This week on Mustang A Day Challenge: Fighting Stallions of Sand Wash Basin HMA May 16th-20th

This week on Mustang A Day Challenge:

Fighting Stallions of Sand Wash Basin HMA

I must say horse watching even on facebook and blogs can blow away a lot of myths you have about wild horses in general. What I discovered was that I only understood about half of herd dynamics and that was from my mostly limited view of the horse from watching my own animals kept in as natural a situation as possible for their own health and well being.

My own personal Myths were the perception of how Stallions actually interacted with each other and their herds. This information I learned from other horsemen who for generations kept domestic, highly bred horses such as Arabians and Thoroughbreds. Even the Quarter Horse and Appaloosa Stallions I knew were rank, scary, pushy and demanded a healthy respect. Having my own stallion for a time I also learned from him but not as much as I have from the accounts of wild stallion behavior from the  photographers and horse watchers.

This week I am going to examine those myths of how and why stallions fight as I paint the fighting Stallions of the Sand Wash Basin HMA.

A portion of the money from the sale of this weeks paintings will go to those who’s tireless efforts have been dedicated to the Wild Horses of The Sand Wash Basin to document and help in the preservation of these animals.

Ft Collins Extreme Mustang Makeover

This challenging Supreme Extreme Mustang,
hasnt got a name yet but he is definately a
wild child Mustang. I will begin painting
 him and the two new Mustang Mares for
 Madeline and Roberts efforts to the Supreme
Extreme Mustang Makeover in September.

With only 4 weeks to go to the Ft Collins Mustang Makeover Both Madeleine Lecleric and Robert Carlson have taken on a combined three new horses for the Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover(SEMM) event.

Unlike the two Fort Collins horses, Watson and Tango, who will be offered for adoption on the last day of the event, these three new horses were purchased by Madeleine and Robert for the SEMM Challenge.

Training started on the new horses the day they arrived at their Texas training center Where the trainers were holding  a two day audit only clinic on How to Start Your Mustang.  The three horses, it seemed were as different as night and day. Madeleine’s  little roan mare was about average for a mustang fresh out of the BLM holding pens and never been touched. The additional mare they brought home was a sweet little bay, that according to Madeleine only took 5 minutes to halter break and that after noon she had the saddle on for the first time.

"Going For a Spin"
Available
8 by 10 Watercolor
by Linda L MartinArtist

However it was Robert’s horse that was the surprising challenge. The black gelding  was a truly wild and a bit aggressive in his reactions. He challenged each new thing that Robert put him to.  Being young and athletic and knowing how to use his hooves and body to get his way made for a demanding first two days that only an experienced trainer could handle well. In fact the team of Robert and Madeleine had to work together  at one point to help him get his mind where it needed to be.

Tuesday Night’s painting features Madeleine and Tango.

If you would like to follow Madeleine and Robert as they train Watson and Tango as well as their new Supreme EMM you can follow them on their new combined facebook page: R&M Mustang Program

I understand they will also be holding several more clinics in the coming weeks. You can find out more information on their page. 

Fund Raiser For Alder Hill Farm!

Rosie and Brio Two of the BLM Branded
Mustang Mares currently at Alder HIll Farm.
Thre are currently 10 plus Mustangs in Residence.
Some are in training and ready for adoption.
Find out more http://www.alderhillfarm.org/

Just a Reminder we still have a Special on 6 by 9 inch simple watercolor portraits of  $55.00. The special runs through June 30^th.  Simply email me at contact@llmartin.com  or LLMartisticServices@yahoo.com  for information.  Mustangs painted using the special will be included in the Mustang A Day Challenge along with their story.

A portion of the proceeds from this Special will go to Alder Hill Farm Rescue to help with the care and feeding of the Mustangs in residence there. You can also donate directly to Alder Hill Farm by going to http://www.alderhillfarm.org/

This week on the Mustang A Day Challenge: May9th through May13th Happy Adoptions Week

This week on the Mustang A Day Challenge: May9th through May13th

Shancho
Photo provided by Cecilia Steel.
Used by permission

Happy Adoptions:

This is another one of our Happy Adoptions weeks for the Mustang A Day Challenge. The first painting this week is unique in so many ways. First its of the horse of choice by our Mustang 1oo giveaway winner, Cecilia Steel.

His name is Shancho. He was a TIP horse started by Gerry Gesell. His story is a little different than most. Check out the Mustang A Day Challenge Blog tonight to hear of his unique circumstances and what a special horse he is. We also have 3 other horses that will be featured that have unique and heart warming stories. You wont want to miss one of them. And please share with your friends too. http://MustangADayChallenge.blogspot.com

Madeleine LeClerc and Tango
Photo provided by
Lightningbug Creek Photography

Ft. Collins Makeover Paintings

Again on Tuesday we will be doing week 8 of the Ft Collins Makeover horses. This week will be Robert and Watson. As part of the preparations for the June Event  Robert Carlson and Madeleine LeClerc have been riding Watson and Tango in as many different circumstances as possible public events, raging storms, near loud roaring machines, In doors out doors on trails, through water and then doing it all again at night.

