Monday, December 14, 2009

X-mas Commission

Nick and Bali

Nick and Bali 2

It seems like it has been ages since I have done much of anything with social media! A waxing and waning like the moon if you will.

Nick and Bali are brother and sister and only a few weeks apart in age. Here is the interesting fact..... they both have the same mother and sire but are not twins. In fact they were carried by two different mares so their mother could continue her training. This is certainly a first for me!

They are three coming on four and have dressage in their future so lets just say it was a bit of a surprise when I showed up to photograph them and I saw a western saddle on Bali! It was her second day of training with a natural horseman.

Another first for me is that the print is going to be 54". To date 40" has been as large as I have done so I can't wait to see it when I pick it up from the printers this Friday!

I just returned from a trip to Conn. to photograph some PMU foals that were rescued from a potential kill buyer purchase so I should have lots of stuff to Blog about in the upcoming weeks!

Be back soon,
Susan

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Horse as Teacher Books: Book 2, The Path to Relationship is Here!

In Time For The Holidays!

$19.95

The new Horse as Teacher book featuring the Path to Relationship is here! This is the second of three books in a series and the cover features my image!

To order this wonderful compilation of ten stories (and receive one of my equine art cards valued at $5 for FREE!) please click on the secure PayPal link:


To order Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity with free art card click these secure PayPal links:



Holiday Special!
Order both books and Receive Free US Shipping Plus 2 Art Cards!

To order both of the Horse As Teacher books with 2 free art cards click here:

click here for Free shipping on US orders for both books


Monday, November 30, 2009

Living The Dream Workshop: Castle Rock CO



January 2 & 3 2010 Winter Workshop in Castle Rock CO

There has never been a better time to find passion,purpose and creativity through horse soul wisdom. You will have the opportunity to indulge yourself in many contemplative and creative activities for two days as you explore and allow yourself the freedom to play. Come join us and hear what your unique soul has to tell you!

Find Your Authentic Voice

Return to Wholeness

Listen to Your Heart

By the end of the workshop each participant will go home with an awakened self-awareness and a personal horse soul mandala to keep and cherish - a special memento to gently reconnect you to your soul while guiding you on your journey.

Cindy and Susan combine their unique equine experience and talents to integrate personal mandalas, the Tibetan windhorse, and the Native American medicine wheel into a powerful personal piece. Each modality embraces the concept of unity and “Oneness” of all creation; illuminating the path for a balanced and empowered life while helping you to achieve your goals and dreams.

About Cindy & Susan:
Partnering with her gentle and wise horses, Cindy Hartzell, a horse guardian for over thirty years, supports individuals who seek to rediscover their inner strengths and purpose. In addition to working with a team of Psychotherapists, Cindy has been developing a private practice of her own in the field of Equine Assisted Coaching for the past two years. She is certified in the following areas: Equine Experiential Learning and Coaching, EAGALA horse specialist, Reiki Master, and animal intuitive. Always seeking new modalities to enrich the lives of horses and her clients, she is currently working towards certification as a “Touched by a Horse” coach, while concurrently completing her Parelli Natural horsemanship level II student certificate. To learn more about Cindy and her work visit www.horseshelphumans.com

Join Susan as she shares her vision and artistic creative process into the souls of our equine friends and partners. As a visual artist and published author, you will have the opportunity to expereince some of her artwork and hear excerpts from her writing, including her new “Equesse” soul portraits, while learning about the healing and inspiration her art creates.The evocative and inspirational art work of equine fine-art photographer Susan Williams portrays the powerful yet magical equine essence; the horses she photographs bare their souls, granting her access to their infinite expressions and moving intimate moments.Through a heart-to-heart and soul-to-soul connection, the horses reveal themselves to her in ways that are unavailable through the camera alone and then Susan breathes life into them.Recognized nationally and internationally in the field of digital cameras, Susan taught workshops across the country for Olympus America. Her work has been exhibited around the country and also published. Collectors across the country seek her award-winning images of horses to grace their homes and businesses while others commission her to create custom pieces. To learn more about Susan visit her website at www.windhorseone.com

To learn more please visit The Living A Dream website : http://jettagain2.wordpress.com/

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Excalibur and Anna

Excalibur and Anna

This is one of several hundred shots I took of Anna Twinney and her mustang Excalibur or "X" as she fondly calls him. Anna is one of the ten authors in the Horse as Teacher book and we met this summer, post publishing, when she came to meet me at my art fair in Boulder.

Later that month I went to visit the Colorado Horse Rescue and while the director was showing me around a buckskin in a corral caught my eye from afar. I was transfixed by his presence. It turns out he belonged to Anna and she was at CHR teaching that day. X is a Spanish mustang from Wyoming and I can never seem to remember all the details.....sigh....must be a sign of age.

An internationally respected natural horsemanship clinician, animal communicator, and Reiki Master, Anna has been featured on television, writes for national and international magazines, and is the creator of the "Reach Out to Natural Horsemanship" DVD series. Formerly the Monty Roberts Learning Center's head instructor, Anna teaches people how to create genuine, trust-based partnerships with their horses. I have had the good fortune to watch her work her gentle magic during a round pen session.

