Are you looking for a project horse in the Lexington, KY area? Polo is looking for an exercise partner! Check out Polo's blog to learn about him. Then check out Polo's page, for lease and contact information. In early January I was asked to design an art piece to grace the cover of the Thoroughbred Horse Show Association's prize list for the Spring show, April 14th. As the goal of the association is promote the Thoroughbred's versatility in disciplines other than horse racing, my vision for this piece was to convey that versatility. The base for the piece is the black and white photograph, captured by me in the saddling paddock at Keeneland Race Course. The individual saddles are hand-drawn in charcoal and graphite and represent the disciplines Hunter/Jumper, Western, Sidesaddle, Polo and Dressage. The drawings and photograph were scanned and layered to create the finished design. I wish to thank Jan Roehl, Executive Director of the Thoroughbred Horse Shows Association for the opportunity to design this piece. Thank you to Bluegrass Boots and Saddle in in Georgetown, KY for allowing me to photograph the western saddle. Thank you to Central Kentucky Tack and Leather for the opportunity to photograph the polo saddle. Thank you also to Joy Hohenshelt for allowing me to photograph your sidesaddle. Thank you also to Samantha Peterson and the wonderful ladies of the Facebook group Sidesaddle riders! for helping connect me with Joy and for encouraging me to learn a new style of riding. I can't wait! Thank you also to my own Off The Track Thoroughbreds, Sweepit and Polo for their constant inspiration. 2013 is off to a fast start. At the moment I'm working on a commercial art commission, which will be completed by the end of January. The first two steps have been completed and I've got the call out to borrow subject matter for completion. Here's a preview: While I wait to gather the remaining pieces and plan a trip to the art supply store I plan to keep myself busy with some sort of artistic project each day. Here is today's contribution:
Happy New Year! I would like to extend my best wishes to all for a happy, healthy, peaceful and successful new year! For me, the new year is a new beginning, a renewed sense of hope, purpose and determination. The first new opportunity of the year is an artistic one, which I am looking forward to with great enthusiasm. I have sent the first thumbnail creation for review along with notes on other ideas for the project. Off The Track Designs (www.facebook.com/pages/Off-the-Track-Designs/243136935704665) will enjoy a bit more of my attention as well. The "Fox Box", bridle racks and hand-painted model horses are still available and I have a few new ideas up my sleeve. Stay tuned! Cheers! Good Morning, I wish to make a promise. I pledge to treat everyone I meet with courtesy and respect. I promise to do the very best that I can and to follow-up when I say I will. I have encountered a lack of professionalism over the past several months. It has opened my eyes and motivated me to be better. I've posted several lengthy opinions of late. Now it's time to lighten up and have a little fun! In just a few weeks my Lab, Neon, and his litter mates will celebrate their first birthday. This litter of joy was both a surprise and a blessing as their presence wasn't known until a week before their arrival, which coincided with a very dark event in my life. These puppies gave me a sense of purpose, hope and love for which I am forever grateful. I'd like to open a friendly discussion. A few days ago I posted an opinion about the importance of maintaining a professional appearance when conducting any sort of marketing. Today I happened across a discussion thread on Facebook about rather or not a handler's appearance in a horse sales photo or video affects one's decision in buying said horse.
My opinion is emphatically YES! My response to the thread was, "Personally speaking, yes. [An unkempt appearance] is a turn-off to me. Especially when the advertised price is well out of range of what the photo depicts. I think people forget they are marketing themselves just as much as they are marketing the horse." The latter part of my opinion, about marketing oneself, seems to be a point of particular contention among some of the other participants in the discussion thread. Here are my thoughts on this: Very few people care enough or want to take the time to look beneath the surface. There are many, many reasons for this, some which are valid, but not the point of the discussion. The point is that, in the U.S., attractiveness sells. We often have less than 1 second to make a favorable impression with any advertising. So give yourself every advantage! If I were looking to buy a horse, I would think twice if the horse were presented to me by someone in torn jeans, sneakers, or worse, flip-flops and any old t-shirt. To me, the handler's appearance is a HUGE clue as to how well the horse has been cared for. If you tell me, through your wardrobe choice, that you don't care about yourself, then I'll make the leap that you didn't really care about the horse. The horse can be sparkling clean and the most conformationally correct animal in existence with three stunning gaits and fabulous jump, or spin or tolt or whatever, and I'll be waiting for a shoe to drop. I'll be thinking that he's too good to be true, that short cuts in care and training have been used. I'll be waiting for a negative veterinary find. Most importantly I will NOT offer full price! (I emphasize torn jeans as presenting in jeans may be perfectly fine and even expected. Just please be sure they are neat, as clean as possible given that we're discussing horses, and well fitted.) From another angle: Due to the present economy I have been forced to lease my own horses. I have made sure that in my advertising, the photos and videos I used depicted myself or my friends in riding appropriate clothes. As we are Hunter/Jumper and Eventing riders, that meant we had on breeches and either tall boots or paddock boots and half chaps. T-shirts were either tucked in or fitted enough to be neat. Whenever possible, I used horse show photos to be safe. When my gelding went up on trial a few months ago, I showed him to potential buyers and lessors dressed in riding clothes. I did this for two reasons: First, I expected to ride first, for the client to see how he went under saddle. Second, he is a horse that I trained. I want potential buyers to know that I have the capability and expertise to ride and train horses. It opens up the potential for future opportunities for me. Now, I realize I'm discussing the horse industry, which is tremendously varied in the number of disciplines and therefore what constitutes appropriate dress. My intention is NOT to put anyone down. Rather, I'd like to motivate you to think of yourself and what you are saying to a potential buyer, even if you are heartbroken at having to sell. If you think well of yourself and dress well in presenting your horse, maybe, just maybe good things will happen. In my case, my gelding was leased within a week of his ad posting and I had request for retrial by an interested buyer. In a previous post titled, "The Importance of a Professional Appearance", I promised to share some of my favorite tips for good turnout. Here are a few of the things I've learned along the way: For Humans
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Kimberly Cornelius
I enjoy the daily inspiration provided by nature, people and pets. Archives
September 2023
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