Regal Revenue

I've ridden so many horses. Big horses and little horses. Baby horses and old horses. Horses straight from the kill pen and six figure hunters. It's been a life filled with horses, and I've enjoyed almost every one of them.

Still, a few shine brighter than the rest.

Regal Revenue was one of the brightest.

From our first ride...

to our last...

Rev was always one of a kind.

He left hoof prints in my heart, a dent in my leg and a big scar across my collarbone. I have no regrets.

Last night I received a text from Rev's new family, letting me know that he'd broken a leg in a pasture accident earlier that day. It was not a reparable injury, so they made the sad decision to let him go. My heart breaks for the goofy red Arab and his girl, Grace.

My time with Rev was well documented on this blog, so I'm not going to rehash everything here. Instead, I'll leave you with some of my favorite Rev pictures. Godspeed, Regal Revenue. You will be sorely missed.

Wild, Wild West Potluck

If life was fair, I would have spent yesterday attending the Wild, Wild West All Yellow and Performance Shootout model horse shows.

These shows were to be held by Nancy Dement and Jim West.

After Jim's untimely death last month, Nancy decided the show would not go on. Everyone understood, but we still wanted to get together. Thus, the Wild, Wild West Potluck was born.

Everyone brought food, but Collyn also brought gifts.

Such a wonderful little custom by Courtney Long!

We admired Vicky's Breyer collection... 

which is beautifully displayed... 

throughout her home. 

This is one of the two Jim West memorial models created for Vicky by the Peter Stone Company. Teal pegasus is hers to keep. The other will be auctioned, and the proceeds will be donated to a college fund for Jim's children.

The horses on these shelves belonged to Jim. Eventually most of them will also be offered for sale.

Wild, Wild West Potluck did not include NAN cards. However, there were Cards Against Humanity.

"Cucumber." 

It's probably best that you can't read the cards Sandy and I are holding. 

I don't believe everything happens for a reason. Bad things happen to good people all the time. There's no rhyme or reason to it. Every single person in this photo misses Jim. Without him, our lives are sadder (and quieter). 

That said, good things can come from tragedy. The Colorado hobby group is more united than ever before. We all know what's most important, and it's not NAN cards. I love you guys!

Too busy for models

 I wanted to write a post about model horses today.

Unfortunately, I have been so busy today, I haven't had time to think about model horses.

No really.

We had house guests arrive late yesterday, so my early morning was spent with them. Then it was off to the barn to hold horses for the vet.

When that was done, I cleaned Santana and went for a short ride. 

Then I had an appointment with the barn owner to take pictures of the babies.

I seriously can not believe this one's still for sale!

I went home for lunch, and then headed out to Brighton Feed and Saddlery to go saddle shopping with Cindy. We sat in a lot of saddles. 

This one was the winner. 

It's a Julie Goodnight saddle by Circle Y, and boy, is it comfy. My butt cannot wait to ride this one down the trail!

I was home at sunset. Darcy and I squeezed in a quick walk. Then it was time for dinner and family. It's eight pm now, and for the first time all day, I am sitting in my studio and thinking about model horses. Maybe, just maybe, I'll write a post about them tomorrow!

Winter is coming

According to the meteorologists, it's coming tonight.

Since today was beautiful, I decided to skip the studio and go riding with Teresa.

I rode Chino, who is new to me. Like Santana, he's a good, solid trail horse who needs a little more exercise than his owner can provide. I am delighted to fill in the gap! 

Recently, our trails have been under construction, but the coast was clear today. We tiptoed past the trail closed sign...

and dropped down into the river bottom.

This was my first trail ride on Chino and he was excellent. I couldn't have asked for a better mount.

Two good boys! 

This was a beautiful autumn ride. 

I'm so glad we were able to fit in before the snow arrived!

The American Pharoah project, part two

Bay is beautiful

A good horse is never a bad color, but some colors are prettier than others. Personally, I am a fan of reds and golds, especially when paired with chrome.

Contrary to popular belief, I do not hate bay horses. I appreciate dark, dapple-y bays, 

bays with chrome... 

and cute faced mealy bays. 

But plain bay with no dapples, no shading and no markings?

That's not my favorite. Sorry, Mystyc.

Because of this I never thought I would ask my favorite customizer to make me a plain bay model. Then again, I never expected to bear witness to a horse like American Pharoah.

Photo by Richard Mackson/USA Today Sports

This needs to be done. 

Thank you, Tiffany, for agreeing to bring my American Pharoah to life. I know it's not your favorite color either, but sometimes plain bay really is beautiful.