Them's The Breaks

Left-handed drawing of Briggi as a baby...she may look sweet!

I have often joked that when it comes to horses, I am more of a danger to myself on the ground than on board. It's not that I'm a terribly good rider, I just seem to have a certain degree of self-preservation that comes with riders as we get older, the cliché being, we don't bounce like we used to. It's not as if I avoid potential trouble – let's face it, I like to ride green OTTBs, not necessarily the most bomb-proof choice of mount in the world. The thing is, the ones I'm handling around the farm are younger and usually sillier than my riding horses, and coming off stall rest. Most of the time they are more of a danger to themselves than to me. But...as with anything, it just takes once to change that!

Selfie with glasses and cast?

It's been a month now, since Briggi Wild Child slammed me into the doorframe of her stall as she bolted in, catching my arm and fracturing (and dislocating) it in the process. That would be my right arm, of course. Can't write, can't draw or paint, can't do stalls – all  the things I do to make money. Can't ride. So, I'm paying someone to do my stalls, and paying someone to ride the princess. Now that part, at least, is not a bad thing – as much as I miss riding my mare, we will both benefit from the training she is getting right now. Financially, well, it hurts more than the arm! Naturally my truck needed $300 worth of maintenance, and my teeth more...please insert whiny face here.

 I'm still able to do quite a bit in the barn, and my poor parents have stepped up to help out (I'm trying to tell them it's like a free gym membership). Just for fun, I've been playing with drawing and painting with my left hand, and that's actually gone better than expected.  I'm even going to put some of the decent ones on my website to see if I might be able to sell some, and help pay for the growing pile of unexpected expenses. They'll be in the $25 range...just might be a few weeks before I can mail them out!

Left-handed Leo. Leo is bored, bored, bored, not being ridden!

So, here's your chance to own what I'm sure will be a valuable collector's item in the future, haha. If you'd like to commission the most affordable portrait you will ever have the opportunity to have me paint, drop me a line at lindashantz *at* gmail.com, or send me a message on my Facebook page!

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Loose Ends

Zippy, Lounging ~ 5 x 7 oil on panel.

I've been spending a lot of time glaring at my easel of late - knowing there is work to be done, but feeling as if I'm just going to make a mess of anything I touch...kind of a reverse-Midas thing, where everything turns to muck.  The oil pastel commission I've been working on is in a good place (by which I mean more than not in my studio, haha), and just getting a rest from my eyes before I put the final touches on it, so I felt I needed to at least be making an attempt with the paints.

My solution has been to finish up some studies that were abandoned somewhere along the road. Some of them were just done during one of my daily painting projects, so they got a day's work but I always wanted to go back to them.  One I actually started from scratch (how brave, haha).  One just involved cutting down and stretching over new stretcher bars.  All I figured I could play with, and if I turned them to muck, nothing much would be lost except a bit more of my self-esteem!  ;-)

At the top is Zippy as a baby - he still has that look of owning the world!  Another study from the same time frame has found a new home, with artist friend Elizabeth McCrindle – it's always an extra honour when another artist likes my work enough to want it!  I have one of Elizabeth's paintings hanging on my studio wall. You can see the paintings in a blog post she wrote when she received them - thanks again, Elizabeth!

Einstein ~ 10 x 8 oil on canvas.

Milwaukee Brew ~ 8 x 10 oil on canvas.

Two of the paintings I was playing with a palette I haven't used much, favoured by artist Anders Zorn.  It's a limited palette of ivory black, cad red, yellow ochre and titanium white.  Admittedly I didn't push it much, but it was interesting just the same.  Both are studies of Thoroughbred stallions – Einstein (BRZ), sire of Sheldon, and Milwaukee Brew.

The last one is the restretch - I did this one as part of my daily painting projects, from a photo taken at Saratoga.  Now, I need to get these up on my website, in hopes that they, too, will find new homes!

Ready ~ 10 x 8 oil on linen.

 Oh, wait - one more!  This is Victor, a little study I started last year and finished up while I still had the Zorn palette open.  Catching a breeze on a warm spring day - which I hope we will see again, eventually!

Victor, Catching a Breeze  ~ 6 x 4 oil on canvas.

Just a PS - it's interesting to note the difference between my usual limited palette, which was used on the racehorse painting, compared with the stallion and Victor studies.  Which do you like better? I'm a time and place kind of person - I have to shake things up now and again, and studies are a great way to try out new things.

