Animal farm

Happy early New Year to all of you reading this blog! Have you sent in your Paint markings yet? If you add it to your list of resolutions, I bet you'll be able to check it off! And for those of you with mares expecting a visit from the stork this year, feel free to email (mlarson@apha.com) or mail (Megan Larson, 2800 Meacham, Fort Worth TX 76137) photos of the new bundle of joy and it's fancy markings!

Until I receive those wonderful pictures of yours, I'll share a page full of markings fit to fill a zoo!

First up is Noti, Oregon, resident Christabeth Voss' 2006 chestnut tobiano mare Zips Two Chess, with her best friend tagging right along her side! "I was delighted to see the puppy on [Jewel Of Chex's] filly when she was born," writes breeder Kay Pynch. "We named her Zip Two Chess, but thought it should have been Doggie In The Window."

Maybe it's not only a man's best friend after all!

Now for an animal that spends a little more of its time in frigid temperatures. Here is Miss Gorgeous In Gold, a 2007 black tobiano mare. Can you tell what animal she hangs out with?

" 'Gorgeous' has a penguin on her face," writes owner Cheryl Birch of Aldergrove, British Columbia, Canada. "The tail is by her nose, the head is up by her eye and the beak is over Gorgeous' eye. Everyone said I should have named her Happy Feet after the penguin movie!"

Another cool fact about this mare: Several months later she was on the set of the TV show "Smallville."

If you're looking for a Paint Horse with some international appeal, check out Sonnys King, owned by Alexandra Giacalone of Haunwang, Germany! "My Paint Horse gelding 'King' has a puma on his left side, I found!" writes Alexandra of her 1998 sorrel tobiano gelding.

I don't know if there are large puma populations in Europe, but I know I can find at least one!

Have you ever heard of the 'bunny hop,' or maybe you've done it yourself? I'm thinking this little tyke hasn't, but he sure has a friend to teach him how! This is Tabus Classy Rab, a 2008 chestnut tobiano gelding owned by Kathy Callahan of Medford, Oregon. Kathy writes, "The marking on his hip and flank area looks like a rabbit sitting down."

Of course, we can't forget this little field mouse! See if you can find it on Lady Billing NFB, a 2004 sorrel overo mare owned by Kimberly Mallmann of Montello, Wisonsin.

Give up?

" 'Bella' has a mouse under the brand on her hip," writes Kimberly. "The barn cats sleep in her stall all night. I think it may have something to do with the fact that she always has a mouse on her!"

For the love of Paint Horses!

Since today is Christmas Eve and earlier this week was the beginning of Chanukah,  I have some great holiday Paint Markings for you! They're just not the current holiday. Oh well. Enjoy!

First to show his colors is Cowboys Son Deebar, a 2005 chestnut tobiano stallion owned by Tammy and Stacia Elliott of Springfield, West Virginia. Tammy writes, " 'Sonny' has two hearts on his left side, one on his neck and one on his side. We never noticed it until we took a picture of him. I guess the hearts stand for love, because he is the most lovable horse that I have ever owned!"

Next up is Shes Inviting. Elizabeth Roberts of Urbana, Ohio, owns the 2004 bay tobiano mare, and says, "The marking on her side looks like a heart to us. We always say that heart on her side means 'From [HF Skipa Tizzy, her dam], with love.' " That's certainly a great message to receive!

This next one reminds me of those little Hershey's kisses that come in so many different flavors now (including candy cane!). It's a 1999 bay overo mare named Hearts N Kisses. Yvonne Sabato of Westlake Village, California, owns this sweetheart, and writes "Here is my horse, 'Sweetie.' She has a big heart on her side!"

Is anyone else thinking the same lyrics? How sweet it is to be loved by you...

And last but not least, this little girl wears her heart on a more obvious place—her forehead! " 'Sunshine' has a perfectly shaped heart on her head," writes Terrie Jasper of Sullivan, Missouri, about her 2005 black tobiano mare, Aprils Little Bandit. "This horse was orphaned shortly after birth. She truly is a sweetheart!"

Boo!

Halloween may have passed, but these ghosts stick around all year long! Check out Tru Timin Dirt, a 2005 sorrel overo gelding owned by Brianna Slager of Zeeland, Michigan. Brianna writes, "The dark spots in the middle of the ghost are the eyes, and the white spreading are the arms."

Can you see it?

What about the ghost on Lees Cool Colours, a 2008 black tobiano stallion? "We can make out three different markings on our foal," writes Shaun Croft of Celle, Germany, who owns the colt. "The marking on his head is Casper the ghost, rising from his mouth up to his forehead."

It's a horse, of course

Thanks to everyone who sent me your Paint markings recently! I've had fun reading through all your stories, and I've compiled a few collections that you're sure to enjoy. And as always, if you haven't sent your Paint marking in but would like to, send it to mlarson@apha.com or APHA Connection, Attn: Megan Larson, 2800 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

Here is Susies Apache Summer, a 2002 bay tobiano gelding owned by Dennis and Danelle Cottrell of Berlin, Michigan. Danelle writes, "He has what looks like a horse's head on his right side."

"I think the image looks like a horse, but others have said a dragon or reindeer. What do you think?" asks Cherie Feldpausch of South Lyon, Michigan, about her 1997 sorrel overo gelding WF Cinnamon Toa Te.

Justarockin Sensation also has a horse on his side, but he's got something else too! "I think his spot looks like the side view of a horse with a rider aboard," writes Hays, Kansas, resident Karen Howland of her 2006 sorrel overo gelding.

