Adventures Of Zephyr and Kairos

Everyday when I need a break I go out and visit my two colts Zephyr and Kairos. We go for short walks together which is giving us time to develop a strong bond and relationship. I have had people ask "Wouldn't I rather be riding?" and while the answer is yes I would love to be riding I have found it very rewarding to bring my own horses along very slowly. Riding is one of the many benefits we share with our equine friends but there are so many other rewarding activities we can do with them. I have been horseless for about seven years now and somehow these two seemed to have found me. I wasn't in the market for one horse and ended up with two!

It is amazing and fun to watch how their personalities develop. Little Zephyr on the left, (he is not so little!), always was very quite and has an amazingly sweet eye. He is more food motivated than Kairos and out runs him to come collect his good-bye treats. He has also become very animated lately and uses his mouth quite a bit to perform. I sat and watched him sticking his tongue out for quite a while and finally had to tear myself away, but not before taking a few photos. I left grinning from ear to ear and as always re-energized. Horses have a way of doing that to us don't they?!

Bye for Now,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Appaloosa Portrait

I started working on a series of Appaloosa images this week. I have always had a soft spot for appies as I used to have an appy/TB cross. I had always wanted a black app with a white blanket and black spots. What I bought was a black app with about seven white spots and a white star. She was only seven months old. What I didn't know was that she would get lighter! By the time she was three she was a silver grey with a white mane and tail, a white blanket and black spots.

This image is a bit of a departure from my normal work. I decided to try some color. The color is subdued but nonetheless there. It is not that I am afraid of working with color but that I was primarily a B&W photographer for years so most of my work seems to be predominantly monochromatic.

This was a bit of an experiment and quite fun. I have to admit I am a bit all over the map lately but it seems that if I just go with the flow and allow the image to evolve on its own then it seems to work out in the end! I am not sure if I am finished with it. Normally I let them sit for a day or two and often find I can enhance them further but I liked this enough to post.

There is another one I will post when it is complete.

Hmmm, I just noticed my last three posts are all pointing to the left.....wonder if that means anything? LOL!

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

The Windhorse

I have always been drawn to horses with unusual markings and blue eyes. There is something very surreal abut blue eyed horses and dogs for that matter. There is a mystical quality to this horse and I imagine him carrying a Shaman or Native American medicine man. That is just what popped into my head as I was writing this. This could possibly be the start of a new body of work since I am not sure where it fits in with my other work. New directions; I love it! The creative process is such an adventure and I never know where it is going to take me.

This week I have been reading "She Flies Without Wings; How Horses Touch a Woman's Soul" by Mary D. Midkiff. It is a beautiful book with stories about how horses capture the hearts of young girls and women. It explains so eloquently the mystery and process of how many of us who are horse artists and equestrians alike have identified with the horse. We all know there is a special connection but there are several aha moments in the book. It took me back to my horse crazy childhood.

Happy March! Spring is on its way and along with that the large CO spring snowstorms. It has been a dry winter here so I hope we get some good storms to keep the mountains moist and the fires away.

Susan
www.windhorseone.com

Regal White

I have been working on developing a new technique which is coming along nicely. I base it on traditional darkroom techniques but do it on the computer. I guess the computer is my digital darkroom! I have to admit I do not miss the darkroom too much. I did like watching the prints develop on the paper but I certainly do not miss the muss and fuss. Not to mention the trips back and forth to the darkroom!

This print started out as a color image which I desaturated and then sepia toned part of it for a warm tone and selenium toned the rest for a cool tone. Some traditional dodging and burning really made the image pop and come to life. I have been fiddling with this technique for a couple of months now and I really like it. It doesn't seem to work well for all photographs but trial and error is such fun!

Bye for now,
Susan
www.windhorseone.com

Horse as Teacher Book - Part 2

"Horses have the capacity to teach us key life lessons. To experience this higher level of connection and communication, humans must accept the horse as a partner and be open and willing to receive their wisdom."

Horse as Teacher website: www.horseasteacher.com

Well as promised here is the cover of the book "Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity". In my last blog on this topic we were anticipating the release of the cover of the book which was designed by equine photographer extraordinaire Tony Stromberg (including one of his beautiful images). While none of the authors had input in the image that was used I think it is perfect and depicts the gentle, luminous, and welcoming eye of the horse that we all love. I didn't coin this but the eye is the window to the soul.

Writing the forward for the book is Mark Mottershead, who founded the Horse Consciousness website (www.horseconsciousness.com). Recently he headed up "The Path Seminar Series" featuring the teachers in Stormy Mae's (one of the co-authors in Horse as Teacher) DVD. Check out his website which features articles and tips from some amazing horse visionaries of our time.

I find that I want to know everything about working with horses as partners that it can become a distraction from doing my artwork. I want to be the best human guardian for my two colts as I can and ensure that they have the best equine/human partnership that exists! What I have come to realize is that by strengthening my relationship with with my horses, the depth of my artwork increases. The voice of the horse connects and communicates through me.

Our book is due to be released in May and has a list price of $19.95. At this time the shipping fee of $5.95 will be waived and all copies will be signed for all orders placed before the book release. Additionally 10% will be donated to horse rescue organizations. If there ever was a time for change it is now and what better way than through the human/horse connection?

Please contact me at susan@windhorseone.com if you are interested in learning more about Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity or to secure your pre-shipping copy.

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

Of Horses and Dogs

Meet Foose. I can never remember if he is a border collie or Australian sheep dog mix. Any way I am not too sure it is important. He is absolutely gorgeous! All I know is that with horses there must also be dogs. At least there have been wherever my horses have been. Dogs have come and gone in my life and right now I am sad to admit I am dogless. With a busy art show schedule it is easy when your horses are boarded but it is not as easy to board your dog. Yes it easy in the sense that you can drop them off at a kennel but I have never really had the heart for that.

But on the bright side I get to see Foose and his girl Scout. Scout has had some leg problems lately and I do not have any photos of her but she is equally as spectacular! What I love about Foose is his wonderful vigor for life. When I arrive at the farm (I am from the east where we say farm but now I am in Colorado so I guess I should say ranch!) he comes flying down helter skelter to greet me. He loves to jump up to say hello but if it is muddy he is a gentleman when I tell him down. Foose found his forever home after a former guardian decided it was too much effort to continue to feed him. I guess I can't imagine somebody coming to decide something like that.

If there is one thing I have to say about Foose, it is that besides being an amazing companion, he takes his herding responsibilities quite seriously! And while he is very much the serious fella about this, sometime the horses think he is a pest and will chase him! He is quite the tenacious guy though and often his patience wins out. I have to admit that I love photographing dogs as much as I love photographing horses. Really, the two are inseparable!

As always, thanks for reading!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Boys will be Boys

These are my two young colts horsing around in the field a few weeks before I brought them to the mountains. Recently I was notified by Equine Wellness magazine that this picture was awarded 6th place and will be published in their March/April issue! Woo hoo, what an honor! The contest called for photos of people's horses. I know I am partial but I have to admit that they are way too cute. :)

They look like brothers but they are not related. The standing colt is called Kairos and the lad on top is Zephyr. They are both named after Greek gods. Zephyr is the god of the gentle west winds and Kairos is the god of time (Cronos is also a god of time and that is where chronological comes from). Kairos is symbolic for instances with small windows of time where there is an opening and one must act with gusto or lose the opportunity.

This was actually a pivotal point in these boys lives. Normally Kairos would be pestering Zephyr, who is so sweet and gentle. But Zephyr has decided he has had enough! And if you knew the two then you couldn't really blame him. They absolutely adore one another and are inseparable!

Bye for now!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com