You've Come A Long Way, Baby....

They all look so sweet when they're sleeping!  5 x 7 oil on panel, sold.

Maybe it all started the day he was conceived - I took Twine up to be bred to Strut the Stage (standing at Colebrook at the time), baby Gracie at her side.  They didn't heed my warnings that she could be tough, not taking proper precautions, and she double-barreled him in the chest.  Poor Strut! I'm sure that did nothing for his self-esteem!  Anyway...about 338 days later, she had a cute little bay baby boy.  This colt had the slickest coat I've ever seen on a foal - clearly he thought he was landing in Florida, not Southwestern Ontario. He made me drag the vet out to tube him his first meal, because he couldn't figure out how to nurse in an acceptable time frame. And so began our series of adventures, which included a black eye for me.  Well, at least he didn't break my nose, like Hugo!

Lean, mean...well he wasn't mean...and fell a little short of being a racing machine! At Woodbine in 2013.

Close...but not quite (he's the one on the outside).

At the track, Leo started off showing promise...though he turned in to a wildman as a three-year-old.  More exploits were added to his list of accomplishments, like running off with his trainer, who gallops her own (the clockers even got a time on him!  No question he was fast!), escaping from his stall and running off down the shedrow, and antics behind the gate on race day which included dropping his rider and taking off, through the barrier and onto the harness racing track.  His best effort was a second place finish where he just missed winning, but then he hurt himself, and was retired.  And for some crazy reason, I said I'd take him.

That was a year and a half ago.  This is Leo today:



First day jumping from a canter!  Just goes to show you - never say never!

A Long Time Ago, We Used To Be Friends...

Brotherly Love - Sheldon and Zippy

Hey, how is everyone?  Who is everyone, these days, anyway?  I have been in hiding, of sorts, I believe.  It seems I have grown tired of Facebook, and the silly games over there –  meaning more the way that Facebook manipulates what we see, than the things people post.  It was fun, once upon a time.  It wasn't really so long ago we all "discovered" Facebook, was it?  Really, I'm not going to complain too much about the death of the public pages - we used to call them "fan" pages, didn't we?  I don't think it should come as a surprise to anyone that "free" wouldn't be forever. The thing is, it seems one would have to devote significant time, in addition to money, to make it worthwhile.  I don't have enough of either at the moment.  One day, maybe.  For now, well, I always liked blogging.  Perhaps this Facebook conundrum will inspire me to figure out a more consistent blogging schedule.

Leo and Gracie, hanging out with the Big Kids.

All is quiet on the horse front.  I go from taking care of the eight I have at home right now, to dashing over to the barn where I board Gracie and Leo.  Both are in consistent work now.  Leo has a part-boarder which is definitely a help.  I'm really happy with the progress both are making.  I had my doubts about trying to ride Gracie in the winter, as cold is not her friend (or maybe it is, and she's just exuberant about showing her affection!), but for the most part, she's been better than expected!

Donks in progress - Neddy and Jack.

I have been devoting my art time to working on commissions, and finally committing myself to practicing drawing humans.  Yes, you read that right.  I'm not brave enough to show off any of my sketches yet, but it's going okay.  Must. Improve! 

This winter has been much kinder than last, even if the past week has brought back memories of how endless it was last year.  I've noticed a couple of horses losing some hair this week - spring must be just around the corner, right? 

Happy (Rather Belated) New Year, everyone!

Pictures, No Paintings, Few Words

Stevie, home for a bit of r&r.

Please insert the usual excuses here.  In lieu of artwork and a lot of writing, here are a couple of recent pics which may one day be interpreted in oil! These are two of the parties who have contributed to my absence from the easel!  ;-)

Victor, recovering from chip surgery on his hocks.  Making cute faces at regular intervals.

Birthdays Are Overrated, Right?

"Reciprocal," 8 x 16 oil on panel

Today is Peaker's birthday - Peaker being the first foal that was born on my little farm that wasn't mine (cough*Monster*cough). She was born one very cold February morning, eight years ago, first foal of her mom, Too Clever.  I remember it was cold enough I went and bought a foal blanket for her...and when I put it on her, Clever decided she was an alien, so I had to take it off.  Poor little Peaker!  She grew up tough!  Last I heard Peaker was in Minnesota.  I hope she is doing well, and that she shows up on my radar again.

