Saturday 10 January 2009

Dancing ponies and Driving ponies


My other prints have arrived! They are just lovely! The first pair are from Victoria Usova - you can check out her Etsy shop here. I've always loved her whimsical work, especially her flying horses. One day, when I'm rich I'd like to comission her to paint my cavalcade of children and ponies. I think that would be wonderful - all the kids playing their musical instruments, and the horses with their names on their necks, like carousel horses. Hmmm, but since I'm not rich, maybe I'll have to have a go myself!

The last print is from an artist who I've admired for a very long time. Ellen Morrow paints many things, but I especially love her crows. I am lucky enough to have a little ACEO original of hers, a moonlit unicorn, but I really covet her crows. Unfortunately, some of my best customers also collect her work, and I have never felt comfortable bidding against my customers on ebay. I would hate to upset them!

I should have been painting this week, but instead I have been working with Marlene, the little Dartmoor pony. She will be 4 this May, and is just the most amazing little mare. So keen to work, and eager to please, she is a joy to handle. I have been long reining her for the last three days, and she has taken to it like a duck to water. We have been out in the field doing tight figure of eights, and lots of transitions, and I reckon if I had a little exercise cart she would be driving in another week.
But I haven't, so we will ride her out instead, if her bit arrives. She is working in her halter here, though she is bitted. It has been minus 4 for the last few days here, and it just seems to me that the quickest way to put a pony off being bridled is to put a freezing metal bit into a sensitive mouth, so I'm waiting for a new rubber snaffle to arrive.

Looking at these pics of her made me nostalgic for my old mare Phoenix. I dug out a couple of photos of her, and have to say the resemblance is uncanny! Marlene is narrower, but she is after all only 3 years old, and will likely broaden a little. She shows all the signs of being a worthy sucessor to Phoenix.



Don't forget! Blog Giveaway ends tomorrow evening ( UK time), so get your entries in quickly!

11 comments:

Vita said...

I am thrilled that they arrived safe and sound and into such a horse loving home! I love reading your blog

Jennifer MacNeill said...

Ha! I just bought the same Ellen Morrow print!! How funny is that?
Love the old photos and the new one of you and Marlene.
~Jen

Debra Keirce said...

Beautiful prints, and beautiful horses / ponies! You and your daughter look smashing atop them!

Cat (darklingwoods) said...

oh my goodness your pony is the cutest ever, I'm glad you've had time to spend with him! And what lovely new artwork aren't those packages the best treat to receive?

Kathleen Coy said...

You got some beautiful art there!
And Marlene does look a lot like Phoenix, they are so cute!!

Julia Guthrie said...

Those are beautiful...& I covet some of Ellen's work myself! lol

Gwen Buchanan said...

I admire the attention and loving care you give your ponies.. they are lovely... and yes indeed I can see why you would be nostalgic about Phoenix... quite a resemblance...

Emily said...

What a treat! Your birds are pretty delicate too though! Oh n that pony is quite the cutie!

Jess said...

Is that a photo of you with Pheonix? I love your prints you've just bought, scrummy!x

Blackfeatherfarm said...

You should offer prints of the last photo, just enchanting. Both of those little mares are adorable !

Jennifer said...

What a beautiful pony!

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