Soul Humming

Appalooosa

While visiting the Kentucky Horse Park this past month, I saw a wonderful Parade of Breeds which featured several of the different breeds of horses that live at the park. One of the most beautiful was the appaloosa.

This breed has been around for longer than most. In America, there beginnings are chiefly as a horse of the Native American tribe the Nez Perce. Most Appaloosas are identified by their colorful, spotted coat, striped hooves, mottled skin (most prounounced around their eyes and muzzle) and white sclera around the eye, like a human's eye. Appaloosas can have brown, blue or hazel eyes, and an individual horse may have eyes of two different colors.

I fell in love with the appaloosa we saw. The rider was so awesome. She worked the horse as if it were an extension of herself. They were excellent. And, I decided to work up a painting of the horse as a gift to my friend who had watched my house and animals while we were away. She really loves horses so I thought this would be a perfect thank you for her.

As I didn't bring my acrylic paints with me, I used my mom's oils. If you aren't used to painting with oils it is a bit tricky. It is just completely backwards to working with acrylics. So while I liked where the painting was going, I got frustrated working in with oils. As I was leaving the house after painting, my mom asked how it had been going. I said not so great and didn't she want to go work on piece and fix it for me. 

When I got home she said she thought the painting was well on its way but that she had tightened it up a bit. And boy did she. It really looked great after Mom came in and eased the form along. When you are working in a studio that is not your own, with paints you are not familiar with, different brushes, etc. it's just not the same as sitting at your usual space with all your good old things. So it was so wonderful to have Mom's help. We worked on it a couple more times each and I think it turned out to be very lovely. And my friend was crazy about.

Riding

And God took a handful of southerly wind, blew his breath over it, and created the horse. - Bedouin Legend

Statue at the grave of Man of War at the Lexington Horse Park

A Friesian, at the Horse Park, which is a rare breed,   

with only about 1000 in North America.

If I weren't in need of serious butt-transplant surgery, I would tell you how much fun I had riding over the hills and rocks of Southern Illinois for four hours straight today. It was amazing but I am in fear of having to sit on the plane back to Cali very soon. My hiney my never recover.

My sister and brother-in-law are serious horse people.

My dear sister, Beth, on the trail

My wonderful brother-in-law, Philip

They love to ride for hour upon hour. I love horses and grew up with them.

But I haven't ridden that long, at one time, ever in my life. Four hours over rocks, through creeks, and under a canopy of glorious green trees. It was heavenly. Except my sister forgot to tell me that Spirit, her horse I was on, is terrified of mud after getting seriously stuck in it up to her chest once. I realized this hard fact when one minute I was on the trail then the next minute I was eating tree limbs. We worked it out, she and I. I had to snap out of my leisurely state and remember how to ride a huge, frightened animal, with a mind of its own. It was a bit of a job for a little bit but I love a challenge. And my sister told me I did a good job, so that was nice. Doesn't everyone like it when their big sister approves?

And, of course, Cowboy Tom, was there...

boy, i sure think that my husband's cute! :0)

 

Cherokee and Tom

 

And the adorable Martha Jane led us on the trail. She grew up near where we rode and really knows her way around the woods.

and sweet Daisy, my sister's dog, stayed right with us every step of the way. even when we came across a rattler in the middle of the trail.

It was a perfectly lovely day. I may never be able to walk again, but it was fabulous. Ooooh! My mama just brought me an enormous banana split. I may feel better sooner than I thought!