After remembering Peaker's birthday, it occurred to me that I had completely let Leo's birthday slip by!  Yesterday marked five years since my goofy boy arrived, and he's been causing trouble ever since.  He even broke his halter yesterday.  In hindsight, it was almost as if he was trying to get my attention. Haha! 

Both Peaker and Leo have been models for my paintings.  Above is the most recent one featuring Leo (and his buddy growing up, Spider), an 8 x 16 oil on Raymar panel called "Reciprocal."  Below is on of my favourites of Peaker, galloping through the snow with her friend Maria, both of them yearlings.  This one is 11 x 14 oil on Raphael panel.  Both paintings are still available; if you're interested, let me know!

The next birthday is one I never forget.  Anyone want to hazard a guess whose that might be?  ;-)

"Fresh Snow," 11 x 14 oil on linen

Falling Back on Photos

You know it's feed time when the widgets start eating the fences...or each other.

I have been painting.  Really I have.  It's just that sometimes I feel as if I'm posting endless WIP updates on my Facebook page, and never actually finishing anything.  I'm trying to keep my focus to one painting right now, because it's been a WIP too long, and it's very close to completion, so I really just need to keep my head down and get it done!  I WILL be heading to the easel after I finish writing this post.  I think - or hope - a couple more sessions will see this one ready to sign. 

Brigitte and Rachel, two-year olds home to grow up.

 In the meantime, the ponies have been providing me with fresh inspiration for new paintings.  At the top of the list is the always-entertaining widgets!  It doesn't matter which version I have on the farm....the widgets are always beggin to be painted.  If I can just get to them all, I'll have a really fun series!

Monster, the old lady on the farm at fourteen!

So for now...everyone was being particularly photogenic today.  The only one I didn't get a pic of was Leo.  Don't feel sorry for him, I've got lots of pics of the boy, so missing one today wasn't a slight!

Star, with Polly peeking over her back.

Bruised

Horses can leave you that way, more than just literally.  Sometimes, no matter how careful you are, things happen.  June 16th, 2013, we lost Viv to colic. Just days before I had been commenting how well she'd been doing, just over a year since she'd had surgery to correct a 180 degree twist of her large colon with 2013 foal Victor in utero. 

Victor, fifteen weeks old now

Victor is almost four months old - like his big (half) brother Hugo, weaned early, but not at quite so early an age where it is too worrisome.  It's an adjustment, most definitely, but he's old enough to adapt to a diet of hay and concentrate.  Hugo, now a big, strapping yearling, is proof of that.  Having gone through it with Hugo, I was prepared, at least, and Victor is doing well.  It's up to these two handsome boys to carry on their mom's legacy. 

(Title is stolen from one of my favourite Ben Folds songs - Bruised.  "....love just leaves you bruised."

The Brothers Neigh....

Sweet, sensitive mare, sadly missed.

Witholding Cuteness, or, A Tale of Two Fillies

 Wheeee!  Twine's filly celebrates her first week of life.

I feel like I should start this blog post like you're supposed to start certain phone calls.

"Everyone's fine, but...."

I know I've written this in my head a bunch of times, but it just seemed too long, so I never sat down at the computer.  Then I'd think about everything else going on in the lives of others, and in the world, and think, meh, my recent stresses are nothing, and everyone's fine, so I'll just keep it to myself.  Add to that borderline burnout, and you get....internet silence.  Only a couple of people seemed to notice my absence, which kind of fed the cycle.  And I admit it was kind of nice to lay low, and selfishly keep to myself the ridiculous cuteness bouncing around in my stalls!  Some things, however, are far too cute to keep to myself, and knowing you can't really experience the full force of such cuteness unless you are face to face with it, well, you'll still be largely deprived!

 

Twine and Jubie, planning foaling strategy.

 

 Sunday, April 14, a routine check of Twine's udder revealed she was waxing.  While she was in the "safe" zone in that the foal would be viable, and not even premature, Twine is pretty textbook, and had always foaled at 338-345 days.  This was two weeks early.  I was a little concerned, especially given her less-than-ideal history.  I texted my vet to see if he'd received the results of the NI test yet, and hoped she'd at least hold off long enough to get that info, for my own peace of mind!  Either way, I wasn't going to be getting much sleep until the baby came.

