Mustang A Day Personal Challenge of LindaLMartin

New Blood- The Back Story of Shock Top and his Dam and Sire

2016-10-26T08:41:00.001-07:00

Shock Top's Back Story along with the painting "New Blood" Haze, Demi and Shock Top of Sand Wash Basin HMA

I love telling talking with mustang people and telling the stories of the horses as they relate them to me.

Find Prints of " New Blood" on Fine Art America.com

The story of Shock Top is very interesting. Horses in the wild form bands. Meaning usually there is a stallion, a mare and their offspring. Bands tend to be very fluid especially when the Range becomes over crowded and there is not enough territory for the horses to stay spread out. In the case of range stallion Davy G he had a mare a foal and one day a domestic horse the photographers named Demi showed up abandoned on the range.

No one knew where Demi came from or who abandoned her but it was very apparent that she was a beautiful well bred horse so the local BLM office put an add in the paper saying that she had been found. And that they were seeking someone to claim the mare. The only thing is that she was not branded. Thus there was no record anywhere of her or her owners. Some suspected she simply escaped. Some thought maybe a family relocated from the east where there was not branding law. Others wondered if perhaps she had been stolen and because of her distinct markings they decided it was safer just to let her go on public land.

There was no doubt that she was not wild as she willingly approached anyone and knew what apples were. A little known fact: Wild horses have no clue what domestic horse food is and they have to be taught to accept it. It has to be done slowly to not cause colic or ulcers.

Davy G quickly adopted Demi into his family with his older mare Yarrow. All the time that Demi was with the small band she never came into foal. Then one day tragedy struck the small band. The mighty stallion Davy G or Davy Greasewood was mortally injured and had to be destroyed.

As often happens in the wild there is always a stallion waiting in the wings to take over when a band stallion is old, growing weak, or dies. Sometimes violent fighting occurs and the new stallion drives the mares away. In the case of Davy G. The sorrel stallion Haze waited patiently until the mares were ready to leave and simply walked in and took over. The following year Shock Top was born with his brilliant chestnut red and white splashes of color.

A lot of people who do not know wild horses very well and only see them in movies or read about them in books do not understand that rarely do bands stay together for longer than 3 or 4 years. This helps preserve the diversity of the band and keeps them healthy. It has other benefits as well because the older horses will teach the younger horses how to survive in the wild.

You can contact me directly about originals or commissions of your favorite horse of course and if I have a story about that horse and where he came from I will absolutely share it. To contact me directly email me at: info@llmartin.com

Reference photos for this painting came from John Wagner a frequent photographer of the Sand Wash Basin Herd in Colorado.

PJ of Sand Wash Basin HMA Mustang A Day Challenge painting 456

2016-03-30T11:21:00.004-07:00


PJ ( AKA Picasso Junior) Young Stallion of Sand Wash Basin HMA Oil on Canvas Board 11 by 14 by Linda L Martin $350 USD Reference photographer John Wagner to purchase: https://www.etsy.com/listing/274374286/pj-wild-horse-of-sand-wash-basin or info@llmartin.com ( write painting in the subject line)

Update on Lightning: Painting Number 6 Mustang A Day Challenge

2016-03-30T09:24:00.001-07:00

"Lightning"
Originial Acrylic painting on canvas board
10 by 8 inches
$265.00

Thanks to the many advocates and photographers following the Sand Wash Basin HMA in North West Colorado I have been able to follow through personal contact and on Facebook the many wild horses of this herd.

Lightning is among my favorites. This past winter he passed away of old age on the range where he was born. He was well over 20 years of age before he finally lost his band. The following is what I wrote regarding this magnificent stallion when I first posted this original painting in 2010:

"Lighting is a very flashy black pinto horse with what appears to be a large white dagger on his face in the form of a blaze then a lighting mark on his left side neck and stomach. He has other white markings too. Lighting is a perfect example of the ever changing circumstances of the band stallions. Last year, according to heard watchers at Sand Wash Basin HMA, he had a small band of mares and foals, however by this summer one by one each mare had been stolen by other stallions. "

Later in his life in the months before his death, Lightening began to pal around with Picasso, one of the most famous wild pinto stallions in the west and certainly in Colorado. By this time Picasso had lost his mares as well and the two stallions kept each other company. They were seen frequently together on the range. It occurred to me as I heard and read the stories and observations, this is the way really long living wild stallions live in retirement. Rarely are wild horses, even stallions, alone and friendless in nature.

You can read more about Lightning and the other horses in the challenge on the Mustang A Day Blog:
http://mustangadaychallenge.blogspot.com/2010/12/lighting-of-sand-wash-basin-hma-mustang.html
Special Thanks to Nancy Roberts for the reference photography of Lightning.