Well to make a long story short I was so mesmerized by X and also the American mustangs I was itching to photograph him. Anna graciously accepted. While I have lots of great shots of X by himself I was so impressed when Anna hopped up on his back without an iota of tack I had to work on this first! Not even a neck rope!

I bet you think she has been schooling him for a while and several days a week.....WRONG! What is even more impressive is he is only three so this is a wonderful example of the willing partnership a person can have with their horse.

Take good care,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios


Sunday, September 27, 2009

Find Your Path To Authenticity: Colorado Horse Rescue - Oct 9th

Find Your Path to Authenticity

Please join me, Anna Twinney (Reach Out to Horses), and Melisa Pearce (Touched By A Horse) on October 9th at the Colorado Horse Rescue, in Longmont, from 6-9 PM. To learn more about Anna please visit her website www.reachouttohorses.com and to learn more about Melisa please visit www.touchedbyahorse.com.

We will be sharing our collective experiences on how horses have touched our lives and also speaking about our new book - Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity Through Horses.

All proceeds will benefit the Colorado Horse Rescue organization! Tickets are $20 in advance and $30 at the door. Space is limited so reserve your spot today! For more info or to purchase a ticket contact Stacey Couch at info@chr.org or call 720.494.1414

I hope to see you there!

Yours in the dance,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Our Tribute To Scooter: New Found Clarity

Dear Melisa,
With the upcoming Core 4 weekend of your certification program, here is my tribute to Scooter -your beloved friend, partner and co-facilitator of "Touched By A Horse" - who so generously healed and transformed the lives of many wounded souls by providing them with the lighted torch and glimmer of hope and strength to carry on and find new beginnings and meaning in their lives.

With an agility to know when to perform, Scooter possessed the impish energy of the class clown with the ability to get down to the serious business of healing his clients

Scooter was a shining multi-faceted diamond who knew, like a sparkling prism, how to disperse, shower, and share the many colors of his light. He easily dialed into the frequency he needed and watching him do his work was certainly a miracle to behold. His passion for life was exemplary.

In my heart I know and feel there is a greater good, while not readily apparent at this time, that will bring new light into our world.

Thank you for the opportunity to photograph your horses - Scooter, QT, and Shadow. As I struggled to put words to relatively new creations of horse portraits, it was through your horses that clarity finally came to me. These are soul essence creations of our equine friends and partners and my new series Equi-esse has been born.

Yours in the dance,
Susan

About the Work
Several weeks ago I photographed three of Melisa's equine co-facilitators. With no real deadline, I was granted the grace to create Scooter, QT, and Shadow when I was inspired. It was my desire to portray them as I intuited how they would fit with Melisa's holistic approach to her therapy and also be of benefit to her clients. I sensed the magnitude of the task while knowing the right time would graciously present itself to me. I started easing into the "work" two weeks ago, the magical mystical treasure hunt began and I created my 1st portrait of a horse named QT. A new palette of rainbow colors offered themselves to the work fitting of the nature for the work of a healer.

The weekend came and I had been driven lately, with a sense of urgency, to reorganize my office/studio space. Like the tendrils of a vine in a weed infested garden I had been feeling claustrophobic and overwhelmed by piles of clutter and unfinished business. Of course with my perfectionist manner that meant all closets and files need rummaging through and reorganizing.

Later in the evening I thought I would go to bed but the calling to create leaked into my consciousness. Miffed, I sat at my photographic files wondering why and what I should work on when all I really wanted to do was climb into bed with the chilly fresh mountain breeze cleansing my body and thoughts as I drifted off into sleep. But no....there I was sitting in the dark at my computer and I revisited the file called "Melisa".

Back and forth, on cruise control, I culled through the image files. I had left Scooter for last, starting first with a head portrait of QT and the another head portrait of Shadow. I had erroneously felt that Scooter, with his roany chestnut coat would be more challenging for me. Back and forth I went through his pictures, warmly remembering the events of that day. Occasionally thoughts penetrated my mind wondering which one might appeal to Melisa; they were quickly overridden by the freedom she was allowing me to choose what called to me.

There was a beautiful head shot that reflected the soul essence of Scooter. Perfect I thought. This will complete a trilogy of head shots and then I would move into full body and or action shots of all the horses. I sensed the body shots would require a deeper level of connection that I was not feeling in that moment. But then I heard "Do something different". You have a mastery with the head shots. By now I had come to life as I often do during the process of creating. Never mind that it was already well past 11 pm for I was in my essence and I loved it.

Back on my treasure hunt I went and I instantly knew what I was guided to work on. With a heavy sigh I assessed the image in front of me. Much work needed to be done to bring Scooter into the magical space where so many of my horses exist; a landscape privileged to the horses and Shamans. Sensing again the residual denseness of my busy day I wondered if I was up for the task at this hour. The heaviness of my hand soon lightened and I was transported with Scooter into the realm of the unknown.

I was right there with him as I unknowingly created his new home at the time he was leaving his earthly home. There was a sense of joy and elation as I finished up the piece.

Sunday morning dawned and as coffee was brewing, I opened my email to read the header "Scooter has died". In shock and sadness, with the encouragement of Brad, I shared my creation with Melisa, realizing the universal connectedness of all species we all share. A short time later I pulled the "Sorrow" card from the "Whispers From A Horse's Heart " inspirational card deck. Ugh, how inspirational I said to myself.