Tuesday night at around 10pm, it was show time.  I wrapped her tail and stood by, and shortly saw we could have some trouble, due to what in layman's terms is called a red bag delivery (placenta previa, for the initiated).  While I had never had one before, I knew the deal - the foal had to come out as quickly as possible.  Fortunately Twine got to work and in literally five minutes, between her and I, we had the baby out - the foal was breathing and responsive, though not strong.  In time she rallied, and with my help got to her feet, and figured out now to nurse like a pro - you have no idea how much of a relief that was.  As it turned out she needed help getting to her feet for the first day, so I kept a pretty close watch on he to make sure she nursed at least once an hour.

So guess what happened Wednesday night at 10pm?  I'd gone out to do late feed, and Jubie starts pawing!  I check her, grab a tail bandage and wrap her tail, and then run around trying to get the others fed while I wait for her to proceed!  Twenty-four hours less five minutes, Jubie delivered a big, strong, healthy foal.  I was sure it was a colt, but I was wrong.  As I was attending to her, I heard Twine's filly get up on her own!  Yeah!  I was looking forward to some sleep!

Jubie '13 had other plans for me, though.  I guess those long, long baby legs were hard to sort out, because it took her just as long to get to her feet as it had Twine's filly, and I had to help her!  She had the opposite problem - she was very straight behind, her tendons a bit contracted.  And while she knew what was next on the agenda, she was too tall to easily figure out where to get that first meal.  She pushed the limits of my comfort, but figured it out.  And then it became apparent she wasn't able to get to her feet on her own.  So much for sleep!

Jubie really, really wanted to roll when she finally got outside....but she didn't want to take her eyes off her baby for that long, so this is as far as it went!

It was no surprise when Twine's filly's IgG was low, and she needed a plasma transfusion, which was taken care of at a nearby clinic.  It was a surprise when Jubie's filly - twenty-four hours later - needed the same!  Just one of those weeks for me, apparently. Both fillies got five days of antibiotics after that.

 

Jubie's filly.

 So, now, a week and a bit later, things seem much quieter.  I'm still keeping a very close watch on both, especially Twine's little girl.  Big filly is not impressed with me at all, taking all the fussing and needle-jabbing personally.  Little filly, on the other hand, is a Twine baby through and through, so happy and friendly I just want to bring her in the house and let her sleep on my bed.  She's so tiny, but then again, big (half) sister Gracie was almost that small when she was born, and well, she grew!

 I'm sure she'd fit just nicely on the end of my bed.

Sorry for the long post - believe me, it could have been much longer.  I admit I'm feeling somewhat melancholy this year, because my client isn't breeding any mares this year, thanks to the uncertainty in the Ontario Racing Industry, so these may be the last foals born on my farm.  I'm trying to forget last week's stress and enjoy these new kids.  It's true what they say about babies - they grow up too fast.

Hugo Has a Baby Brother!

 I realise I've been sadly negligent when it comes to blog posts of late.  No point in making excuses, so instead, well....I'll post something!  Nothing like a new foal to get things started.  Yesterday at just after 10am, Vivien had her second foal, a bay colt by Singing Saint.  He's actually a half brother to Hugo, of course.  I've decided his name should be Victor!

I've recently started a painting of Vivien and Hugo from when Hugo was just a couple of days old.  I'm sure Victor will soon be featured in his own paintings!

New Homes: Found and Wanted

I haven't said anything about what is going on with horse racing in Ontario right now, and it's not something I plan to  really get into on this blog.  Suffice to say it is in a state of transition.  With the changes, a lot of people, and horses, are going to be out of work.

The thing with racing is, there are always horses looking for new homes.  Not all owners are set up with a big farm where their horses can live out their days once they've been retired from the track, so they place them in new homes.  Many ex-racehorses can have second careers.  We have been fortunate to find great homes for the UnStable  gang that have been in this position.  First of the homebreds (well, not including Gracie, who I snagged for myself!), is Billy, Gracie's foal buddy.  Billy is now known as Parker, and is living in Napanee, Ontario.  His new owner has a blog, so hopefully we'll be following Billy's future as an eventer!