See more of the Paintings I have done in collaboration with the Wild Horse Photographers and advocates here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MustangADayChallenge?section_id=10096928&ref=shopsection_leftnav_2

Thank you for looking. ~Linda

Shock Top and Demi Mustang A Day Challenge Painting #455

2015-06-13T17:10:00.002-07:00

Demi and Shock Top
5 by 7 inches
Watercolor
by LindaLMartin

Reference Photos by John H Wagner
$75.00 or Best offer
info@llmartin.com

"New Blood" 2014 Colt "Shock Top" - Mustang A Day Challenge Painting #454

2015-06-06T14:12:00.001-07:00

"New Blood"
"Shock Top"
Of Sand Wash Basin
Dam: Demi the Domestic Horse
Sire: Haze Mustang Wild Horse of Sand Wash Basin
8 by 10 Inches Watercolor
by Linda L Martin
$400.00
Prints Available on Fine Art America
Click Here: NEW BLOOD

Photo references by John W. Wagner

Mother's Love - Cheyenne and Laramie of Sand Wash Basin HMA MADC painting #453

2014-12-04T10:45:00.002-08:00

"Mother's Love"
Cheyenne and her 2014 foal Laramie
Of Sand Wash Basin
5 by 7 inches Watercolor
by Linda L Martin Artist
Reference Photos by John Wagner
SOLD

This gentle mare, Cheyenne and her 2014 foal by Corona, one of the premier and well recognized stallions of Sand Wash Basin HMA, are completely unaware of the controversy surrounding their circumstances.

Since the last round up this herd of horses on approximately 160,000 acres of high desert along with seasonal sheep and a healthy number of native wild life have been thriving even in drought. They also have undergone a slower than usual population increase.

In 2008 the last round up brought their numbers down to less than 200. These well loved and well visited horses have been documented by an army of photographers who track their bands, locations and changes in health and interactions. Some thought it an inhumane activity to round up the horses then pull some of the oldest most prolific mares and inject them with PZP.

PZP has been successfully used in birth control in wild horses since the 1970s in Maryland by the National Park Service. In Maryland and Virginia also it has been used to control deer populations in areas where hunting was not an option for more urban habitats.

This administration of the drug was over seen by the Humane Society of the United States. The main operative who darted and observed the horses in the early stages also happened to be someone who was passionately in love with the herd. Her goal from my conversations with her was to find a way that this herd did not have to be rounded up again due to over crowding so the herd could remain healthy and thrive in the wild.

What a lot of people now involved in Wild Horse Advocacy do not know is that it was less than 25 years ago that this herd and all the wild life was devastated by a killing drought and under-management of the wild horses on the Sand Wash Basin. I had the opportunity to correspond with one of the locals who witnessed first hand the devastation. " Once elk thrived there in herds as big as the horses today, and deer too. There were plenty of wild life and forage. Then the populations began to grow in the wild horses. The droughts came and animals began diing. It was horrible. You have never seen anything as awful as all those beautiful animals laying all over the dried ground for miles." She told me that neither the deer or the elk populations have recovered since that terrible time.

The problem and also the benefit of Sand Wash Basin is that it is ranch locked. In fact there is a boundary fence completely surrounding the entire range with gates and cattle guards to keep domestics out and wild in. Except when the snow drifts over the fences in winter or the populations increase to the point where young wild horses in search of territories and mares are forced over ( or sometimes through) the fences and on to ranch lands. This did in fact begin happening as the wild horse populations began to reach past their sustainable numbers in late 2012 and 2014.

Before 2008 The Sand Wash Basin herd was rounded up every 3 years to keep the populations in check. It was at the 2008 round up that 62 mares were given the PZP. In 2012 it was discovered that the herd population had indeed slowed in growth and doses were given that year as well using darting. The 2012 round up was cancelled.

Cheyenne was one of the mares that was a prime candidate of the birth control drug. She was an older mare and a long time lead mare to prominent and prolific band stallion Corona. Her last foal was born in 2009( it is believed she was in foal when administered the drug) and her offspring that year is the well known young stallion Tripod.

Tripod is one of the reasons that many of the new advocates who have come to love this herd do not want the herd rounded up again. Tripod was crippled soon after birth. And while he has surprised everyone by thriving and even challenging other stallions, the likely hood that he would survive a round up with his lame leg is very remote. In all likely hood he would be destroyed humanely if a round up were to occure.