It was only later in that day, upon reflection, that I realized that to be fully alive and human we must experience all the polarities of our emotions and in creating Scooter's crossing I did indeed feel both joy and sorrow in a twelve hour span.

I have drawn much insipration and clarity from the loss of Scooter and I am unsure how it will feel to go to the barn but I know a piece of Scooter lives on in all of those who were blessed to be touched by this horse.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Our Tribute to Scooter: A Great Friend

So here it is...the second tribute of three. Three is a special number for Melisa as well as myself. Also special to the Touched By A Horse certification program is Peggy M, one of our coaches who keeps us on track and holds a space for us at our "Core" training sessions while we learn, laugh, and cry. Scooter was our teacher who patiently (and sometimes not so patiently!) gave himself to us so that we could learn to become interns. Peggy and her husband Bob, also a TBAH team member, have become like friends and family to many of us in the program.

From Peggy:

Scooter was playful and serious at once. He was gentle and bold. A tease who stirred humor in my core, easing me into my personal Work. I knew that he knew my Being – often better than I. And I trusted his Knowing. Thus he became my friend, my teacher and my healer.

Scooter moved in the world with purpose. He was always ready to do the Work and “got his nose out of joint” when instead of him one of his herd mates was chosen to do a piece of healing with a client. He always wanted to be a part of the action!

His energy held me and gifted me with knowing how we beings are all connected. Everyone in his Presence became more aware of their oneness. And all who are blessed by Scooter’s life walk in the world with more purpose, holding space anew for all beings.

Scooter showed up in the world with an open and full heart. His spirit and energy are within me always -- to guide, to bring smiles and to inspire me to walk in the world moment to moment with abundant love and gratitude.

You will be missed by the herd Scooter but we know you will be always be watching over us and guiding us.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Our Tribute to Scooter: A One in a Million Horse





Recently I shared a blog about the fun and excitement of photographing the horses at Melisa P's Lil Bit North Ranch with my friend Molly. I asked her to be a guest blogger and share a bit about her experiences with Scooter since she met him last fall at a retreat for women and was able to experience the magical and powerful therapeutic healing from him...she was "Touched by a Horse".

Well....it is with a deep sense of sadness and loss that Melisa and Touched by a Horse unexpectedly lost Scooter in the wee hours of Sunday morning. She told me it was love at first sight when she saw first laid eyes on Scooter, immediately purchasing him to become her world class reining partner and then future co-facilitator of their very important healing work. People travel from all over the country to experience Melisa's work.

This is the first of a trilogy of blogs that we are dedicating to Scooter, a horse who has touched the heart and influenced many of our lives.

Dear Melisa,

It sounds so flat -but I will miss Scooter so much. It is hard to think of working in the arena without him there. Scooter was my first horse-healer, my patient "horse body language" teacher, and my first catch, bridle and lead horse. He was the first real horse I ever got to love thanks to you. He will always be my horse-angel anchor, my inspiration and the foundation for all the speaking, writing and personal equine supported work I will ever do in this world. Because of Scooter and you, Melisa, I can fully engage in the realm of horse supported coaching. He helped me transmute personal pain into forgiveness in one remarkable healing session, he made me laugh when he knocked on his stall when he wanted to "work", he made me smile when he snuffled and nibbled on my hair, he amazed and delighted me when he did his chakra clearing work, and he never, ever let me drift from the present moment when I was with him. He reinforced my now ingrained pattern of grounding myself before entering his safe, wonderful bubble of energy, always responding by coming to me when I went in his stall to ask if he "wanted to go to work for Mom". I treasure all the moments you allowed me to be with him. I will never forget Scooter's kindness, his mischevious nibbling of clothing, those great yawns of release, his smiling at all those 13 year old girls, and his noises of joy at the short bursts of amazing speed I got to witness at the photo shoot with Susan. He steadied me and gave me the confidence to proceed with the Certification Program as I built upon my seemingly hopeless zero horse knowledge. Through Spirit and his picture, he gave me the name of my business which is how I will forever think of him....with Unbridled Gratitude. The only way I can honor his memory is to do the best work I can and to tell the most people I can about the miracles of human/horse healing. I feel a call to action from his passing and renewed confidence to go on with the support of his guiding spirit. I am sure he crossed over in his prime to be the great Recruiter of Healing Horses and Willing Human Participants--who better to know just what and who you need for your work? I feel he will be our spirit guide to being in just the right place at the right time always for the connections with horses and humans who will help us take this work to the world.

I'm sending you Love and Light and great Gratitude for caring for and sharing Scooter with me and so many others. His passing brings us all to a new beginning of sorts, a space to take a deep breath and go forward with a clear vision of what a necessary gift this work will be to the world.

Molly


Sunday, September 6, 2009

Meet the New Addition to the Herd!



Meet Syche's Sweet Serenade aka Seri. She is a new addition to my herd and is such a doll baby! She has already seen a bit of the world for her young age and these pics were taken at her Oldenburg inspection a couple of weeks ago. I just love the little braids!