If you happen to be in Texas and have some free time R&M Performance horses will be Picking up their Extreme Makeover horses on Friday May 13^th and will be hosting a Supreme Extreme Mustang Starting Clinic using these horses for both Friday and Saturday. Go to their facebook page for more information on how you can participate. They still have a few spaces open so don’t hesitate to contact them. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=150997271632422

Original Art/Gear/Reproductions



The Picasso T-shirt is available on Zazzle



Just want to remind everyone as we are going into the Summer Season that there are now 3 online venues that you can purchase Mustang A Day Challenge Originals, Reproductions and Mustang A Day Challenge Gear. More items and choices are being added daily so check back often.

For Original Paintings you can shop at:  www.etsy.com/shop/MustangADayChallenge



Or contact me directly at contact@llmartin.com if you would like a unique commission of your horse included in the challenge.

Print of  "I will Follow You"
Madeleine LeClerc and Tango

For Framed Prints and Canvas Reproductions go to http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/llmartin/all

For T-shirts, mugs and other fun Mustang A Day Challenge Gear go to www.zazzle.com/LindaLMartinArtist*

Money generated from the sale of these items goes to Mustang Charities, Individuals, and to the support of the Mustang A Day Challenge Educational project.

Steps To Greatness
Robert and Watson
by LindaLMartin Artist
Digital Image
All Rights of Reproduction Reserved
Copyright(c)2011LndaLMartinArtst

Mustang Heritage Foundation Art Competition:

As many of you know the Mustang Heritage Foundation is holding a Competition at the end of this month for their Program cover for the Extreme Mustang Makeover. I have been working on a number of works with this in mind for the last month or so. I’ve finally come up with the first of two entries. Since the original painting I wanted to use didn’t fit the format, I decided to make a digital collage of the 3 of the watercolors. And then I have two more weeks to add an additional painting. For a total of 2 for the competition. Here is the composite. For more information on the Mustang Heritage Foundation Activities and the Supreme Extreme Mustang makeover got to http://www.mustangheritagefoundation.org/

This Week on the Mustang A Day Challenge: May2 - May 8th: MOTHER'S Day!

This week we remember all our Mothers with the Mother’s of Sand Wash Basin HMA.

Challenge Painting #100
Kinstry and Zephyr
9 by 6 watercolor
LindaLMartinArtist

We start out with A beautiful grulla mare from Jet’s band and her sweet  red dun baby named Kinstry. Kinstry was born in April 2010. Follow for the entire week to see Selected Mom’s and Babies of the Sand Wash Basin HMA

Don’t forget the Mustang A Day Challenge  is Celebrating 100 Mustang paintings. Read the details here for the give away: http://mustangadaychallengenews.blogspot.com/2011/05/celebabrate-100-mustang-day-paintings.html

On Tuesday of this week again we highlight the training of Robert Carlson and Madeleine LeClerc as they work toward the Ft. Collins Mustang Makeover with Watson and Tango. This week’s feature painting is Tango and Madeleine.

Next Week : Starting May 9^th is more Happy Adoptions.

South Steens Week on the Mustang A Day Challenge

This week will be an opportunity  to learn  a little about the horses that range on the South Steens  Mountains of Oregon. Our guest blogger this week is Tracey Westbury operator of  Mustang U, a non- profit organization. Mustang U is a chapter of the American Mustang and Burro Association. 

It is located in the Pacific Northwest Corner of Washington State.

“Their mission is to increase public awareness of the beauty, trainability and timelessness of the American Mustang. They assist the BLM at wild horse adoptions, as well as foster and gentle wild horses in an effort to place them in adoptive homes.” The focus of Mustang U is to help out with the adoption of wild horses destined for Long Term Holding or effected by the Sale Authority Act .

According to the blog about Mustang U, the most challenging thing about helping to place a gathered mustang for adoption is educating the public that simply because a horse is over the age of 4 that it does not mean it not be trainable. Tracey has proven over and over that older horses not only are very trainable but they make wonderful work and companion animals, and excellent pleasure horses.Tracey works with the horses and the potential owners  as well as helping to place the horses in adoptive homes.

The majority of the horses she works with are from the South Steens HMA:

Photo by Tracey Westbury used by permission.

In Stacy’s own words:

“The South Steens HMA is located in Southeastern Oregon, roughly 70 miles southwest of Burns along hwy 205.  It consists of just over 130,000 acres.  In this area of the country, it takes approximately 100 acres to support just one horse, which equates into an ideal herd size of 130 horses.

The region is covered in volcanic rock, with rim rocks and plateaus dissected by perennial and intermittent stream channels.

The horses are managed for their pinto coloring, but you'll see every color under the sun on the South Steens, from coppery gold palomino to black, buckskin, sorrel, and the occasional appaloosa.

South Steens horses are known for their good size, often reaching 16 hands, as well as their exceptional conformation.  Most people don't know they're looking at a wild horse when they see them all saddled up.  I recently showed a calendar to a quarter horse person who argued with me that some of those horses were turned out, and must have been bred in captivity.

There are several bands that congregate not far from the highway that have been dubbed the Hollywood Herd.  They're typically not all that shy, and they love having photos taken of them.  Seriously...they pose. “

Read more about Tracey Westbury and Mustang U  on her blog : http://mustangu.blogspot.com/ or  follow her on Facebook