Now we are looking for a home for Maria, who was Peaker's weaning buddy in 2007.  Maria is now a 5 year old, and came back to my farm last winter after she sustained a pelvic fracture in a pasture accident.  She has recovered amazingly well, but the owners have decided it would be too much of a risk to breed her (as was the plan) and would like to find a companion/light riding home for her.  Her gait is a bit altered from the injury, which is no surprise, but if she's in pain, she's not letting on!  She feels good and with the cooler weather has been showing off, running and leaping and generally causing concern for her pasture mate.  If you know of anyone who might be interested in giving this lovely mare a home, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Just in case you're pining for some artwork....pop over to my Facebook page for my Virtual Studio Tour.  Each day I'm adding a new original to the album, with special pricing for the month of November.  Hope you'll check it out!

Okay, So the Holiday *Is* Over....

We made it back from Saratoga, safely and begrudgingly!  In the past few days the rain has been making up for lost time here in Southern Ontario, which has meant no riding for me because my footing turns to mud.  Between the horses, trying to finish and epic novel (reading a few pages before I pass out at the end of the day is usually the only time I get to read anymore) and working away at some paintings, I've managed to keep busy.  The latest piece to be finished is this 16 x 8" oil on Raymar cotton canvas panel.  It's this year's star model, Thoroughbred foal Hugo, and I'm calling it, "I'm Coming!"  or, "I Hear You Calling II."  Do you remember the original "I Hear You Calling?"  :-)

If you're interested in this painting let me know - it's currently available for $650.00 unframed (price will need to be adjusted once it's framed). A better photo is available on request.

One Week

I'd like to say that things have settled down around here, but that hasn't exactly happened.  There's always something, and I know that what it comes down to is just making time for stuff, regardless of how busy things get.  I've been making an effort to get some painting done, though I haven't exactly hit my stride yet. 

Last week my good friend Kimberly Santini of Painting a Dog a Day fame threw out an invitation, of sorts.  For the last few years Kim has been taking the Dog a Day project on an equine tangent for Kentucky Derby week.  It was that reminder which inspired me to do my best to complete a daily painting each day this week.  Not quite as exciting as the Thirty Horses, Thirty Days I have done in the past, but something I can grasp at the moment, given my schedule!

Today's painting is a 5 x 7 oil on Raymar cotton canvas panel of little Brigitte, the filly born a week ago today.  Not a lot of paint used, as I kind of decided I liked the washy look.  There are also only three colours employed:  red umber, ultramarine blue and cerulean blue.  If I owned a tube of cobalt, I could have kept it to two!

One day down....we'll see what I manage tomorrow!

Count on a Chestnut Filly to Shake Things Up

Well, the third and final foal of the season joined us on Monday just before 10pm.  Beaujelais (yes, that's how the owners decided to spell it) had her first baby - a chestnut filly that is sure to give the boys a run for their money.  All three foals are by the same sire, Strut the Stage, who has passed on some nice flashy white this year, not to mention a fair bit of attitude!  This little girl's barn name is Brigitte, and both she and mom are doing well.  Don't I have the best new models this year?

No Rest....

I do actually need to post some painting news, but sometimes the horses just steal the show. ;-) Both Sheldon and Stevie were apparently out celebrating St. Paddy's Day yesterday, and in need of a catch-up snooze this morning. Freddie, on the other hand, was quite insistent that there be NO napping on such a beautiful day! He set to work on Stevie....


...and once he accomplished that task, recruited Stevie to help him with Sheldon. Sheldon thought perhaps if he played dead, they would leave him alone.


No such luck....but better watch it Freddie, Sheldon is grumpy when you interrupt his beauty sleep! ;-)

When There's Been No Time to Paint....

....the least I can do is post baby pictures, right? He went out for the first time Tuesday, and Wednesday the weather wasn't very nice so everyone was stuck inside. These pics are from yesterday. He kept his mom busy as he romped around!

Happy New Year! (four days in!)

Well, we welcomed in the New Year in our typical fashion around here - as January 1 is also the official birthday of all Thoroughbreds in this hemisphere, my New Year's Eve ritual is to be out at the barn at midnight to wish everyone a happy birthday, and to feed carrots to those who will eat them. ;-) My three little boys are now yearlings, and not so little! I'm quite happy with all of them; they're growing up nicely and are even rather well-behaved! I had to laugh at the photo above of Sheldon - he looks as if he did a bit too much partying!


I had hoped to complete one last painting in 2011, but it ended up being the first one finished in 2012. This 11 x 14 oil on Raphael linen panel is of Jubie and her filly, Polly (who is now two, and in training....how time flies!). I'm also happy to report that the painting is sold, which is a wonderful way to start off the new year on the studio side of things. Here's to a great 2012 for everyone.