This year, 2014, was the first year that Cheyenne has produced a foal since 2009. Her beautiful daughter, Laramie, is a creamello with blue eyes and the spitting image of her big brother Tripod.

In the words of Nancy Roberts, a long time advocate of this herd and who introduced them to me through her blog and facebook page: "Long may they run!"

A special thanks to the Wild Horse Advocates of Sand Wash basin(SWAT), Great Escape Mustang Sanctuary, and all those who have taken the time to share with me about this herd since 2009. Thank you. To John Wagner wild horse and wild life photographer, thank you again for the reference shots.

If you would like to become part of the solution for the Sand Wash Basin Herd please connect with the Sand Wash Advocate Team on their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/sandwashadvocateTo see more photos and stories on going as well as the photos of mares PZP'd in 2008 you can follow https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sand-Wash-Basin-Wild-Horses/101181969939406

The Little Princess - Laramie of Sand Wash Basin HMA MADC painting #452

2014-12-04T09:39:00.001-08:00

"The Little Princess "
with
Dam Cheyene and Sire Corona
2014 foal of Sand Wash Basin HMA
Photo references John Wagner
8 by 10 inches Watercolor
by Linda L Martin
Prints and Painting available
info@llmartin.com for more information.

Van Gogh son of Picasso Mustang A Day Challenge painting 451

2014-10-01T19:03:00.001-07:00

Surprising Turn of Events Re-unties Iconic Wild Horse to His Legacy of a Son.
While range drama is not for the faint of heart, heart warming is also a factor in watching the saga of American wild horses almost any place in North America. Painting 451, of Van Gogh and his Sire, Picasso, and first time dam, Robin, represents a little of both.

Surprisingly, last year 2-year-old fillies walked away from their bands to be a part of the harem of this 25plus- year-old wild stallion. However, sometime in early summer, fans of the Sand Wash Basin, Colorado HMA herd were distraught to hear that this icon and well photographed aging stallion, had lost his entire band of young mares, As well as his steady lead mare Mingo.

Yet, soon after Van Gogh was born his dam, Robin, by the band stallion Eagle and out of his lead mare Lark, snuck away from her "captor" stallion and found her way back, colt in tow, to Picasso. One of the images by Range Photographer John Wagner, shows the profile view of the colt, sporting the same definitive roman nose as his sire, as well as his distinctly similar pinto markings.

Presenting "Van Gogh"

"Van Gogh"
by Linda L Martin
8 by 10 inches Watercolor
Available
In house prints available by contacting info@llmartin.com
Reproductions will be available on Fine Art America Soon.

The Trio: Wild Stallions from Sand Wash Basin HMA Challenge Painting 450

2014-07-25T09:30:00.001-07:00

"The Trio" depicts Iconic stallion Picasso of Sand Wash Basin playing with the Bachelor Stallions Bobby ( a son of Corona) and River( born into Warrior's Band). This painting was inspired by a photograph of John Wagner. It turned out to be some what prophetic. Picasso spent a lot of time playing with the bachelors in March. By July Bobby had assumed the leadership of Picasso's entire harem. This included His long time lead mare Mingo and Her 2013 foal Rambo as well as three young mares that walked away from their bands and joined Picasso last Summer.

"The Trio"
Picasso, River and Bobby
Of Sand Wash Basin HMA
8 by 10 inches Watercolor
$600.00
Prints Pre -Release Order contact info@llmartin.com before Aug 1. 2014
Signed Limited Editon in-house Prints $30 plus S&H Available on 8/1/2014
Unsigned Prints go on sale on Fine Art America 8/1/2014

Several days after Bobby took over the mares, Mingo's 2014 foal by Picasso was born. She was named by the Photographers. There was some concern that Bobby might kill the foal. That is generally unusual among wild horses unless there is some thing drastically wrong with the new born. Generally when a stallion assumes the roll as protector of the herd any new foals that come with the mares he accepts and any newborns that are born after the takes over he views as his off spring.

For information on how to order a signed print contact the artist at info@llmartin.com
Unsigned Prints will be available on August 1, 2014 on Fine Art America

Mid-Alantic Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Set for June 20 and 21 at Lorton, Virginia

2014-06-18T11:37:00.003-07:00

There is nothing more fun than a summer project with your first mustang. Considering Adoption? You can become part of the Solution by attending the Lorton, Va Adoption being held Friday June 20th( 2pm to 7pm for the preview) and Saturday June 21 (8am to 4pm to adopt) You must be approved to adopt.

