My 2010 calendar (see images below), Spirit Equus, is now available on Amazon.com!

The New Kids in Tennessee and Scenes from Missouri

A few photos from both our trip to Missouri and the "new boys" back here in Tennessee. Mouse stayed in Missouri with Huston. She will be bred later this month to a son of the great Missouri Traveler named Traveler's Sensational Zane. He is a gorgeous chestnut stallion and so sweet. His name says it all; he has wonderful breeding. His sire was the aforementioned Missouri Traveler and his mother was a daughter of the famous Zane Grey. Between his breeding and Mouse's, we should get one amazing foal. I'm both scared and nervous--first time horse mom jitters. I am of course hoping for a dapple gray baby that looks just like its beautiful mom. Both Huston and my friend, Fran Forester, tell me that is most likely. Huston also tells me that our lovely Mouse is not a gray dapple but a silver dapple. Can you tell that I love this horse? I've fallen in love with her son as well, Sensational Boy J, that I call Django and her brother, Sensational N' Honey, who is known as Ranga (Australian for red) Rowdy. Both horses live with us now and fill my heart with joy ALMOST as much as Mouse did. I do miss that girl! Photos of all are on this little video that I hope you enjoy viewing. 

Spring Romp

Mouse Feeling her Spring Oats....or else running away from me to avoid work, lol.

I was smart this morning and managed to corral her during her breakfast. Still, even though getting a halter on her was a breeze--she actually dropped her head and let me do it--getting her into the trailer was another matter entirely!! We've been having problems with this for about a week. The first time was Monday when I was planning on taking her to Brandy's farm (Blue Point) for a quick ride in the arena. That plan fell through quickly when she absolutely refused to be loaded. I tried every trick I knew and finally called our friend, Chris. Chris has been working with a man that he calls a real horse whisperer. I believe him after watching Chris, who was nice enough to drive to our place when he heard we were having problems and spent at least three hours working with Mouse, working magic. By the time he called it done, Mouse was leaping into the trailer on the command, "Load!" The next day, I tried it on my own and it took a few attempts before she was doing what I asked. Then I ate a bad shrimp--which isn't a story in itself...or maybe it is, lol...but I didn't feel like doing much of anything for a few days. Still I know Mouse is smart and smart enough not to have forgotten all of this in five days. She is just in season and showing herself a bit. Well, if you'd seen how she was acting when I first started lunging her, you might say that she is showing her self a lot. It took over an hour and a lot of sweat on both out parts, she and I, before she finally reluctantly loaded. Then I made her back out and do it all over again hoping that would make her easier to get back in the trailer when we were ready to come home. In her defense, Steve had me get in the trailer and ride with Mouse up the driveway to our pasture when we got back home and I told her that I now understand why she hates it so. It is noisy in there. There were times, when we were crossing all of the gullies that the winter rains created, that it sounded as if the entire contraption would fall apart around us. I'm sure it has to be better out on smooth pavement but still she has to feel and hear every bump. 

It was windy today, too, which didn't help. I was a bit reluctant to get in the saddle once we got to Brandy's but Steve told me that was what we were there for. So, I took a literal leap of faith and the girl was great. She got a wee bit spooky but straightened right out when I corrected her a bit. In the end, she was a doll and now, I need to take her the extra feed I promised her tonight. I know she's waiting for that:)

Tony Golding photos

I'm going to send you to look at another photographer's photos today. My friend, Tony Golding, takes photos of draft horses or what they call heavy horses in England where Tony lives. He is also very involved in the preservation of these magnificent breeds and his photography has been featured in breed magazines. Here is a slide show of  photos Tony took at a recent Peterborough heavy horse show. I know you will enjoy them because Tony is an exceptional photographer with a talent for capturing both his equine and human subjects with depth and beauty.

New Blog for Ten Oaks Farm

I just set up a blog for Ten Oaks Farm. In the future, I will be putting all Olaf news there. I'm also headed that way in a few minutes to photograph a rescue that Chris brought in this afternoon. It is a long and complicated but interesting story of how the horse has come to live at Ten Oaks but I will chronicle his recovery through photographs.

