My ex and I used to breed Arabians. The split in 1997 left me without horses but still with a great love for Arabians. My sister, Jo, had bought Smoke from us when he was a yearling colt. He was born in 1986. She had him gelded, trained him, and took him on long trail rides, including a riding vacation across the state of Michigan!
When I got engaged in 1999, my new man was as crazy about horses as I was and already owned a Palomino Quarter horse mare. Naturally, I had to have a horse. My sister had more horses than she was using at the time, and since I purely loved that Arab gelding, Jess bought him for me.
Jo has said frequently over the years that she misses him and at times, wished she hadn't sold him. This painting of Smoke was done for her as a Christmas gift this past year. Painted out of great love for the animal and my sister, it almost painted itself!
Smoke is a connection to my past and a representative of the breed I have grown to love so much for so long.
