Paint Cornucopia

As I've sifted through all the Paint markings submissions getting them ready for publication in APHA Connection, I've pulled a few extras to post on the blog. Ready for the herd?

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First up is Miss Dee Jet, a 1993 sorrel solid mare with only one thing on her mind.

"This is Miss Dee Jet from Canyon Country, California," writes owner Christine Glazier. "I always had some questions about my mare until I noticed that 'Snickers' had a question mark looking back at me."

This little city slicker is a cutie! Meet PJ All Star Dividend, owned by Larry Volkmar of Scottsdale, Arizona.

"His right hip has an obvious silhouette of a cowboy with his hat on and mouth open facing 'Levi's' flank," writes breeder Sandi Lamrouex about this 2008 bay overo stallion. "I think it looks like Curly from the movie City Slickers!"

Will this one be on the Paint marking blog? I don't know, Willy Be?

"This is [Willy Be An Irish Max]," writes owner Brandy Fithen of Rayland, Ohio, about the unregistered 2008 black overo stallion. "I think [the marking on his neck] looks like Italy, but my sister says a witch's boot. It could be either, you decide."

I guess 'Willy' will be!

Did you know ...

... that Paint Horses are found all over the world?

While this blog is part of the American Paint Horse Association, the association strives to stay connected with Paint Horse owners worldwide, often by including international stories in publications such as the Paint Horse Journal and APHA Connection, but also through horse shows like the World Championship Paint Horse Show, held in June and November every year in Texas. Last year even coincided with the Youth World Games! Pretty cool, huh?

So here's an international Paint marking just for you. While the spoken language may be different, foreign horses are still the same enjoyable breed as the ones in the United States.

"Hello!" writes Sabrina Freiberg of Triple F Ranch in Hopferau, Bavaria, Germany. "I have a yearling colt who has a pretty marking on his right side. It looks like a horse's head with reins and a mane that flows in the wind."

The colt she is referring to is her 2008 sorrel overo stallion TFR Indios Turbocheck, and the photo was taken at the European Paint Horse Championship where he was shown by Monika Hagen of Haldenwang, Germany.

Three in one

I received an email recently from this Paint Horse owner whose stallion has quite a variety of markings, all on one side! This is Dee Otoe Reed (catch the musical reference? "The oboe reed?"), a 1990 chestnut overo stallion registered to Jill (Cochran) Hall but belongs to her daughter Dannie, who lives in Redkey, Indiana.

Jill writes, "The first image that takes form looks like a wizard with his wand pointing down. The second, very prominent image is the Texas longhorn, and the third image on his hip my daughter says looks like the state of Indiana with a very long toe."

Cowboys like us

If you haven't yet read the post about horses hitching rides on horses—that is, in their Paint markings—you really should take a second and check it out. Otherwise, I heard from a friend of APHA that her Paint was blessed with an eternal rider.

Carrie Ream of Grand Rapids, Michigan, writes, "After reading through the last issue of Connection, I decided to check my horse's markings to see if I could find anything. Sure enough, there is a profile of a cowboy on her head—hat and all!" The mare Carrie is referring to is Totally Tee Time,  her 2007 sorrel overo.

Sometime this week when you're cleaning out the stalls or walking through the pasture checking on your Paints, why don't you look and see what images are hidden in their markings? I bet you'll find something if you look close enough!

How am I doing?

Hi everyone!

I hope you've enjoyed reading about your Paint markings the past few months! I'm curious to know what your thoughts are on the new Paint Markings blog and if you have any suggestions for making it better. Of course, submissions are always needed, but right now I'm interested in what YOU, the reader, has to say. I'll take any questions, comments or suggestions you may have (just keep them clean!). So get to writing and sent your letters to mlarson@apha.com or Megan Larson, 2800 Meacham, Fort Worth TX 76137.

As always, thanks for supporting the American Paint Horse. Happy trails!