Update: here is one of the photos that I got this afternoon. That's Julie, the lady who alerted Chris to the horse's fate and so was one of the heros who saved its life. You can see what a sweet horse he is by how he relates to Julie's precious little girl.

Olaf Update!!

Hope you enjoy this slide show update on Olaf's incredible progress.  Brandy is an amazing trainer and Olaf is a gorgeous and very bright horse. I wish that this was a video so that you could all really see how beautiful he is when he is being driven. At the end, you will be able to see what a gentle giant he is as well. Super horse!

I've put this information at the end of the video but just in case you can't read the tiny print:

Olaf is owned by Vickie Boling, trained by Brandy McDonnel-Smith, and driven by both Brandy and Chris Shipley. The "rider" at the end of the video is sweet, beautiful Audrey, Brandy's daughter. And the last image is of Audrey and her "third" grandma, Mona:)

 I shot all of these photos on the vernal equinox, March 20th, 2009...which was also the first day of Spring! It was a beautiful day but I got a very late start...which is common with me, unfortunately:)...and so I was shooting at a time of day that I usually avoid. I still am pleased with most of the shots. Part of these were shot at Ten Oaks Stables and are photos of both stable owner, Vickie Boling's horses, boarder Julie's lovely Arabian Cash and also one of one of Cherie and Don Oswald's Rocky Mountain Horses. There are also several of my two favorite subjects, my own horses, Mouse and Brandy. I hope you enjoy this little video. The beautiful music is Last Night of a Thousand Years which was written and is performed by my extremely talented friend, Nori Bucci. Check out Nori's website here. She is an artist as well as a composer and musician. I, of course, especially love her exquisite and sensitive drawings of horses but all of her work is wonderful. 

Horse Show Page Fini!!

Finally, it is finished. The page itself is simple with information and prices but I've added a video wall, which is what has taken so long, with 10-13 minute slide show videos of shots from the the six shows that I shot at Blue Point Stables last year(2008.) 

First Show -Self Kudos

Ok, I'm being brave and posting this photo of Mouse's and my first show under saddle. I've been sorting through all of the shots taken at the Blue Point Stables shows last year and I came across the few from our own first venture into the show ring. So amazed by how much Mouse loves doing this. The first thing I thought when I viewed this photo was how fat I am, lol...but then I thought, we look really good together. I was terrified but Mouse took to the ring like an old trooper. I know I'm very biased but isn't she beautiful? She blue ribboned here by the way:))

Working on the WebSite

I am closer to finally being done with this. I'm putting together 12-15 minute video/slide shows of all of the Blue Point Stable shows from last year. I should have those posted and the page published by tomorrow so you can check back then. I really have enjoyed putting these together. Sorting through the photos brought back so many great memories. There are even a few in there of Ms Mouse and me at our first shows ever(that's the two of us in the middle photo just before we lined up for our first halter class-we're discussing the game plan,lol). Mouse did so well during her first halter showing, that the judge pulled her out of the line up to demonstrate with and she won a first place ribbon! The judge told me to stop looking so scared because that horse wasn't going to hurt me. I told her that I wasn't scared of the horse I was scared of her which made her laugh. She said that I should just relax because my horse obviously knew what she was doing. I said, "I don't know how she does because both of us only started doing this three days ago." She looked at us in disbelief and then told me that I was mistaken because Mouse certainly had plenty of show experience and that Huston must have shown her a lot before he sold her to me. I called Huston that night and he told me that he'd never had her anywhere near a show ring. She was the same when I first rode her in a show. She watched the other horses and then behaved like she'd been doing this her entire life. I was so proud of her. She got another first place there. I just wonder how good she could be if she had someone riding her that didn't look petrified the entire time, lol.

It has been a week for loss and bad news. First, my old friend Bruce passed away and then our dear friend, Ed Collins. Ed was 81 and I guess I just thought he'd always be around. It was one of those situations like so many when we let life interfere with living, I saw Ed and Mary last Spring and thought at the time that I would start visiting them regularly. They both had so many medical problem over the last few years and were pretty much tied to their home except for visits to the doctor. So, now I'm left with another regret in life. Regret is a horrible feeling because it always involves those things we can not change. Too bad that life does not give us do overs. I guess the only answer is to learn something from it and not to repeat the same mistake. Life is truly too short so cherish all of those you love and let them know now. I ordered flowers for Ed's funeral today and I thought about what my mother use to say, "Give your flowers to the living because the dead can't appreciate them." It's too late to let Ed know how much I loved and respected him but I hope that I don't make the mistake again of thinking, today, I'm too busy but there is always tomorrow. 

