My first self portrait was done in 1991 here on Yo Yo. He was the most fun hunt horse ever and I broke all existing records of 23 seasons with the Moore County Hounds. He could buck and play, but he never bucked me off! We found out later in his life that when he did that after and hour or so of exercise, he was just straightening his back….I am not sure I could still sit one of those today! He was nearly 17 hands and sweet as they come. By the way, my coat here was an ancient Nardi from the 30s handed down to me. It was almost a dark gray rather than deep black. It is always so fun to wear relics from the past. It makes me feel those people are a part of me.
My second self portrait is on a wonderful Thoroughbred, Billy, I got when he “retired” as a Master’s horse. That was over 9 years ago ( he is 27 at this posting ) and he is still going. He is just as sweet as Yo Yo, but a bit smarter! He has incredible hearing and tells me everything that is going on. I have been lucky to have both wonderful guys in my life.
A point of interest, I never knew that I sat the horse with two different leg positions. The two paintings are absolutely correct: my left leg shifts forward and the right back – just the way I am built I guess!