I was looking at a 1/2 sister to Zephyr who was down in Texas. She was also a sweet little thing but a bit far awawy. Little Seri lived only a few miles down the road from me and she had the pinto thing going that I just love.

She has two heart shaped patches - one near her girth and the other on her neck. One for Kairos and one for Zephyr, although I have to tell you that they were not to pleased when we brought her home. Worse yet was little Scooter who just seemed to glare at her when he wasn't trying to bite her through the fence.

Just wait Scooter, she is almost as big as you already!




Thursday, September 3, 2009

Touched By A Horse: QT's Portrait

I just wanted to take a moment and thank everybody for adopting my artwork for your homes or businesses last month! My horses love finding appreciating homes where folks dote on them....and they don't eat much! HA! LOL!! :)

Well... I finally was able to start working on this piece of QT for Melisa Pearce and her Touched By A Horse biz at good ole Lil Bit North Ranch. This is actually a side of QT I have never experienced except through the lens of my camera. He is often busy doing experiential round pen work with his clients. He is a great horse to use if people need to better their leadership, communication, and assertion skills. He just loves to run circles around them with his cute little nose rudely pointing away from them! To connect with QT you must first gain his respect.

QT has such amazing presence and energy. He certainly caught my eye the first time I saw him. Perhaps it is the look of eagles that he has in his eye.

Take good care and until next time.......
Susan
windhorseOne Studios



Sunday, August 23, 2009

Spirit of the Horse: New Equine art cards at Pine Country Feed

New Artcards!


I was busy dropping off my new artcards, Horse as Teacher book, small prints and also large editioned mounted prints today while getting my new account set up in the boutique section of our local tack and feed shop. Sometimes I have to wonder why it takes such a fire under me to get these things going!

The cards have been extremely successful at all the fine art festivals this year. What I realized on the way home was that I never created the opportunity for you to buy some beautiful cards here on my blog. They will not be available on my web site. I had to sit down and do a bunch of graphic work this evening so why not continue on and create PayPal buttons.....fun stuff for a Sat. evening. I bet you want to party with me! LOL!

There are three different sets of cards; each box contains 6 cards, 2 each of three different prints. They are 5 x 7 so they pop easily into little frames and make a great gift for the horse lover in your life! Additionally they are printed on the highest quality of paper.

To purchase your set please go to the right hand side of my blog. I hope you enjoy them!

Susan
windhorseOne Studios

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

HorseConscious and Horse as Teacher Book Unite!

By gosh I am excited! Here it is...hot off of the press from the Horseconscious website. Click on the above image if you would like to read about the union of two great horse projects! So here it is...your official invite to sign up........ You are the first to read my invite before I have even sent it to my email list.

I am delighted to announce that I am taking part in a brand new teleseminar series that is coming up at the end of September. And the really good news is that it's absolutely free for you to listen to and attend! All you'll need is a telephone or a computer and internet connection, so let me tell you all about it.

It's called the Horse as Teacher Teleseminar Series and will comprise 4 calls featuring all the authors from the first Horse As Teacher book. The series is being hosted by Mark over at HorseConscious.com, who was responsible for the highly acclaimed Path of the Horse Teleseminar Series earlier in the year.

The theme of the Series is naturally based on the book and also it's subtitle, 'The Path to Authenticity with Horses', because that's what horses can do for you when you embrace what they naturally and beautifully reveal. Although the authors come from a variety of horse backgrounds, we all agree that these magnificent animals have the power to help us peel back the layers to reveal who we truly are. They raise our consciousness, teach us authenticity and give us permission to shine once more.

As well as discussing the impact horses have had in our own lives, we will be telling you how they have inspired us to help others and the amazing results we have witnessed. The calls also give us an opportunity to really put something back by answering your questions.

If you have a question for one of us or have hit one of life's roadblocks or just want to help us spread the word about the power of horses to heal, then I invite you to join us at the end of September for what promises to be a very exciting event.

You can find out more information and submit your question by going to the following page:
http://www.horseconscious.info

Please forward this on to anybody who you feel may benefit!

Yours in the dance,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Horse as Teacher Book: 4 Week Horseconscious Tele-seminar Series

I wanted to start tonight's blog by personally thanking everybody who has purchased my book and it is my hope that it touched your heart the way it has mine! Apparently, based on feedback from lots of people, it is advisable to keep a box of tissues close at hand!

There have been all sorts of amazing synchronicities occurring lately from being a contributing author. I posted a while ago how I was promoting the book to an upscale "cowgirl" boutique when Lisa Dee walked in. Well there are a couple more Lisa Dee stories but I will move on to the next. Last Thurs. I was visiting the CO Horse Rescue to donate a signed copy of the book and lo and behold who was there but Anna Twinney! Anna managed Monty Roberts ranch in CA and is an amazing horsewoman.

To make a long story short, I never had met these women before but the book seemed to bring us together. And to add to this little gem, the office manager asked Anna to sign my signed copy and she looked up at me and informed me that she wrote the exact same thing in her books as I did. SO...she only signed "and Anna" after what I wrote. Then I signed "and Susan" after what she wrote in her donated copy. How cool is that? LOVE IT!