Web Gallery Now Open!!

I'm doing the happy dance right now because the Photography Gallery..... on my new strictly photography website...... is FINALLY!! OPEN!!! So excited and pleased I think. Check it out and let me know what you think. Leave comments here:-).

Goodbye Bruce

This is a departure for me. This post has nothing to do with either horses or photography and art but I received some bad news today.

I don't know how any of you feel about mainstreaming children with mental handicaps but I have a story that might change your mind if you oppose it.

My friend, Bruce Lawson, passed away yesterday. Bruce made deliveries for the local pharmacy. When he didn't show up for work yesterday morning, someone was sent to check on him and they found him. That is all I know right now. I have no more details nor explanations as to the cause of death. But what I do know about is Bruce's life. He was so special but special not because of his handicaps but because of his abilities and his heart. I went to school with Bruce. He was two years ahead of me in my husband, Steve's, class. He was the kindest and sweetest person I have ever known. And unlike nearly everyone else I knew from way back then, Bruce never changed. He was always so obviously happy to see us whenever we'd run into him at the grocery, on the street, at baseball games. It's been years since Knoxville had a baseball team but when they did, we'd always see Bruce there and he'd sit with us even though he had box seats and we were usually in the cheap seats, lol. He never missed any game, any sport he was on the sidelines cheering on the team. He was often in the press box and he'd lend very knowledgeable commentary. Despite his disabilities Bruce had an amazing memory especially where sports and sport stats and scores were concerned. It was truly remarkable. He also remembered our high school days like they were yesterday and would remind me of times and incidents that had long ago grown foggy for me. Bruce went to school with us from grade school on. He was always passed so that he could stay with the kids his own age. In those days, there were no special and separate classes. Every day Bruce was in the classroom side by side with his classmates. And when it came to sports, although he lacked the coordination to play (and so did I:), he was obsessed with any and all Loudon Redskin sports. He always participated either on the sidelines cheering on the players or behind the scenes. Bruce wasn't able to go to college like his brothers but he did grow up to be a functional and contributing member of our community. Maybe this was possible because this is such a small town or maybe Bruce, with his incredibly large heart and spirit, was the exception to the rule but I know that I speak for all of those that grew up with Bruce when I say, he gave much more to our lives and education than he ever took.
Goodbye my dear, sweet friend. You will be forever missed!

I wanted to share Bruce's obituary because it shows just how accomplished and loved he was:

Bruce Carlton Lawson
LAWSON, BRUCE CARLTON - age 55, of Loudon, passed away Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at his home. He was a member of the Loudon Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He had served as a delivery person for the News-Herald and was a courier for BankFirst/BB&T, and most recently RxPerts Pharmacy. Bruce was a boy scout and a proud graduate of Loudon High School class of 1972, and was voted Best School Spirit by his classmates. In 1972, LHS Principal Wm. S. Napier and Superintendent A.C. Dukes, Sr. presented him with a trophy for being Loudon's Most Loyal Fan. He attended Hiwassee College. Bruce was an LHS icon, attending all sporting events, rarely missing an LHS game. He served as scorekeeper and statistician for many years and was LHS's number one cheerleader and fan and will be sorely missed by the entire community. He also loved the New York Yankees, served on a TSSAA committee for classifications of schools, and was presented a plaque by Lou Holtz inducting him into The National Football Foundation's Hall of Fame. He was preceded in death by his parents, Helen (Cook) and R. A. (Bill) Lawson, Jr. He is survived by brothers and sisters-in-law; nieces and nephews; and generations of LHS athletes, faculty members, and friends. Graveside service 10:30 AM Saturday, March 7, Loudon County Memorial Gardens. A memorial service will follow at 1:00 PM, Saturday, Loudon High School gymnasium. 