Desi: “Fun With Desi” Mustang a Day Challenge Painting #151 Go here to read about Desi the Mustang:
http://mustangadaychallenge.blogspot.com/2011/07/supreme-extreme-mustang-makeover-horse.html

Information on the Lorton Virginia Adoption: (Please feel free to copy the flyer below)

Burros California, Mustang A Day Callenge Painting #491

2014-04-22T14:22:00.000-07:00

4 by 6 Inches Watercolor
by Linda L Martin
Special Auction painting for the WHBA Auction Barn on Facebook

Burros California, Mustang A Day Callenge Painting #490

2014-04-18T10:19:00.002-07:00

"Interruption"
by Linda L Martin
4.5 by 6 inches Watercolor
The painting will be offered to qualified buyers on the
WHBA Auction Barn for a three day Auction
Starting 5-18-2014

Wild burros are often adopted to act as companion animals for other horses. Sometimes they find work as guard animals for sheep and cattle. One of the most popular uses is to keep the land clear of weeds such as thistles and honeysuckle. They make wonderful pets for the right family who is willing to put in the time and effort gentling them. These adopted descendants of wild burro's have it easy in the spring where rain is consistent and the grasses grow thickly. Adoption is part of the Solution!

Burros California, Mustang A Day Callenge Painting #489

2014-04-17T16:14:00.003-07:00

"New Grass"
by Linda L Martin
9 by 6 inches Watercolor
The painting will be offered to qualified buyers on the
WHBA Auction Barn for a three day Auction
Starting 5-17-2014

New grass is always a time of celebration on the range. Wild Burros find the grass to be sparce and hard worked for. These adopted descendants of wild burro's have it easy in the spring where rain is consistant and the grasses grow thickly. Adoption is part of the Solution!

Burros California, Mustang A Day Callenge Painting #488

2014-04-16T15:15:00.002-07:00

"Wild Girls"
Adopted from Burns Oregon Holding Facility
Inspired by a photo from Tracey Westbury
7 by 6.25 inches Watercolor
by LLMartin
The painting will be offered to qualified buyers on the
WHBA Auction Barn for a three day Auction
Starting 5-16-2014

Adoption is a very up front and personal solution!

Happy Adopted! Pinto Mare, Flanigan HMA, Nevada, Mustang A Day Callenge Painting #487

2014-02-14T16:24:00.000-08:00

Pinto Mare Tag 7042
Happily Adopted to North Carolina through the Wild Horse and Burro Program Internet Adoption. The next Internet adoption is March 4th.

Tag #7042
Adopted through the WH&B Program Internet Adoption
5 by 7 Watercolor
by LindaLMartin Artist
$65.00

How To Adopt:One of the best ways to be involved with wild horses is to adopt one. You can be proactive in helping to save wild horses by adopting, Learning how to gentle a wild horse and then encouraging your friends to adopt and learn how to gentle them too.

Internet Adoptions begin on March 4th. To see how to qualify to adopt an American Mustang go to:https://www.blm.gov/adoptahorse/

Where to Get Help in Gentling your newly Adopted Wild Horse
If you need help adopting or in the gentling of your new mustang there are many people who will help you in the process who have experience. Some resources available to you are:

On The Modern Mustanger on Facebook. Members of this group have excess to some of the Mustang Facilities through out the West and Midwest where there are mustangs available for adoption. This is a group that is filled with experienced adopters as well as new mustang adopters. Some of the people have been adopting mustangs since the program began and can give you some good advice on every thing from gentling the horse, to what to feed them, to health care for mustangs while you are in the gentling process. They also understand the unique attributes and nature of the wild mustang that make mustangs a bit different from domestic horses in nature and reaction to humans. Here is the facebook link to the Modern Mustanger Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themodernmustanger/

Find A Trainer Experienced with Mustangs.
If you want to adopt a mustang but don't have time or experience to gentle the horse yourself or you just want a trainer to start your newly adopted Wild Horse this might be a great option:
You you can take a look at the Trainers list in your state though the Mustang Heritage Foundation TIP program. The Mustang Heritage Foundation keeps a list of trainers that are willing to start mustangs then reassign them to new adopters. The best of this group will not only teach your horse, they will show you valuable information you need as a first time adopter. Here is the link to the Mustang Heritage Foundation trainers page: http://www.mustangheritagefoundation.org/trainers.php

There is nothing more rewarding than owning a wild horse and nothing more important than being this a part of this hands on solution to save wild horses.

