Photos: Susan J. Stickle Photos

Wellington, FL – December 23, 2011 – Award-winning equestrian photographer Susan Stickle will be the official photographer at the 2012 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach, which will take place at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center on January 26th to 28th 2012.

Stickle, who has photographed the world’s top horses and riders at such events as the Olympics, World Equestrian Games and World Cup Finals, was also the official photographer for the 2011 WDM Palm Beach. Her images have appeared in virtually every major equestrian publication in the English speaking world. “I’m very flattered to be back to the WDM again this year,” says Stickle. “Shooting the likes of Ravel and Totilas, and the many other top international horses that are coming to Florida to compete, is a great honor.”

The 2012 WDM Palm Beach will feature a much-anticipated show-down between the defending 2011 WDM Palm Beach Champion, Steffen Peters of the US on Akiko Yamazaki’s Ravel, and the current world-record holding World Champion Totilas with his new rider, Germany’s Matthias Rath. In addition to Totilas and Ravel, a total of 20 of the world’s top horses from across North America and Europe will compete for the biggest purse in North American dressage, €100,000 (US $130,000). The highlight of the WDM Palm Beach will be the Grand Prix Freestyle on the evening of January 28th, where the top eight pairs from the Grand Prix test the previous day will perform their custom-choreographed musical programs.

A spectacular sold-out event in 2011, the 2012 WDM Palm Beach promises to be an even more magnificent affair, which Stickle is looking forward to capturing in her photographs. “It is such a unique venue and the organizers and sponsors did such a fantastic job of creating an intimate yet world class atmosphere in 2011,” she says. “The backgrounds and lighting made for such dramatic shots. I’m very excited to be coming back and I am looking forward to this year’s setting.”

The World Dressage Masters presented by Axel Johnson Group is the world’s richest and most prestigious dressage series. The WDM Palm Beach is the only WDM event outside of Europe, as well as North America’s first and only annual five star FEI dressage competition. As predicted, demand has been high for VIP tables and general admission tickets for the 2012 WDM Palm Beach. Only a very small number of tables remain available. For information on pricing and availability, go to www.internationalpoloclub.com, or contact Maria Feola at 561-282-5334, 561-282-5301 or mfeola@internationalpoloclub.com.

World Dressage Masters Palm Beach Fast Facts:

What: North America’s only CDI5*, and part of the richest dressage series in the world. Up to twenty of the world’s top dressage stars will compete for 100,000 Euros in prize money at the WDM Palm Beach.

When: January 26-28, 2012

Thursday, January 26th
11am – 8pm

Friday, January 27th
11am – 8pm

Saturday, January 28th
11am – 9pm

Where: Jim Brandon Equestrian Center – Okeeheelee Park South, 7500 Forest Hill Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33413

Producer: Wellington Classic Dressage – www.wellingtonclassicdressage.com – Noreen O’Sullivan 561-227-1570 or John Flanagan 561-714-9058

Ticket sales and information: www.internationalpoloclub.com – Maria Feola: 561-282-5334 – mfeola@internationalpoloclub.com

Official Caterer: International Polo Club Catering

Past WDM Results, as well as complete WDM Rider Rankings can also be found on the WDM website: www.WorldDressageMasters.com.

WDM Palm Beach Presenting Sponsor: International Polo Club Palm Beach

WDM Presenting Partner: Axel Johnson Group

WDM Official Partners: team EXQUIS, Moorland Investments and Moorland Stables, Nürnberger Versicherungsgruppe

WDM Official Supplier: Jerich International

WDM Global Media Partner: Eurosport

Media Contacts: Mason Phelps 561-371-0118 or Karen Robinson 604-318-3121

Contact:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
561-753-3389

Cover artwork by Michael Tang courtesy of the Capital Challenge Horse Show.

Upper Marlboro, MD – September 19, 2011 – The 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show will run from October 1-9 at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center. Every year, the show’s program and official poster feature new artwork by Michael Tang.

