My Weekend at Equifest - The Final Day

Today was almost anti-climactic, it went so swiftly. The show was supposed to last until six, but vendors were breaking down booths at 4 in the main exhibit area, so it didn’t take the horse people long to follow suit. We had everything … horses and all … packed up and ready to go by 7. Of course, there were more horses to load, but they all loaded well. There was a lot less stable decoration and ‘props’ this time and that’s where we saved time.

The most notable thing today involved the two mustangs being presented by the Kansas Correctional Institute in Hutchinson. The KCI folks and their horses shared the aisle with us, so we had all weekend to visit with them and to admire horses. I even managed to get a couple of partial sketches of one of the horses.

The horses were going to be auctioned at 2 p.m. so people had been stopping by all weekend to see them and ask about other horses. All of the horses that go through the program at KCI in Hutchinson are Bureau of Land Management captures. The two horses at Equifest had both been captured in Nevada. I believe they were both about five years old, though I admit I didn't pay a lot of attention to that. They were both very well mannered and quiet, attentive almost every time I passed their stalls and they seemed completely unexciteable.

I did not have the opportunity to see their presentations during the show, but they were both presented under saddle. I did get to observe their handlers working with them and was impressed by all involved. They were not at all what I usually think of when I think of mustangs.

When auction time rolled around, the gray went first. Bidding was slow at first, but he ended up selling for over $3,000! That was a new record price for any sale from KCI and everyone was quite excited. The horse is going to be used for trail rides in the Flint Hills and his new owners already owned a couple of mustangs so it looked like he was going to a good home.

The buckskin sold for over $1,000. I am not sure where he was headed after the show, but both them were taken by their new owners by the end of the day.

I made no sales during the show, but that wasn’t a big surprise. I was not allowed to make sales because we were in the horse barn. I didn’t even talk to anyone who seemed serious about buying portrait work, but there was a lot of interest in the horses and a lot of comments on my painting of AL Firestorm.

And I was finally able to get pictures of the horses outside, in good natural light with strong sunlight as they waited for their Sunday presentation. There are at least two decent portraits among those 50 or 60 shots, so I am very happy. I am especially excited about the possibility of doing a portrait of horse and handler because I got three or four shots of one or two of the colts with their handlers. Some of those photos almost look posed, though they weren't. All of them are good reference for potential paintings.

Neal and I also talked quite a bit to the people from KCI about doing artwork to benefit their cause. I already have ideas for potential projects there.

Oh, and our drawing for the framed artwork also went very well. A total of 70 people entered the drawing and the winner was from Augusta, Kansas.

Congratulations!

I am already looking forward to the next event, which will be a selling event. The Sunflower Arab Show in Wichita, Kansas looks like our next stop and we will be there over Memorial Day Weekend.

My Weekend at Equifest - The Second Day

It's amazing the difference a good night's sleep can make!

Yesterday was almost a nightmare because of lack of planning and preparation, but it worked out all right.

Today went much more smoothly. No waylaid anything (as far as I could tell) and a much simpler day. I spent all day at the show and Neal was able to spend most of the afternoon and evening, after taking care of some business during the morning hours.

In previous years, Team Firestorm has been on Stallion Row. As a young stallion with no offspring, he was being offered to mare owners and was being presented at liberty. I have seen his owner turn him loose in the paddock at the farm, then play with him and their rapport has been delightful.

Their at liberty performances, set to music, were even more delightful and were among the highlights of each show.

This year, however, Team Firestorm was across the aisle in the breed area. Along with AL Firestorm, there were five of his six first year foals, including Blazing Hot Start, who was born during Equifest of Kansas 2005.

The presentation was also different. Rather than an at liberty routine featuring only AL Firestorm, all six horses were presented. AL Firestorm was presented under saddle performing some very basic manuvers such as circles, lead changes and stops while being introduced.

Then each of the foals was presented, along with information about their parentage and what the owners were hoping to accomplish by breeding their mares to Firestorm. Because the mares included a Quarter Horse, a Morgan, a Saddlebred and part Arab as well as a purebred Arab, the purpose for each foal was different. Those purposes were explained fully and in a manner that showed how crossing with AL Firestorm improved on all of the mares. Although it wasn't as exciting or breathtaking as an at liberty routine, it was a great presentation.

And it was amazing to me to see that even with such a diverse group of mares, each and every foal was stamped with the likeness of AL Firestorm. Especially around their heads and ears. They all had The Look, as well as the attitude and personality.

It was a great presentation. My only regret was that I still didn't get the opportunity to get photographs of any of them, try as I might. In fact, in spite of going to today's show armed with pencil and paper and ready to draw from life, I didn't even have the opportunity for much of that! When the horses were awake and interested, we were busy with visitors or getting ready for the show.

When I had time to sketch, they were all eating or sleeping or had their rears turned toward the stall door!

Oh well! Better luck tomorrow!

My Weekend at Equifest - The First Day

I always enjoy doing horse shows, especially when I can hang out around the horses!

Equifest of Kansas is the first such show each year, coming the last weekend in February. Today was the first day.

And it was one of the strangest first days of a show I have ever experienced.

It started out with difficulties getting my giveaway reproduction. At every show last year, we gave away a reproduction of "Running Free". It's the only way to get one!

I send the digital images to a company in Wichita, they do the printing, then we mat and frame the artwork.

Last Tuesday, I sent the digital file and Neal was going to pick it up yesterday after dropping me off at the show. Well, it was over two hours before he got back and when he did, no reproduction. The printer hadn't received the file. After much running around and attempting to solve things the easy way, we ended up going back home so I could resend the image, then all the way back down to Wichita to pick it up, then returning to the show. It all worked out great, though. The image looks great. The company was wonderful about getting things straightened out (they did the work at no charge), and the framed reproduction is now in place and has several people already entered into the drawing.

I took two pieces to work on today, but ended up doing nothing with either one. In fact, the ACEO sheet I took did not even make an appearance and the Black Clydesdale was shown only as a sample. We were so busy with errands, then with horses that the only artwork I got done was a little bit of sketching (Friesians, Icelandics and a huge, 19-year-old Appy that is an absolute dear!).

Ann Loder has AL Firestorm at the show, as usual, but she also has five of his first year foals, including the first one, which was born during last year's Equifest. Having five babies to work with requires a lot more hands, especially leading up to the breed presentation.

It was fun carrying water, dishing out hay, helping with the presentation and generally being back up. I didn't mind not being able to get much artwork done.

Although I admit to having gotten some great ideas and inspiration just from looking at those six gorgeous Arabs!

Equifest of Kansas

For the third straight year, I will be beginning the horse show season at Equifest of Kansas. Equifest will be held at the Kansas Coliseum the final weekend in February. Doors open Friday, February 24, with the show running until Sunday, February 26.

Again this year, Neal and I will be accompanying Elizabeth Ann Loder and Steve and Charlotte White of White Training Stables. However, instead of being in the Stallion Row with AL Firestorm, we will all be in the Breed Demonstration area. Ann has some great ideas for her exhibit, so I hope you will stop by and check us out.

I will also be giving away a framed and signed reproduction of my signature portrait of AL Firestorm. This 8x10 reproduction is a very limited edition and is offered only at special events and through drawings such as these. To be eligible, you must stop by the booth and complete a registration form, but there is no charge to enter and you do not need to be present to win. The winner will be drawn after the close of the show Sunday evening.

Hours for Equifest of Kansas are Friday, February 24 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, February 25 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, February 26 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.