Happy Adopted! Over The Moon Mare, Owyhee HMA, Mustang A Day Callenge Painting #486

2014-02-13T15:00:00.002-08:00

"Over The Moon"
Owyhee HMA
2.5 by 3.5 inches Graphite Drawing
2.5 by 3.5 inches Watercolor
by LindaLMartin Artist
SOLD

Happy Adopted Antelope Valley HMA Gelding, Budwiser, Mustang A Day Callenge Painting #485

2014-02-08T13:26:00.003-08:00

"Budweiser"
Antelope Valley HMA
4 by 6 inches Watercolor
by LindaLMartin Artist
$35.00

Happy Adopted Granite Nevada Cremello Mare Tag 4998 Mustang A Day Callenge Painting #484

2014-02-06T13:19:00.000-08:00

Cremello Mare from Granite HMA Navada
Interntet Adoption Tag 4998
Happily Adopted to Oklahoma Bidder
5 by 7 inches Watercolor
by Linda L Martin
$65.00

Happy Adopted Mustang Mare Opal Mustang A Day Callenge Painting #483

2014-02-05T14:54:00.002-08:00

"Opal"
Precious Declaration
Happily Adopted by Carolynn Chamlee
4 by 6 inches Watercolor
by Linda L Martin Artist
SOLD

Stinkingwater HMA Oregon Roan Mare Mustang A Day Challenge Painting #482

2014-02-01T16:07:00.002-08:00

Cascade
Stinkingwater HMA Oregon
4 by 6 inches watercolor
by Linda L. Martin Artist
$35.00

Primative Markings on Wild Mustangs: Sulphur Springs Grulla Colt #481

2014-01-31T17:21:00.000-08:00

Sulfur Mountain Ranger
References provided by Wild Horse Photographer and Advocate Matthew Pestour
Sulphur Springs HMA Utah
4 by 6 inches Watercolor
by Linda L Martin Artist
SOLD

Primative Markings on Wild Mustangs: Grulla (With Lace) Gelding #480

2014-01-25T15:18:00.001-08:00

Hooch
Black Rock East HAM
This Happy Adopted Mustang Has faint Lacing on his Grulla Coat in Summer
4 by 6 inches Watercolor
by Linda L Martin Artist
Reserved for Adopter

Primative Markings on Wild Mustangs: Dunalino Mare Red Desert Complex / Facility Born #479

2014-01-23T14:42:00.000-08:00

Delores Jean
Happy Adopted Dunalino Mare
Dam was from the 2011 Red Desert Complex Round up in Wyoming
Painting is 4 by 6 inches Watercolor
by Linda L Martin Artist
$35.00

Dun is considered a wild or primitive color pattern among horses wild or domestic. This little mare is also a palomino. She not only has a dorsal stripe but she has striping on her legs and darker red outlines on her ears. One of the more famous of the Dunalino Mustangs in the us is Corona of Sand Wash Basin HMA. In addition to his dun striping and he also has a darker burnished face during the Summer like some of the more acient breeds.

This little mare is owned by Kirren Dolan.

The image on the right can be clicked to see it larger. You can see
her dorsal stripe along her back as well as her leg strips.
And you can clearly see her WH&B Program Brand on her
neck. She really is quite pretty.

Primative Markings on Wild Mustangs: Pangare Brown Mare Jackies Butte, Oregon #478

2014-01-22T13:28:00.002-08:00

Jackie Butte Mare
WH&BProgram Internet Adoption
4 by 6 inches watercolor
by Linda L Martin Artist
Painting SOLD

One of my projects this week has been to put together a poster to promote wild horse adoptions. While I was doing it, I got a wonderful Idea for a collage to remember adoption days. A photo of the horse the day of the adoption, a painting of the horse in watercolor, a graphite drawing of the horse and the tag when it is removed. From Captivity to the beginning of a new life as an amazing companion in its new forever home. This is how adoptions should be, the beginning of an amazing partnership.

Collage made of one 4 by 6 inches
watercolor, One 4 by 6 inches graphite
drawing, the BLM number tag, and
a pick up day photo. The background is the
" Grease Wood" design for scrap booking
and crafts also designed by LindaLMartin.
Contact the Artist at info@llmartin.com

Today is day two of the Internet adoption of the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Program. Each horse that is privately adopted means one more horse that doesn’t go into long term holding. There is still time to qualify. For more information go to https://www.blm.gov/adoptahorse/

For information on having your newly adopted Mustang Painted or to have a collage designed of your new partner contact the artist directly at info@llmartin.com

Photo images and reference photos for this project provided by the Wild Horse and Burro Internet Adoption January 2014

Primative Markings on Wild Mustangs: Dun-Claybank Kiger Colt #477

2014-01-18T16:03:00.003-08:00


Graying Dun or Claybank Kiger From Kiger -Riddle Mountain Oregon 4 by 6 inches Watercolor by LindaLMartinArtist $35.00