Creating the original watercolor for the annual Capital Challenge is always a challenge for Father Michael Tang.  One might think that creating a photo-realist image of a horse and rider is as simple as copying a photo, but in reality, the photo is only the beginning.

This year’s poster of Scott Stewart and Declaration gave Tang many things to consider. It is natural to assume that a stunning photo of a fabulous hunter could easily be recreated as a painting, but the fact is that in addition to assessing the horse and rider, Tang becomes instantly aware of everything else that goes into creating a spectacular piece of art: lighting, background, and the simple details that render emotion.

When Tang begins his work he studies the photo for what he will need to alter in order to create the painting.  First, changes often need to be made to finesse a horse’s jumping style; knees might need to be made tighter or squared up. Next, the rider’s equitation might need to be tweaked or garb replaced.  Tang explains, “As someone who is a traditionalist (I still wear my Charles Owen when hacking at the barn), I always replace the helmet with a classically styled hunt cap.”

In addition to the rider’s gear, the horse’s tack might need some work as well; for example, an elastic girth with fleece might need to be changed to one of proper leather.

Tang also finds that nine times out of ten, a new fence must be selected.

“In this year’s painting of Scott Stewart and Declaration,” explained Tang, “I deliberately chose a birch fence, as there was so much dark green in the photo. The stark white of the fence also highlights Scott’s breeches and allows for a much needed contrast in value (light and dark). As red and green are complementary hues and able to affect simultaneous contrast, it was only natural that the fence posts be a reddish brown. The patches of red geraniums on the bottom right also reiterate this dynamic color relationship.”

Finally, the rendering of background flora and fauna needs to be carefully considered. Tang said, “Too much, and the detail can easily overwhelm the horse and rider, but when is enough enough? In other words, when can the artist back off and let the viewer use their imagination?  Decisions such as this require a lot of looking and thinking and considering of possibilities. The upshot is that a horse and rider can take a bad photo and not blame the photographer. However, when an artist is creating a painting and is able to make changes, everything better be perfect!”

Father Michael Tang is a professor, priest and an artist who paints large watercolors reflecting his interest in religious subjects, his life in California, and of course his love of horses. Tang received his bachelor’s degree in studio arts from Loyola Marymount University in 1981, as well as a Masters of Fine Art in painting from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1983.  He earned two other master degrees in theology and divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California.

He is a Professor of the Art and Art History at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. The award-winning artist specializes in brilliant watercolors and his sporting art has appeared on the covers of The Chronicle of the Horse, Horse Show, The New York Times Magazine, and Dressage Today, as well as many other publications.

When not teaching or painting, Tang enjoys bringing along young show hunters.

In its 18th year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show sets itself apart with a distinct and unique focus on preeminent hunter competition. Held each autumn at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, this year’s show will take place on October 1-9.

Top competitions include the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals and the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, along with the Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. In addition to these prestigious equitation events, the Capital Challenge Horse Show will once again host the World Champion Hunter Rider Finals and will assemble the country’s best horses and riders to compete in junior, amateur, and professional hunter classes.

For more information, please visit www.capitalchallenge.org.

While the relationship between horses and humans is one of public fascination and private intrigue, it is also something that evades easy description. Although many have tried to put words to the magical connection that can occur between an equine and his human, sometimes words are not enough. And for this reason, we often look to exhibits such as “The Horse” produced in partnership by the The Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse, and the American Museum of Natural History. For those interested in experiencing a visual depiction of horse and human collaboration, this exhibit is not to be missed. Here is the official press release:

Prestigious American Museum of Natural History Sends Its Blockbuster Exhibition to the International Museum of the Horse

Terra-cotta horse from Tamil Nadu, India. Photo © AMNH/D. Finnin

LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 29, 2011) – The Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse (IMH), in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History, announced today that it will host the exhibition, The Horse, from October 22, 2011, through April 6, 2012. The IMH is a major lender to the exhibition.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring this world-class exhibition to Kentucky,” said Bill Cooke, director of the Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse. “The American Museum of Natural History is truly one of the world’s great natural history museums, and they did a masterful job in developing an exhibition that not only illuminates the timeless union between humans and horses, but does so in an amazingly entertaining way. We are excited that this will be our first blockbuster-level exhibition while schools are in session. I have no doubt that both teachers and their students will love The Horse.”

