After my kids were grown and gone, I inherited my daughter's 4-H horse, Chica Love Notes (shown in "Oopsie") and enjoyed her, but she was a youth horse and I couldn't win on her despite her many talents. She just wasn't competitive at amateur adult levels. Someone who owned a really nice local QH stallion saw my very first effort at a realistic horse bust, grabbed my jacket front and said "I want your first bronze!" She commissioned me to portray her stallion, Chip O Zip, in a portrait bronze ("Fascination" on my website). Since I'd never done a portrait before and wasn't certain how well I'd do, I only charged her the costs in cash. My labor was paid for by a free breeding to Chip, which resulted in Bitsy (Lil Bit O Love Notes, shown in "Oopsie" in a true-to-life pose - she got stuck when she tried to jump Chica. Chica had to get to her feet and let Bitsy roll off her rump before Bitsy could get back on the ground).
Bitsy was born six weeks late and was preemie size - 43 pounds when she was born, nothing but skin, bones and energy. She couldn't stand on her own the first three days, so I lifted her to her feet every hour, bottle fed her cow colostrum. The stallion owner very kindly stayed one night so I could get some rest, since my hubby was out of town. The next day, Bitsy managed to stand on her own and nurse at last. She matured to a GORGEOUS 14.1 hand horse, much too small for me. I sold her to a family of short people (seriously!).
Oopsie by Lynda Sappington 6.5 x 4.25 x 2.75 bronze, open edition Available - $675 - Inquire