And now for something completely different! All ten authors were contacted by Mark Mottershead from Horseconscious (www.horseconscious.com) to do a tele-seminar series. HorseConscious promotes a way of being with horses where the primary focus is on understanding and honoring the horse. He did a highly successful 4 week series on Stormy May's "Path of the Horse" DVD. There will be four dates and all you have to do is connect to the link at the appropriate time to hear the series live. I am stoked to be able to reach all those people with our messages.

The first date is Sept. 30th and co-founders Kathy Pike, Coaching With Horses, and Marilyn Schwader, Clarity of Vision, will be speaking about the project. My day is Oct. 14th! I am nervous already.... :)

Well, have a wonderful week and may the horses bring much joy into your life!

PS - I am still including a complimentary 5" x 7" note card with each signed copy of the Horse as Teacher! You can order from my blog or website!

Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Friday, August 14, 2009

Molly Thanks Scooter or is it Vice Versa?

Yesterday I had the great fortune to have my good friend Molly assist me while I photographed Scooter, QT, and Shadow. It was quite a surprise to find her at the barn when I arrived! Melisa asked if it would be OK if she tended to some paperwork while I photographed the horses. Not only was it OK it was great!

There seems to be a synergistic flow between Molly and me. While I only met her a short three or four months ago it feels as though she has been a friend all of my life. Without her assistance yesterday the shoot would have been challenging.....it was hot and humid and the horses all dropped their heads immediately to pick and chew on weeds. She kept their energy up and they all expressed their true spirit in many different ways.

Molly has been graced with experiencing the healing power of each of these three horses and maybe I will see if she would write a guest Blog about them. This shot was taken at the end, back at the barn where we thanked each of the horses for sharing their spirit with us.

I can't tell if Scooter is smiling or kissing Molly!

Have a super weekend!
-S

Thursday, August 13, 2009

QT, Scooter, Shadow: Melisa Pearce's "Touched By A Horse" Boys

QT
This morning was spent photographing three former champion reiners who now have new jobs in life. And yes I do take normal photographs! I once handed a client her proofs and she just stared quietly at them, finally looking up and saying softly..."These don't look anything like your work". LOL!

But back to these amazing guys, who are not old and retired but average aged that have experienced career changes in life that they embrace and love. Career changes are not just for people!

Scooter
Each one of these handsome boys have become a therapeutic healer. Melisa is a psychotherapist who uses horses extensively in her work. These are her personal show horses who no longer perform at World championships but work their magic on her clients and other folks who show up from all over the country to participate in one of many equine experiential learning workshops she offers at her Lil Bit North Ranch in Longmont CO.

Shadow
I have been very fortunate to share and sell my art at her workshops. People leave the ranch wanting to bring home a "horse" to solidify their experience so Melisa and I felt it would be more powerful and meaningful if they were able to bring home a representation of her horses whom they worked with. This is a fun and exciting project! I also photographed Kathy Pike's horses (Coaching With Horses) a couple of weeks ago for the same purpose. This is a very worthwhile project that may continue to help people with their healing process when they leave the magic of the ranch and return to their mainstream life.

I will continue to share more about this artwork as it develops.

Enriching the life of humans and horses one day at a time......

Yours in the dance,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

A Horse and Their Person AKA Zephyr & Brad

Smile....you are on candid camera! I am not sure what Zephyr is up to here but I could tell you a little lie and say that on the command of "cheese" he gave me his best horsey smile! :)

This is a piece I created for a portrait submission and it is quite a departure from my usual work. I culled through quite a few of my photos for this little gem and with a bit of cropping, this was what I came up with. I have to admit I was quite pleased!

The piece will be judged by world class photographer (and famous) Mary Ellen Mark. She taught a class to the photojournalists at school while I was busy doing the fine art thing in a class room next door. That is not at all to say that PJs are not artists but their photography has more of a traditional look and a documentary flair. PJs are always on the hunt for that great shot and a story that nobody has ever taken before.

Sort of similar to my approach with the horses..... striving to create equine fine art photography that sets me apart from other horse photography colleagues. It is not about being in competition with them but working from my heart and instincts to create work that is unique because it comes from me.

Other things going on in my horsey world (is there any other world??? - well not for me) is that a fellow author from the Horse as Teacher book has asked to use six of my creations to make a promotional video. You may have heard of her - Stormy May. She is the producer of the Path of the Horse DVD. If you love horses and are interested in their welfare then this is a must see. She sold her ranch to travel the world and film several equine visionaries. It is not only beautiful but incredibly moving.

Time to sign off. Tomorrow is a busy day with a photo shoot and a visit to an equine rescue facility. Oops and I forgot.....dropping off a mounted print to a customer in the same neck of the woods.

Bye for Now!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios

Saturday, August 8, 2009

August

It is already well into the month of August and I can't believe how quickly this year has moved along! I haven't had much time or energy to any art work lately. I am surrounded by work that needs to ship to New Hampshire, Texas, Minnesota and locally from the shows I have been at but I took a little time to do some much needed work (for me!). This piece turned out to be a challenge and it took a bit of perseverance to get it to where I wanted it.