From the horse’s earliest ancestors grazing on the plains of what is now Nebraska to a magnificent contemporary Deborah Butterfield horse sculpture, the eternal bond between horses and humans is explored in the largest equestrian traveling exhibition ever assembled. The Horse graphically portrays the horse’s impact on trade, transportation, labor, warfare, culture, and sports.  It showcases spectacular fossils, models, dioramas, and cultural objects from around the world, including many from the American Museum of Natural History’s world famous collections.

The New York Times called this exhibition “charming and illuminating” and “an uplifting example of how horses enrich our lives.”  The New York Post said, “You absolutely must see it.”

The Horse is divided into six major sections: The Evolution of Horses; Horses and Hunters; Domesticating Horses; The Nature of Horses; How We Shaped Horses and Horses Shaped Us; and An Enduring Bond. These themes are illuminated by more than 140 artifacts and cultural objects from around the world including a complete Samurai saddle from Japan, a full suit of 15th-century German horse armor, and Native American horse accoutrements. Bringing the exhibit to life are a stunning 220-square foot diorama that depicts the horse’s ancestors, a high-definition video that captures in slow motion the rippling muscles of a Thoroughbred race horse, and an interactive video of a life-size horse where visitors can investigate a horse’s pulmonary and digestive systems and other biological traits.

“This extraordinary, entertaining and informative exhibition is a perfect fit for the Kentucky Horse Park, which exists to celebrate man’s relationship with the horse, a relationship that has endured through the millennia,” said Kentucky Horse Park Executive Director John Nicholson.  “This amazing and most beautiful of creatures has never lost its ability to look for the good – and bring out the best – in mankind as a partner, teammate and friend.  That’s why we never lose our fascination with them, and why we are so excited to have this exhibition coming to our park.”

The Horse is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, United Arab Emirates; the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau-Ottawa; The Field Museum, Chicago; and the San Diego Natural History Museum. Curator of the exhibition is Ross MacPhee.

“The human-horse relationship was almost predestined,” MacPhee said. “Puny but clever, enterprising humans needed an animate energy source that was both mobile and controllable – hence the domestic horse. What no one could have foreseen was that, over the millennia, while we molded the horse to our ends, the horse also molded us by changing the scale and scope of what could be carried, traded, fought over, or used to make life better – in short, civilization as we know it.”

For more information on The Horse, go to www.amnh.org/exhibitions/horse/, www.imh.org, or www.kyhorsepark.com.

Admission to The Horse is included with park admission, or a “museums only” ticket may be purchased for $8 for adults or $4 for children ages 7-12, which also includes admission to the entire International Museum of the Horse, the Al Marah Arabian Horse Galleries and the American Saddlebred Museum.

Park Hours and Rates: Through November 6, the park is open seven days a week.  Admission is $16 for adults, $8 for children 7-12. From November 7 to March 14, the park is open Wednesdays through Sundays.  Winter admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 7-12. Children age 6 and under are always admitted free of charge.  Admission includes the International Museum of the Horse – a Smithsonian Affiliate, and the American Saddlebred Museum.

The Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm/theme park and equine competition facility dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse.  The park is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet that hosted more than one million visitors and campers, as well as 15,000 competition horses in more than 100 special events and horse shows in 2010.  The park is home to the National Horse Center which comprises more than 30 national and regional equine organizations.  Located at Exit 120, Interstate 75, just north of Lexington, the Kentucky Horse Park is the place to get close to horses.

