to look at when I got him."

When we arrived at his place in Indiana to take photographs, William jumped in his golf cart Dun New York Style, clipped to a lead rope, followed him calmly out to his big grassy pasture. Turned loose, Dun New York Style calmly posed for still shots, then hung out with us. He liked us better than the prospect of grazing or running free. William even brought a mare over -- and that got Dun New York Style's attention -- a little! He's just a calm sort of horse, which is a real asset for Western riding!

The "Beautiful Horses of Indiana" web page showcases paintings from the series. More will be added each week.

posted by Karen Brenner

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Dainy Blue Lena
Posted March 1, 2011

When Patricia nominated Dainty Blue Lena for the Beautiful Horses of Indiana project she wrote, "Some have said [she's] the most beautiful horse they've ever seen." Note to anyone nominating horses for future projects: be sure to include that sentence. Of course, I'll want to include your horse!

Dainty Blue Lena is not only a beautiful Quarter Horse, she's also very spirited! Her pasture was a rather steep hillside, which made for some very interesting shots. I like how this painting captures her perfect roan coloring and powerful movements.

The "Beautiful Horses of Indiana" web page showcases paintings from the series. More will be added each week.

posted by Karen Brenner

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Come see the
Beautiful Horses of Indiana Paintings!
All 50+ paintings will be at Eiteljorg Museum's
Women in Art Market
in Indianapolis on
March 26, 2011.

Find out more here.