Driving Mister Olaf

Yesterday, Chris, Edwin and I took Olaf over to Blue Point Stables so that Brandy McDonnell, the trainer there, could have a look at him and determine his driving skills and abilities. Brandy is a trainer extraordinaire. She not only helped me to overcome the fear of riding that I acquired after a fall but she "cured" Mouse of all of the bad habits that I'd instilled in her through my ignorance as a novice horse owner. And she did all of that with a gentle touch and soft voice or as she always says, assertiveness but not aggressiveness. I've often said that she is a cross between a human psychologist and a horse whisperer. So, I had highly recommended her to Chris, the manager of Ten Oaks Stables, when he told me that he would like to train Olaf to drive. 

Vickie Boling, Olaf's owner, has been talking about selling him. There was a prospective buyer but Olaf doesn't like to canter with a rider aboard and unfortunately, he promptly put the buyer off the same way he does anyone who asks him to canter. Brandy says that she can fix the buck as well as teach him to drive. Which Vickie and Chris feel will certainly make him more sellable but I'm hoping that once they start driving him they will decide to keep him because he is definitely one of my favorite equine subjects.

 Brandy was very impressed with the boy saying that he is extremely intelligent as well as beautiful and she seems to be very excited about working with him. After first lunging him to get him relaxed and responsive, she put on the driving reins and Olaf stepped out easily. She had to slow him down at first because he wanted to do that big, beautiful round trot that he is famous for...at least amongst the fans of my photos of him, lol. But after that, he responded to her cues very well and acted as if this was all old hat to him. He wasn't so certain about the buggy at first but Brandy allowed him to inspect it and smell of it and then she pulled the buggy behind and beside Olaf as Chris led him forward. Chris is taking him back next Tuesday and Brandy is keeping him for a month so that she can work with him everyday. She says that she should have him attached to a buggy and driving within a week. I can't wait; I think he is going to be spectacular and I will keep you all up dated.

Please note: the photos are in the reverse order of the way they should be so please, "read" them from the bottom up. Thanks:)~Sande

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues

My photo, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, has been featured in a wonderful little video called, The Children of the Revolution, which was put together beautifully by David Parkin, a redbubble.com member and all of the photos are by Red Bubble members. 

EVERY ITEM ON REDBUBBLE.COM SITE DONATED

I've decided not only to donate the proceeds of sales of the two items below but from EVERY sale I make during the rest of the month on my Red Bubble site to the victims of the Australian brush fires.  There are all sorts of prints, cards, and Tshirts there so check them out if you can. 

Thanks~Sande

The Phoenix Appeal

 the T-shirt is available in various colors and in long or short sleeves
 My sister-friend is kin to the wind, She lets my heart run free; Up to the airs of heaven's height, Her spirit carries me. 
I've donated a new design of mine both as a T-shirt and poster to a group on Red Bubble :

Called the Phoenix-Appeal Account, this group hopes to bring together the many efforts currently being made to raise funds and bring forms of relief to the victims of the Black Saturday bushfires (Saturday 7 February 2009) in Victoria, Australia. These events have been the worst in Australia’s history by all accounts and the death toll is horrific, loss of property widespread, and grief extending to all Australians.

You can find my contributions by clicking on the link above. They are in a file in my Red Bubble gallery titled, Phoenix Appeal donations. Redbubble will double the proceeds from all sales of donated items and forward that money to the Red Cross for the direct aid of all fire victims. I hope you can help.

Ephemeral Pleasures

I've just published a new video featuring photos of Mouse, my favorite subject. The photos are not new and you've probably seen most of them before if you are at all familiar with my work since these are my favorites and the ones that I'm putting into my web gallery, For Love of a Gray Horse....BUT the difference here is the lovely music which was written by my friend Daryl Lunsford just for these photos. 