Contact: Cindy Rullman
859-259-4209
Cindy.Rullman@ky.gov

Nashville, TN – The Women’s Horse Industry Network has announced that Elizabeth Shatner has been selected as a recipient of a WHINNY award for her efforts in the horse industry.

The WHINNY awards are designed to shine the light on people who are using their high visibility to save and protect horses and to promote the horse industry through charitable efforts. Elizabeth Shatner, wife of actor William Shatner, does just that.

Born with a love of horses, Elizabeth started riding at the age of five. At the tender age of eight, she got her first horse, a Galiceno pony. By 14, she was teaching horseback riding and participating in young judging competitions with the Indiana Arabian Club, winning several national honors and a scholarship. As a part of the scholarship, she was able to attend a USEF judging clinic. It was during her time as a youth judge that she began to see the beauty of art in nature. She attended Purdue University studying equine and animal science and Butler University in Telecommunications. She eventually became a professional horse trainer.

A photo safari trip with her husband in Israel was the spark that ignited her passion for art with photography launching her in another career. She calls her art Flowrosophy, using the nature’s shapes and colors to create pieces that heal the spirit and arouse introspection. Moving back to her love of horses Elizabeth recently unveiled as part of her “Elizabeth Shatner Art by Nature” series the “Unbridled Collection”, a series of digitally painted photographs of horses she has encountered all around the world focusing on Kentucky and the role horses have played in history and their influence on culture.  Elizabeth celebrates these “horses in service” by donating portions of the proceeds from the sale of her artwork to equine-related charities.

Mrs. Shatner’s charitable works extend well beyond her personal donations. For instance, she is highly active in the “Hollywood Charity Horseshow”, an event started by her husband William two decades ago that has raised millions of dollars for those in need.  In addition, the Shatners’ horse “All Glory” was chosen as the Celebration Horse at Breyerfest in 2010 and earned enough money for Elizabeth to help spearhead a NARHA Horses for Heroes pilot at the Central Kentucky Riding for Hope; a program that helps disabled vets use horses as a means of physical therapy and healing. This inspired Elizabeth to deepen her charitable work and found the All Glory Project, Inc. The All Glory Project is a non-profit campaign of consciousness to thank our wounded heroes, human and animal alike, as well as their families. Through her non-profit, Elizabeth is continually networking with different organizations with a mission to “join up” and Advocate, Educate and Enable animal-assisted therapy centers already in existence, allowing them to initiate and expand programs for those affected by military service.

Today, Elizabeth remains active in the ring and the judging circuit (she holds seven judges’ cards)! She still competes in a variety of breeds and disciplines, recently placing Third, aboard Boston Legal, in the 20011 World’s Championship Horse show. Along with her husband Bill, was on the Governor’s Advisory Board for the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky, and was the Honorary Chair for the 2010 American Royal National Championships. In her role as Chairwoman of the 2011 Lexington Junior League 75th Anniversary Horse Show Gala, Mrs. Shatner continued her mission of thanking the souls who serve our nation by conceiving an “American Heroes Night”, which was free for all veterans, active duty, national guard and their families, and which included a performance by Bravehearts, a veterans’ therapeutic riding group and color guard. Further info on Mrs. Shatner’s work can be found at www.elizabethshatner.com and www.AllGloryProject.org.

“We are downright thrilled to be able to present Elizabeth with a WHINNY award for her efforts in the horse world. Her contributions as a horse enthusiast, a judge and her charitable efforts go a long, long way in bringing awareness and support to our industry,” states Catherine Masters, Executive Director of the Women’s Horse Industry Network.

The WHINNY awards will be held Thursday, October 6th at the Radisson Hotel Opryland. The festivities include dinner, live country music, a silent auction to benefit several equine charities and the presentation of the awards. It is part of the Women’s Horse Industry Network’s annual business networking meeting that will be held on October 7-8 at the Radisson. Tickets can be ordered on line or by calling 615-730-7833.

For additional information on Elizabeth Shatner, please visit www.elizabethshatner.com.