Updates!

In case you haven't been checking, some additional Paint markings have been included on previous posts.

Check out these Native American chiefs and a little bit of the alphabet!

Keep your eye out for lots more this week. A little filly tells me there will be lots and lots of love to come, as well as a bunch of animals and maybe a horse or two!

Fall Show colors

While walking around the stalls or sitting in the arena during Fall Show classes, you probably saw some beautifully-marked Paint Horses, and some with interesting markings. Paint Horse Journal Associate Editor Jessica Hein snapped photos of a couple horses to share.

Did you happen to see any when you were there?

"His barn name is 'Wishbone', because of a wishbone shape on the right side of his face," says Jessica Hein, who spotted the 2008 sorrel overo stallion Mighty Playboy, owned by Terry and Debbie Dillard of Lampe, Missouri, near his stall.

"A horse in the Yearling Mares Slot class at the Fall Show, Exquisitely Made, had a roadrunner on her side," writes Hein about the 2007 chestnut overo mare, owned by Joy Dreier in New Providence, Iowa.

Indian Paint Brush

It's not uncommon for people to find Native American-themed pictures in their Paint Horse's markings, but I think the most frequent sighting is of Native American chiefs. Enjoy the collection!

" 'Texas' has an Indian chief on her right flank," writes Auburn, Nebraska, resident Cindy Shaw about her 2007 bay overo mare Invitation To Texas. "Besides the feather bonnet, it shows enough detail to see the facial outline of the nose, mouth, neck and chest of the chief. I never really thought much about it until a friend pointed it out and said the chief image had a special meaning in the frontier days for the Native Americans. I never looked up this myth because she's already special to me."

"The photo shows that Zips Chocolate Tips hindquarter spot is an Indian chief," writes Natalie Campbell about the 2004 bay tovero mare owned by Robin Binkerd of Newberg, Oregon.  "The headdress is on her mid-belly area, and if you follow it up and down, you can see the nose and lips of the chief facing toward her tail."

"On the left side [of Jack The Skipper], you can see an Indian woman holding a feather," writes Kim Smith of Hardinsburg, Kentucky, about her 2000 sorrel tobiano gelding.

Fall Show

If you happen to be at APHA's Fall Championship Show (going on now through November 15 at Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas) and see any interesting Paint markings, grab your camera, snap a photo and send it to mlarson@apha.com! We're hoping to gather a whole collection from the show to put on this blog and in APHA Connection for your enjoyment. Of course, if you're showing, have a friend take the pic and capture you and your Paint at your best!

Why I love Paint Horses

I received a touching letter the other day among a stack of Paint Markings photos, and it reminds me of why I love Paint Horses so much—their intelligence and versatility. What's even more awesome is the gentleman who sent it lives in Germany, but his description and photos make me think of the idyllic cowboys in Western movies that I watched as a kid. While the photo still needs to be scanned, I'll go ahead and post the correspondence for you to enjoy.

Dear Editors of Connection,

When I saw in your magazine the Texas mark of DW Poco Cash, I thought I could deliver you a second Texas mark from Germany. Next I will tell you my 'Texas' ' story:

The first foal out of [Doughboys Nina] was born on July 5, 2006, on a lovely meadow in the morning. Immediately when the foal was born, I recognized the white mark on his left side, and I saw that it strongly resembled the American state of Texas. So the little boy got his name—Little Bigs Texas.

Texas' mother, [a descendant] out of Colonel Freckles and Pawnee Eagle, was used by me as the perfect cowhorse (including cutting, roping, etc.) for an environmental 150 acres ranch, grazed with 50 Galloway cows, the whole year free living. This mare became a part of my body when I was working my cows. She could read my body language perfect when I asked her to do this or that maneuver on the cows. 'Nina' was not used as a hobby horse; her man thing was to do cattle work for me, and she enjoyed this job so very much!

This horse was the greatest prize in my life. She is one out of 500, and now, in her second career as a breeding mare, I hope she can give all her abilities to her offspring.

I enclose this letter with photos that show Nina and I at work, and when you believe that I can't be in Germany because it looks like the real thing, I can tell you it is! There will not be many Germans who can tell you similar stories.

Wind beneath my wings

Whether your Paint Horse is a guardian angel or is Batman in disguise, many of you have sent in photos of your four-legged friends sporting some not-so-feathery accessories. Here's one to get ya started:

"I'm the owner of Explosive Man, but I call him 'Dakota.' We were on a trail ride when another rider suggested naming him Batman! Look at his hindquarters to see his wings! It's like having a guardian angel on every trail ride with me!" Nancy Nixon of Somonauk, Illinois, writes about her 2002 brown tobiano gelding.

Now I know my ABCs ...

... next time won't you share with me?

Check out this 2005 sorrel tobiano stallion named Picasso Cody, who resides in West Palm Beach, Florida, with Marsha and Bob Abate. Marsha writes, " 'Picasso' was born with an 'A' on his side. His mother's name is Aproll and he is an angel!"

Further on down the alphabet is the letter 'n.' This is Lakotas Trophy Girl, a 2008 bay tobiano filly owned by John Buettner of Grandview, Washington. His son, Neil, bred the filly's dam and had quite a surprise when the foal arrived! "To my surprise, when the filly hit the ground in October of 2008, she had a big letter 'n' for 'Neil' on her neck," writes Neil.