This is a portrait of August, a Canadian mare. I had never heard of the breed before I met Ingrid - the caretaker of my two boys. The Canadian Horse is a little known national treasure of Canada. This hardy breed descended from horses originally sent to the “New World” by King Louis XIV of France in the late 1600’s. These Norman and Breton horses were felt to be of Arab, Andalusian and Barb ancestry – traits of which can still be recognized in the Canadian Horse today.

There is quite an unusual lot at Ingrid's with this Canadian and her colt Echo plus the Peruvian Pasos and then my Friesian/colt crosses.

August is the alpha of the group and has quite a mind of her own! She is often standing near the gate gazing towards the house door or towards the forest. She is a horse who demands and commands respect.

I am glad to be home now for a while with no shows until mid-September! I have become enamored with a buckskin Friesian/paint filly in San Antonio. She is half sister to one of my boys and I can't seem to get her out of my mind..........Perhaps more on that later!

Have a super weekend!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Beaver Creek Art Festival: Aug. 1 & 2nd

Come see me at Beaver Creek this weekend! Hope to see you there!

Monday, July 27, 2009

RMRHA Summer Slide Show at the National Western Events Center in Denver, Colorado

I didn't realize it had been 2 weeks since my last post! Whew, the summer is flying by. Life has been really busy the last few weeks as I was getting ready for Zuma's Rescue Ranch fund raiser last Friday night and also a fine art festival this weekend in Boulder.

I did manage to squeeze in a day of photography last Wed. at the Rocky Mountain Reining Horse Assoc. Summer Slide reining event. What a hoot! I met a few friends at the National Western Events Center down in Denver. I seem to be attending quite a few western events lately. Raised back east, I rode hunters but perhaps the CO air has something to do with it!

This golden mare really appealed to me and also my friends. She exudes grace and strength and perhaps I sense a bit of determination in her. Of all the horses I photographed that day, she was the only horse whose owner I was compelled to go down to the barns and find. I might add it took a bit of nudging and prodding but off I went.

I also photographed some mustang foals at Zuma's before I set up my display on Thurs. evening. Zuma's stepped up to the plate and rescued seven mustang horses from the recent Three-Strikes Ranch tragedy and some of them gave birth recently. Thank you to Jodi at Zuma's for working so hard to rescue abused horses and your work with foster children.

I had the good grace to meet a young teen there who loves photography and is so eager to learn. Her name is Felicia and she will be joining me when I go to photograph Melisa Pearce's horses at Lil bit North Ranch in a few weeks.

Life is good! Live, love, and share....one horse at a time, one human at a time, one day at a time.

Yours in the dance,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios

Monday, July 13, 2009

Zuma Rescue Ranch Open House Gala: July 24th


Gosh there are few times I wish there were two of me but this week is one of those! It is also one of those amazing times of serendipity that I love so much. A few weeks ago a friend thought I might like to go to visit Zuma Rescue Ranch because I love supporting organizations that help horses and better yet organizations that help horses and humans.

Just last week I was thinking to myself that I should give them a ring when low and behold I received an email from them about their fundraiser this Friday. Unfortunately I will be away that day at the Aspen Art Festival but I will be there in spirit. Please click the above invite so that you can read about all the details! It is through the generosity of individuals in the community that organizations like this can grow and thrive.

Zuma's Mission

To rescue cast off horses and pair them with troubled children and families. Together, with the help of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy we will teach both horse and child how to live, love and trust again.

Horses sense the needs within children and provide and unconditional acceptance. Equine Assisted Psychotherapies open the locked doors of human minds.Once the door has been unlocked the healing can begin.

Michael Blake, author of "Dancing With Wolves" will be there signing his new book "Twelve the King", a tribute to his wild mustang. To learn more about this wonderful event please visit www.zumasrescueranch.com

Yours in the dance,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Friday, July 10, 2009

Pretty in Pink

Here is another shot from the Snowmass rodeo. This team was in the barrel racing competition.

I just love how this young girl's shirt matches her horses reins. The horse probably had pink leg wraps too!

Horses are kindred spirits for many girls and women. I know they are for me. A harmonious partnership with your horse is very beautiful and is cause for celebration.

Take a moment to pause and reflect and give gratitude for all the horse has given to us.

Have a great weekend!
Susan

Monday, July 6, 2009

Colorado Photographic Arts Center: 2009 Juried Exhibit


Spiritus One

HI! I forgot to blog about this piece and the show comes down this Sunday. This is one of my favorite pieces and anybody in the Denver metro area may be interested in taking a peek. I am always tickled when one of my horses is accepted into a non-equine show.

I was driving down the road, with trusty camera in hand, when I saw this Percheron with 3 birds on her back. Who could resist! For some reason I felt the urge to add the egret, which I photographed in another location. It is the only horse piece I have in my current published work where I have added another element. Go figure.

Cheers,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

7th Annual Downtown Aspen Art Festival: July 18 & 19


Saturday - Sunday, July 18 - 19, 2009

Come see me at the Aspen Art Festival located at Wagner Park, Aspen, CO.

I will have a booth there. Think sunny skies! We have had rain almost every afternoon and it poured several times at the Downtown Denver Art Festival. The next weekend I will be in Boulder and finish up at Beaver Creek.