For additional information on the Women’s Horse Industry Network, please visit www.womenshorseindustry.com or call 615-730-7833.

Contact:
Catherine Masters
WHIN
615-730-7833

Karl G. Lindstrom
President of Creative Operations
ES – ABN, LLC
859-494-5328

Prestigious American Museum of Natural History Sends Its Blockbuster Exhibition to the International Museum of the Horse

Terra-cotta horse from Tamil Nadu, India. Photo © AMNH/D. Finnin

LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 29, 2011) – The Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse (IMH), in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History, announced today that it will host the exhibition, The Horse, from October 22, 2011, through April 6, 2012. The IMH is a major lender to the exhibition.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring this world-class exhibition to Kentucky,” said Bill Cooke, director of the Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse. “The American Museum of Natural History is truly one of the world’s great natural history museums, and they did a masterful job in developing an exhibition that not only illuminates the timeless union between humans and horses, but does so in an amazingly entertaining way. We are excited that this will be our first blockbuster-level exhibition while schools are in session. I have no doubt that both teachers and their students will love The Horse.”

From the horse’s earliest ancestors grazing on the plains of what is now Nebraska to a magnificent contemporary Deborah Butterfield horse sculpture, the eternal bond between horses and humans is explored in the largest equestrian traveling exhibition ever assembled. The Horse graphically portrays the horse’s impact on trade, transportation, labor, warfare, culture, and sports.  It showcases spectacular fossils, models, dioramas, and cultural objects from around the world, including many from the American Museum of Natural History’s world famous collections.

The New York Times called this exhibition “charming and illuminating” and “an uplifting example of how horses enrich our lives.”  The New York Post said, “You absolutely must see it.”

The Horse is divided into six major sections: The Evolution of Horses; Horses and Hunters; Domesticating Horses; The Nature of Horses; How We Shaped Horses and Horses Shaped Us; and An Enduring Bond. These themes are illuminated by more than 140 artifacts and cultural objects from around the world including a complete Samurai saddle from Japan, a full suit of 15th-century German horse armor, and Native American horse accoutrements. Bringing the exhibit to life are a stunning 220-square foot diorama that depicts the horse’s ancestors, a high-definition video that captures in slow motion the rippling muscles of a Thoroughbred race horse, and an interactive video of a life-size horse where visitors can investigate a horse’s pulmonary and digestive systems and other biological traits.

“This extraordinary, entertaining and informative exhibition is a perfect fit for the Kentucky Horse Park, which exists to celebrate man’s relationship with the horse, a relationship that has endured through the millennia,” said Kentucky Horse Park Executive Director John Nicholson.  “This amazing and most beautiful of creatures has never lost its ability to look for the good – and bring out the best – in mankind as a partner, teammate and friend.  That’s why we never lose our fascination with them, and why we are so excited to have this exhibition coming to our park.”

The Horse is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, United Arab Emirates; the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau-Ottawa; The Field Museum, Chicago; and the San Diego Natural History Museum. Curator of the exhibition is Ross MacPhee.

“The human-horse relationship was almost predestined,” MacPhee said. “Puny but clever, enterprising humans needed an animate energy source that was both mobile and controllable – hence the domestic horse. What no one could have foreseen was that, over the millennia, while we molded the horse to our ends, the horse also molded us by changing the scale and scope of what could be carried, traded, fought over, or used to make life better – in short, civilization as we know it.”

For more information on The Horse, go to www.amnh.org/exhibitions/horse/, www.imh.org, or www.kyhorsepark.com.

Admission to The Horse is included with park admission, or a “museums only” ticket may be purchased for $8 for adults or $4 for children ages 7-12, which also includes admission to the entire International Museum of the Horse, the Al Marah Arabian Horse Galleries and the American Saddlebred Museum.

Park Hours and Rates: Through November 6, the park is open seven days a week.  Admission is $16 for adults, $8 for children 7-12. From November 7 to March 14, the park is open Wednesdays through Sundays.  Winter admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 7-12. Children age 6 and under are always admitted free of charge.  Admission includes the International Museum of the Horse – a Smithsonian Affiliate, and the American Saddlebred Museum.

The Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm/theme park and equine competition facility dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse.  The park is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet that hosted more than one million visitors and campers, as well as 15,000 competition horses in more than 100 special events and horse shows in 2010.  The park is home to the National Horse Center which comprises more than 30 national and regional equine organizations.  Located at Exit 120, Interstate 75, just north of Lexington, the Kentucky Horse Park is the place to get close to horses.

Contact: Cindy Rullman
859-259-4209
Cindy.Rullman@ky.gov

Deadline Extended to July 31, Midnight!

Washington, DC, June 7, 2011 – The Washington International has extended its deadline for submitting entries in the 2011 Poster Contest to July 31st at midnight.  WIHS, the leading indoor equestrian event in the US, is seeking an original poster design for its 53rd annual event, to be held Oct. 25-30, 2011, at Verizon Center in Washington, DC.  The six-day equine extravaganza features the country’s leading horses and riders in exciting jumping competition.

The poster contest is open to U.S.-based artists, both amateur and professional, 18 years or older.  A maximum of three entries per artist will be accepted. There is no entry fee. Artists submit photos (prints or digital files) of their work (not slides, not original art).  The work submitted must be original and may be in any medium suitable for duplicating on posters and souvenir merchandise.

Entries should be inspired by the WIHS and reflect an equestrian or horse theme. Artists also should consider the event’s longstanding ties to Washington, D.C.

The winning design will be selected by a panel of judges and will be used to promote the 2010 horse show. The winning artist will receive significant publicity, 100 posters and a package of all other items produced with the winning design, plus four weeklong passes to the show and other items. The artist retains the original artwork.

Previous poster designers include well-known illustrator Mickey Paraskevas as well as Virginia-based artists Jane Gaston and Dagmar Giffen Cosby.  For complete contest rules and entry blank and a sampling of some of the wonderful WIHS posters from past years, visit: WIHS 2010 Poster Contest.

About the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS)
An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show brings top horses and riders from the U.S. and abroad, including Olympic champions, to the nation’s capital to compete for more than $400,000 in prize money and championship titles. About 500 horses participate in show jumping, hunter and equitation events during the six-day show. Special exhibitions, boutique shopping and educational and community events round out this family-friendly show. Since its debut, the Washington International has been a popular Washington, D.C., fixture visited by presidents, first ladies, celebrities, business and military leaders, as well as countless horse enthusiasts of all ages. WIHS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable organization, is headquartered in Washington, D.C.  Learn more at www.wihs.org.

“Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands” Will Be Presented by the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation

An ornament from Inner Mongolia, third to fifth century BCE, from the exhibition.

LEXINGTON, KY (June 2, 2011) – Continuing its tradition of offering world-class exhibitions to the public, the Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse – a Smithsonian Affiliate – is making final preparations for its next exhibition, Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands from the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, June 24 – Oct. 9.

Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands presents a major sampling of steppe art from the collections of the late Arthur M. Sackler, M.D.  Curated by Trudy S. Kawami, Ph.D., Director of Research for the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, the exhibition presents eighty-five works illustrating the personal decorations and equipment of the horse-riding steppe dwellers of the second and first century BCE.

The Eurasian grasslands, also known as the steppes, cover a region extending from northern China westward through Mongolia, to the plains of Eastern Europe.  This exhibition focuses on the eastern or Asian steppes whose rolling grassy plains are punctuated by snow-topped mountain ranges like the Tien Shan (Heavenly Mountains), and deserts like the Gobi and the Taklamakan.

The eastern steppes were home to a remarkable ancient culture, whose art, richly decorated with animal motifs, is only now beginning to be understood by scholars. Horses, first domesticated in the steppes, were integral to this culture’s way of life.  By 900 BCE, the steppe dwellers, now legendary as riders and breeders, began to supply horses to the empires of eastern and western Asia.

In Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands, visitors will see ornate, technically sophisticated, and richly patterned bronze belt buckles, plaques, and weapons of these ancient horsemen and striking examples of the nomad culture that flourished across the Asian grasslands from Central Asia to Mongolia and northern China.

There will also be a public lecture by Dr. Kawami on Saturday, June 25, 10:30am in the South Theatre of the Visitor Information Center.

The exhibition and lecture are included with park admission.

For more information on Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands, contact the International Museum of the Horse at 859-259-4232.

About the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation:
The exhibition is organized by the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, New York. Arthur M. Sackler, M.D. (1913-1987) a research psychiatrist, medical publisher, connoisseur and collector of art, established the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation in 1965 to make his extensive art collections accessible to the public. The Foundation collection has more than 1,000 works of art including Chinese ritual bronzes and ceramics, Buddhist stone sculpture and the renowned Chi Silk Manuscript, the oldest existing Chinese written document.

Trudy S. Kawami, Director of Research for the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, received her Ph.D. in art history and archaeology from Columbia University, where she specialized in the art of ancient Western Asia. She has carried out research in Turkey, Iran and Israel, and in major European museums. The author of Monumental Art of the Parthian Period in Iran (Leiden: 1987), and Ancient Iranian Ceramics from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections (New York: 1992), Dr. Kawami has published numerous articles and lectures frequently. She currently teaches a course on the art of the ancient Near East at the School of the Visual Arts in New York City.

Contact: Cindy Rullman
859-259-4209
Cindy.Rullman@ky.gov

© Image Provided. Werner Rentsch's painting “Horse in Red Cooler” will grace the cover of the popular program for the 2011 HITS Saugerties Show Season.

SAUGERTIES, NEW YORK (May 20, 2011) — HITS is pleased to announce Werner Rentsch as its cover artist for the 2011 HITS Saugerties Official Show Program.

Rentsch is best known for his portraits of horses from all disciplines, including racing, show jumping, fox hunting, polo, farm and wildlife. His paintings are highly sought after by collectors around the world, and this season his piece entitled “Horse in Red Cooler” will grace the cover of the popular program that serves as a keepsake to all exhibitors that attend the horse show.

The talented artist has been honored with nine one-man shows and his work has appeared in twelve different museum exhibitions and selected in more than forty juried or group shows throughout the country. His paintings and prints are widely sought after by collectors around the world. He is a full member of the American Academy of Equine Art and served as the organization’s president from 1994 through 2008.

He works out of his studios in New York City and at his farm in upstate New York, where he rides his horses and gets much of his inspiration for his paintings.

“It’s a treat to have Werner Rentsch’s painting on the cover of our horse show program,” said Leslie Phillips, HITS Art Director. “2011 is certainly going to be a special year at HITS-on-the-Hudson and I am delighted that Werner will be here to share it with us.”

Rentsch can be reached at 607.652.7209, or via e-mail at WRentsch@hotmail.com.

The 2011 HITS Saugerties Official Show Program is available all spring and summer during the horse shows at HITS Saugerties. The program features several compelling reads, including articles on show day superstitions, a behind the scenes interview at Krause’s Chocolates and coverage of the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix and the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix.

The HITS Saugerties Spring Circuit is right around the corner and runs for three consecutive weeks starting Wednesday, May 25 – Sunday, June 12. The Spring Series will offer the first wave of qualifiers for both events, with fantastic prize money at stake. High-Performance riders will have six Grand Prix opportunities, while Hunter riders of all ranks will have three chances to earn points for the Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final in the weekly Devoucoux Hunter Prix.

After a short break, show jumping will resume in Saugerties with another three-week series from July 20 – August 7, which includes the return of the USEF National Junior Hunter Championships – East Coast, August 1 through 3.The final three weeks of competition run from August 31 until September 18, during which time HITS will host the all-new Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final and the second-annual Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix (September 10-11), as well as the 21st Marshall & Sterling League National Finals (September 14-18).

