A Sure Cure for the Winter Blahs

Heading out with the camera never seems to fail to cheer me up if the weather is getting to me. I'm going to post some pics of the 'kids' while I'm working away at various WIPs. The commission currently on the easel is coming along well, and hopefully it won't be too long before I show it to the client for input on the progress before moving on to the final stages. I happen to know this particular client likes to see photos of the 'kids' and by the sounds of it, this horse I'm painting would like to hang out with my boys!


I've started working with Gracie, and it's so far been a reminder of why this time of year is not great for breaking horses! We had quite a cold snap last week, and the normally spunky Miss Grace was all the more exuberant! I'm taking it very slowly with her, as that's the whole reason it's me doing the job. She has a growth issue with one of her pasterns so my goal is to get those early lessons done without causing too much stress to the joint. At the training centre, things would proceed more quickly.


Friday was a 'spa' day for Gracie - she got her feet trimmed, and I pulled her unruly mane so she looks more like a Thoroughbred! The vet was also out to float her teeth and remove a couple of wolf teeth - it was the sedation required for that which allowed me to pull her mane (*not* her favourite thing). I'm not sure most would entertain the thought of a visit to the dentist as part of a spa day, but, well, that's just the way it worked out!

The boys are having a lot of fun these days. They're opposites, as potential racehorses: Leo (above) is often quite happy to watch Spider/Batty (my name/owner's name!) tear around, but when he gets going, wow, he can move. So Spider is our sprinter, and Leo will be the one coming from behind! And Leo has a registered name now - officially, he's "Jultagi." First name choice of "Sharp Dressed Man" was rejected because it was deemed to have 'commercial, creative or artistic significance.' I wondered about that, but hoped it might get through. I think Jultagi is rather clever - it's the Korean art of tight-rope walking, and Leo is by Strut the Stage, out of Twine Flies...get it?

Spider's first name choice was rejected for the same reason - it was "Bat Out of Hell" (hence the 'Batty' barn name, because that's the way he tears around!). I'd warned the owners the Jockey Club might not approve it, so we'll see if they've come up with a second choice!

Spider