I hope to see you there!
Susan

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Snowmass Rodeo Western Wednedays: Snowmass Village Colorado

I returned home Fri. eve. from 6 days in Snowmass and Aspen Colorado. I attended a photo/painting hybrid class at Anderson Ranch. What a blast! So much happened in the last week I still have not stopped spinning!

While we were there we went to the Snowmass Rodeo Western Wednesdays which is held every week during the summer. I haven't gone to a rodeo in quite some time and I hoped to get some cowboy shots. But being an avid horse photographer I am happy to say I did manage to get some liberty shots. Nothing makes me happier than watching a beautiful horse run around freely without any tack.

Meet Hannah Montana, a beautiful bay mare. They let Hannah run loose in the arena while they told the crowd a little bit about the bucking horses. You see, Hannah is a bucking bronc and while it may appear so - I was not in the arena with her!

I don't believe she ever came out of the chutes that night which I was grateful for. I want to remember her like this and not with the whites of her eyes showing and her mouth wide open as she thrashes about wildly to remove the man on her back. I read in Monty Robert's book that broncs are prize animals that are well cared for and actually love their jobs. You can see by the pic. that she is in fabulous shape but you could have fooled me about the loving their jobs part. Well maybe the part about unleashing the cowboy!

Susan

Friday, June 26, 2009

More New Work: Saving the Mustangs


And now for something totally different!

In preparation for my workshop next week at Anderson Ranch I created this new piece. I used to do a bit of graphic design and really like a graphic look but I have been honing my equine photography skills over the last year.

This will be a big piece - 75" long and has symbols and text. The goal of the workshop is to combine painting, photography, text, and whatever else we want. My goal is to start creating one-of-a-kind pieces.

When I started this the only thing I knew was that I wanted it to somehow tie into the wild mustangs. After going on a treasure hunt for imagery this is what I came up with.

This is a return to my fine art studies where we were encouraged to make work that makes a difference in the world.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Art at the Draft Horse Classic

I just wanted to share this image with you from the Draft Horse Classic out at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley CA. Every year they have an art show while all the gentle giants strut their stuff. This is one of my submissions that I worked up recently.

It was at this event last year that I fell in love with the Friesian breed. I am not sure but I think this is a Percheron horse. Please correct me if I am wrong! I would love to go back and exhibit again this year but we have decided to stay in CO this year. Boo Hoo! I loved it there.

Well this blogger has had about enough writing for today. I was busy reactivating and communicating on my new windhorseOne Studios Facebook page and I am throwing in the towel!

Thanks for reading!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Monday, June 22, 2009

New Work

I have been working in some new colors and also with heavier brush strokes than normal. Call me crazy but I half woke up in the middle of the night and felt like I was being instructed to add color to my work! So I have been experimenting and having a blast!

This weekend I am taking a class at Anderson Ranch in Snowmass CO where I will be working large scale and adding text and painting on photographs. My goal is to start making large one of a kind pieces.


Additionally I created these two bull pieces which I will make large 40" prints of. This is a first for me so I am excited to see how they fare. I will be showing at the art festival in Aspen in mid July so I will introduce them there. Heck, this is a cattle state and some people love cattle as much as they love horses. I don't normally photograph cattle but I took this bull when I was in Andalusia, Spain.

Now I have to come up with a generalized name for this new work.........

Touched by a Horse: Whispers From A Horse's Heart by Melisa Pearce

I just had to post about these amazing equine inspirational cards - Whispers From a Horse's Heart. How beautiful is that??!!!! There are 52 large cards in the deck and each one has a special inspirational message. Melisa Pearce, founder of Touched by a Horse, wrote the messages and Jan Taylor is the artist. Both are from good ole Colorado.

These are just 2 examples of these beautiful cards. What is so different about these card decks, other than their beautiful artwork? The inspiration and guidance that is offered on the cards will encourage you to reflect upon your dreams, desires, and challenges. Every day, just pick a card that appeals to you in that moment and read its message.You will be amazed with just how appropriate the message relates to what you are feeling or dealing with.

At the start of each week I pick a card and reflect on it and it is always uncanny how accurate the information usually is!

Melisa is one of the co-authors in the Horse As Teacher book and I have come to know her well in the past few months. I am delighted she has allowed me to share her beautiful cards with you! If you are interested please check the right hand side of my blog where you will find more information.

We have all partnered together to make the world a better place for humans and horses!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Mare and Foal Magic; Universal Motherhood




She's gentle and strong, generous and forgiving, a perfect mom and drop dead beautiful. Was this your mom? Maybe or maybe not. I am willing to bet that for many, the answer is probably not. I bring this up because of a recent workshop I attended where there was an amazing group of women who were brave and shared truths honestly about themselves in order that they could grow, learn, and provide a higher quality of service to their clients.

Did I forget to tell you this mother has long flowing hair, four legs and can run like the wind.......

I just love the energy of spring and all it bring; new growth and new foals! Like little children, foals grow and change so quickly. There is something about babies that brings a smile to everyone's face and animal babies are no exception.

With that I thought I would share a few new mare and foal pics. and share some joy! If we animals all share one thing in common I would have to say it is universal motherhood.

Yours in the dance,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

He's Splendid!