Several weeks ago I joined Face Book...already wrote about that long delayed event in a prior blog submission:)......and I "met up" with several old friends, many of whom I hadn't seen or heard from since high school (back in the dark ages of the SEVENTIES!!) One of those friends was Daryl Lunsford. I remember Daryl as an extremely talented(he not only played several instruments but was artistic and creative as well), sweet, funny, always smiling and full of personality, hardly typical teenage boy. My sweetest memory of Daryl was that he dressed up as Santa Clause (now what typical teenage boy would do that??) for a club I belonged to in high school that had organized a Christmas party for local kids. Daryl even brought his guitar and played for us. The kids loved him and not just because he was disguised as St Nick! So, Daryl and I reconnected on face book and he saw some of my photographs. He told me that they reminded him of this beautiful Tennessee valley where we both grew up (blocks apart) in tiny little Loudon. He was inspired by my photos to write a beautiful short piece of music (I put up a video with it a few weeks ago) which he has since expanded on. The song was always very lovely but this new longer version is just outstanding. I know you will enjoy it. 

Good News and Bad

The good news is that I've been included in two more beautiful Etsy Treasuries: I Dream of Horses & Tarot of Horses. Both were put together by members of the Etsy Whoa Horses Team Group & Blog. It is a team made up of artists, artisans, and photographers whose main subject is the horse. There is some gorgeous work there and if you love horses and great art, you should definitely check it out. 

Now for the bad news. I received an email from my friend, Cathy Hill. Cathy is the niece of Huston Jenkins, the man who raised and trained Mouse and is one of the finest horsemen and people that I have ever met. Cathy is a special person, too. She  breeds and raises gaited mules. Usually they sell their mules and mollies as yearlings but five years ago there was one special little molly born that Cathy just couldn't part with. Her name was Tessa and she had a very rare genetic makeup that made her a beautiful and extremely rare champagne color with golden eyes. She was also extremely bright. Mules are known for being intelligent animals but Tessa was truly exceptional. There is a website where Cathy tells Tessa's story: the story of her birth and life as a youngster, the story of what happened with the trainer they sent her to, the story of Cathy trying to save her life and finally the story of Tessa's death. Cathy concludes with links and addresses to the authorities in Missouri who have failed to followup on Cathy's charges of abuse against the trainer. When you see the photos of what was done to Tessa (and I warn you they are very graphic!), I'm sure you will want to write to those "authorities" and demand justice for Tessa. 

Limited Edition Valentine Card

I just posted this limited edition (50) Valentine Card on Etsy. The photo is 4x6 and printed with the same archival inks and fine, glossy photography paper(HP) as my prints. It is applied to a 5x7 white card. I've left the inside blank so that you may add your own message. Envelopes are included. Each card will be signed, dated and numbered (*/50). Check out the card on Etsy here.

If you are local, I will knock off shipping charges but you must buy directly from me not through Etsy since I can't change that. Just call and I can take your order over the phone. 

Also, those that buy directly from me can get a quantity discount of $2.00 per card for ordering more than one. This is only for pick up or hand delivery.

The featured print was a discovery and a bit of surprise for me. I was playing with the image which I sometimes do when I need to relax and relieve stress. This shot is from our one "snow" this year here in East Tennessee and I'd thought I'd convert it to black and white. But then I decided to isolate the background and play with the color. I was happily surprised when I managed to get this lovely gold color. I called the original print (before snow-hearts and lettering were added), All That Glistens. 

Etsy Treasury

I sell my prints on a site called etsy.com. It is such a fun site full of some very imaginative and creative people. One of the fun things they do is to allow members to put together "treasuries." All treasuries must follow a certain theme which the creator determines. Some are based on a pattern; my print Seeing Spots was in one called Seeing Spots a week ago and everything including, Rocky, the horse in my photo was spotted. Some are based on color; I had one featured in a treasury like that a few weeks ago right after I first joined the site. I'm so pleased to say that Once in a Dream(shown below/right on this page) has been featured today in a treasury called Insomnia!!! Isn't that fun? Check it out because they only stay up for about a week or less unless they are featured on the home page. And check out Etsy; I think you will like it. 

Late breaking news!...very late considering that it is just 4:30 a.m. here or would that be early?...Anyway:),  another photo, Rainy Days and Mondays, has been included in an Etsy treasury, Treasury West. It is another gorgeous compilation and I'm truly honored to be included. 

Rainy Days and Mondays(Once in a Dream below right)