PORTRAITS BY RACHAEL ROSSMAN

Unique watercolor portraits and pet portraits as seen on dooce.com, marthastewart.com and The Pioneer Woman. Commissions gladly accepted.

Flashback

I got my first pony in third grade. His name was Sonny and he used to scrape me off on trees when I was riding him. Then there was Babe, the palomino, who was really my mom's horse but a little bigger than Sonny so I graduated to riding her in 4-H. In 8th grade I started riding hunter-jumpers and had the most beautiful, magical, dressage-trained thoroghbred named Theo. In high school, I fulfilled my childhood dream of being rodeo queen with a bomb-proof dapple gray named Rowdy. In my 20s I competed in hunters on Robin, the horse I was born to ride. But even at those big shows, despite the steely nerves and the $300 riding pants, I was just one of those girls who loves horses. This painting was commissioned by the rider's mom. Abigail is a member of a collegiate equestrian team, and her mom sent me this photo along with many other beautiful images of Abigail and Lynard in competition. The show photos are full of action, stylish gear and even a sequin or two; but Abigail's mom was partial to this photo most of all. I get it. And so does every girl who's ever sat on her horse, in the sun and brisk air, and felt right with the world. She even kind of looks like me.

  Title: Abigail & Lynard Completed: February 19, 2010 Soundtrack: Lady Gaga, The Fame Monster Beverage: Covey Run 2006 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

7 Comments on “Flashback”

  1. It is a beautiful painting! I totally get it about horses. I rode a little in the past, only as an amateur, nowhere near your level. But I understand about loving horses.

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