These three horses seem dwarfed by the huge barn door. The vast cool, dark interior of the barn contrasts witih the bright white rolling door, providing strong contrasting colors – mirroring the contrasting colors of the horses.
I first met these three while working on the Beautiful Horses of New York series many years ago. They are loved by their owner Amy, who also likes to dabble in equine art! The mare on the left is was an off track thoroughbred Amy rescued and rehomed. Next in line is a flashy paint mare, Rain, who is Amy’s main riding horse. The leopard appaloosa gelding is Dream. He is the reason I visited Amy’s farm! Dream was in my original Beautiful Horses of New York painting from the farm along with Wildfire, who sadly has passed away.
I loved the story about Amy and Dream, so I’m going to share it again:
DREAM
“When I was little my dream horse was a leopard appaloosa with lots of spots. Aside from their coloring appys were known to be a stubborn lot . . . much like myself. SO it was a breed I identified with.
“I first met Dream when he was a foal by his dam’s side. He was a little appaloosa with little leopard spots. Of the 3 like him he was the smallest and saddest looking. He was weak looking, skinny and lacking the muscle definition of a colt his age. So at 4 months old he came to live with me. His name was Jazz then. However only four months after finding my dream horse, I injured my back at work and shortly after found out I was expecting my second child. Being physically unable to now care for the horses I had to find homes for Dream, my first horse Doode and the older mare that I had taken in.
“Years went by with no horses in my life. I would always stop and admire any one that I came across over those years, wishing and hoping that I could have one again some day. I tried to buy one, another leopard appy, but the money was just not there. So I gave up.
“It all changed six years later at the Fair.
“My first stop was always the arena. I would sit and watch as the horses walked, jogged and cantered their way through their classes. A beautiful Leopard Appaloosa caught my eye, there was my “dream horse” if ever I could have one again. He was placing well taking first and second in his classes. He was tall, strong, and well muscled, almost the spitting image of Prince Plaudit. I could have sworn he looked at me from the line up in the middle of the ring. His face looked familiar and I wondered if maybe he was my Jazz.
“I walked through the fair thinking about the gelding still wondering. The name announced was Dream Catcher but that meant nothing. Maybe it was fate finding him here. Over the years in my ‘dreams’ I had always seen him coming back to me at a show or some large event. I couldn’t wait any longer. I went back to the barns to find him. I would know him by his spots, his 2 paw prints and his distinct spots down his blaze. My heart raced as I reached the last aisle. I was about to give up. He must have gone home I thought, but then I heard a familiar nicker and there he was. He popped his head over the door and watched me walk up almost as if he knew. As if it was meant to be. In talking to his rider who was leasing him at the time, I found that he was for sale. My heart sank to the floor. I was in no position to buy a horse but there was no way I could let him go again. I got a loan and within 2 weeks, Dream was back home with me. It will be 10 years this August that Dream came back to me. We have learned a lot together, he has seen me through some hard times but through it all I promised him that he would never leave again. He lives the good life, in a big pasture with two of his own family. He taught both of my kids to ride, and though he is as stubborn as he is smart, I would not trade him for the world. He is my Dream horse.”
~ AMY
Here’s another photo of the new painting, In the Barnyard.
In the Barnyard
40×28″, oil on masonite
$4,480
To purchase a painting, email Karen at kmbrenner@hotmail.com or call 330-263-1023