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • Media_Info@HitsShows.com • HitsShows.com

Washington, DC, April 25, 2011 – Let the horses inspire you! The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), the leading indoor equestrian event in the US, is seeking an original poster design for its 53rd annual event, to be held Oct. 25-30, 2011, at Verizon Center in Washington, DC.  The six-day equine extravaganza features the country’s leading horses and riders in exciting jumping competition.

The poster contest is open to US-based artists, both amateur and professional, 18 years or older.  A maximum of three entries per artist will be accepted. There is no entry fee. The work submitted must be original and may be in any medium suitable for duplicating on posters and souvenir merchandise. The deadline for entries is 4:00 p.m., Monday, May 31, 2011.

Entries should be inspired by the WIHS and reflect an equestrian or horse theme. Artists also should consider the event’s longstanding ties to Washington, DC.

The winning design will be selected by a panel of judges and will be used to promote the 2011 horse show. The winning artist will receive significant publicity, 100 posters and a package of all other items produced with the winning design, four weeklong passes to the show and the option to have a vendor booth during the show. The artist retains the original artwork.

Virginia artist Dagmar Cosby was the winner of the inaugural poster contest in 2010. Previous poster designers include well-known illustrator Mickey Paraskevas (2009), NY; Jane Gaston (1999-2008), VA; and iconic 1960s artist Peter Max (1981).  For complete contest rules, entry blank and a sampling of some of the wonderful WIHS posters from past years, visit http://www.wihs.org/poster-contest/.

About the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) – www.wihs.org

An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show brings top horses and riders from the U.S. and abroad, including Olympic champions, to the nation’s capital to compete for more than $400,000 in prize money and championship titles. More than 500 horses participate in show jumping, hunter and equitation events during the six-day show. Special exhibitions, boutique shopping and educational and community events round out this family-friendly show. Since its debut, WIHS has been a popular Washington, DC, fixture visited by presidents, first ladies, celebrities, business and military leaders, as well as countless horse enthusiasts of all ages. WIHS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable organization, is headquartered in Washington, DC.

Press Contact: Press Link/Diana De Rosa, dderosa1@optonline.net, 516-848-4867
Washington International Horse Show: media@wihs.org, 202-525-3679

On May 7th the Local Flavor/Local Color annual Art Show at the Maplebrook School in Amenia, New York will have its Kentucky Derby inspired opening reception. As some of you already know, I started this year off by challenging myself along with a group of fellow photographers, to take a photo every day. Since it was impossible to do that and post each day in B&W, I have been exploring my world in color with my digital cameras. Green Halter (above left) and Ghosting (below right) are two of the images that have come from this challenge. They will be hung at the Maplebrook show. 6 other color images will also be available there unframed in the loose art bins. The reception is lots of fun, the artwork is always wonderful and it is open to the public. It culminates with a great live broadcast of the Derby. The party starts at 4:30 pm. Hope to see some of you there.

EQUISCAPE

I have been invited to have a Solo Show of my work at the Red Filter Fine Art Photography Gallery in Lambertville, New Jersey. The show will feature about 20 of my Equiscape images and will include brand new work as well as some classics of the series. The opening will take place on June 10th. And the work will be hanging in the gallery though July. When I have more details and a link for the show, I will send out a brief email with the info. If you would like a postcard mailed directly to you, please send me your snail-mail address.

Once the show comes down, the Red Filter Gallery will continue to represent my work in the future.

For those of you planning for the summer already, as I have had for the past few years, I will have work at Terry Lindsay’s Equidae Gallery in Saratoga Springs, NY during the racing season. I will tell you more about that as we get closer. But I expect to be up at the track more often this summer, so if you plan on being there, let me know and I will try to see you there too.

Cheers to all,
Juliet

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Juliet R. Harrison Photography | 18 Fraleigh Street | Red Hook, NY 12571 | USA