And splendid he is! I had the good fortune to photograph this special 21 year old Thoroughbred gelding called He's Splendid last week. You would never guess he is 21 because he is in fabulous condition. Splendid is a special horse with a very large heart and a ton of compassion. He seemed to possess the collective wisdom from his species.

Splendid came all the way from CA with his human Christie. I met Christie at Melisa Pearce's Lil Bit North Ranch at a workshop a week and a half ago. She and Splendid have quite a bond that didn't go unnoticed. I was touched and delighted that Christie asked me to come back later in the week for a photo session!

A little black cloud of rain and hail followed me down the mountain and to Boulder. I thought we would be rained out but I went anyway. Christie and I talked for quite a while in the barn and soon enough the sun came out. One thing about Colorado weather is it can change in a heartbeat and the shoot went well after all!

Christie gave me free rein to choose and work on any piece I wanted to. What trust! I was a bit nervous showing Christie the portrait because she was sooo close to her horse but she was delighted and went off to show it to Splendid, who we believe approved!

Splendid and Christie left for home yesterday and should be back in CA by now. Christie decided to leave the portrait with me so I could have it mounted on aluminum for her (She sent me an email already telling me she is counting the days until it arrives!).

Everybody at Melisa's was touched by this horse.....

Take good care,
Susan

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Horse as Teacher Book: Status Update


Signed copy of Horse as Teacher Book
plus free 5" x 7" equine note card: $19.95


I want to start off by thanking everybody who ordered a copy of the new book Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity. I have been touched by many of the thoughts that you have shared with me.

When I arrived home from my vacation I was surprised to find the shipment had arrived and was waiting right inside the door. I have since sat myself down and read all the other contributing author's stories and I am amazed with the quality of each and every chapter. I don't know why I should be but I tend to be a bit of a critic and the only criticism I have is WOW!

I want to share part of the foreword with you. It is written by Mark Mottershead, the founder of HorseConscious.

"The stories in this book are a perfect illustration of today's spirit of the times. Yes, on one level they are simple stories of love, trust, and honesty, which will make you smile, laugh, and cry in turns. At the same time, they tell of the transformations that are now taking place on a personal and global level. Each person within these pages that took the leap of faith with horses to a brighter future is a trailblazer and role model for us all. Their evolution is our evolution. Their story is our story....They have become a human herd, where the group mission is as important as any individual's message. The power of community is clearly demonstrated in this collection of authors."

So there you have it! I couldn't say that quite as eloquently and why reinvent the wheel when Mark did such a fine job!

For a limited time (and who knows what limited time means!) I will be including a free 5" x 7" note card of one of my beautiful prints, suitable for framing, with your signed copy of the book. This makes a great gift for any horse lover in your life or yourself!

Place your US order via secure PayPal by clicking here now!

Place your INTL order via secure PayPal by clicking here now!

Other Horse as Teacher News!!!

Remember the series I created for a relationship project? Well I certainly do. I don't think I gave away that it was for the second HAT book on leadership. If you remember, I submitted 4 or 5 images and my favorite was the black and white horse. Kathy Pike, co-founder of the HAT project, called me last week to tell me that they were going to use one of my pics! Woo hoo! The HAT project has made me an author and also now I have my first book jacket. Can you see my smile? I am just grinning from ear to ear because I believe in this book with 100% of my being. I just love being part of a progressive visionary group of people who are working to make a difference in our world.


This project has turned out to be much more than I could ever hope for and I am forever grateful for the amazing assistance I had from Kathy Pike (Coaching With Horses) and our editor and co-founder Marilyn Schwader (Clarity of Vision). Thank you ladies for your tireless efforts!

Without the team, err I mean herd, effort this project would have been impossible. Imagine keeping ten of us organized. HA! LOL!! Glad it wasn't me. Imagine all the ear pinning and neck snaking needed to keep us on track! :)

Yours in the dance,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Monday, June 8, 2009

Touched By A Horse Workshop & Melisa Pearce

This weekend I participated in an Intuitive Awareness workshop at Melisa Pearce's Lil Bit North Ranch in Niwot Colorado. I recently met Melisa who founded Touched By A Horse; programs inspired by relationships with horses combined with her background in psychotherapy. The programs integrate time with horses and also deep personal exploration. Melisa is one of the ten authors in the Horse as Teacher book which is how we met. Check out her wonderful website at www.touchedbyahorse.com.

As we all know, horses are highly intuitive creatures and rely heavily on their senses for self preservation. While we humans have intuition, we rarely trust or listen to it! One of the fascinating aspects of this weekends workshop was being able to watch the horse/human dynamics and how the same horse related to different people. I will be returning later in the week to photograph a participants horse and also some of Melisa's amazing animals. She loves Paints and has a three time World champ. This woman is amazing and does it all!

Melisa also graciously allowed me to bring some of my work to show and sell to the participants. It gave people an opportunity to bring home a horse they identified with that would help them savor and warmly remember the event. Thank you Melisa for your generosity!

I felt the image above is a good representation for this blog. There is somewhat of a mystical and contemplative quality to it. After seeing so many women's hearts being "touched by a horse", who said horses aren't mystics!!!

Yours in the dance,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com