36th Releases - Design Meanings and Style - 2015 Summer

Stand By Me Artist: Created by the Trail of Painted Ponies When the night has come And the land is dark And the moon is the only light we’ll see No, I won’t be afraid Oh, I won’t be afraid Just as long as you stand, stand by me. Released in 1962 and sung by Ben E King, the lyrics to this hit song could as easily apply to a protective mare looking after her foal, as a lovestruck man pining for his darlin’.

Panda Paws Artist: Lorna Matsuda Its white coat and prominent black eye patches make the Panda one of the most recognizable animals on earth, but it is also among the shyest and rarest. Considered a national treasure in China where it dwells in misty bamboo forests, it was once hunted in the belief its colorful pelt provided magical protection against evil spirits. Now, there are a thousand or so left in the wild, which is why it is on the Endangered Species List. “Panda Paws” is this Canadian artist’s way of keeping this adorable, gentle giant alive and well in our thoughts.

Crow Warrior's Pride Artist: Kevin Kilhoffer Once a nomadic tribe that roamed what is now Montana and Wyoming, the way of life for the Crow Indian Tribe changed dramatically with the acquisition of the horse. Young men, instructed in horsemanship at an early age, grew into warriors who inspired awe among other tribes for their amazing feats on horseback. An Oklahoma artist who has studied Plains Indians extensively created this tribute to the way the Crow also dressed their horses with more display than many other tribes, incorporating quill embroidery, beadwork, pendants, braided rawhide and the carving arts into their equine regalia.

Horse of the Rising Sun Artist: George Toya An acclaimed Native artist from the Jemez Pueblo, in New Mexico, George Toya describes his work as “part fantasy, part reality, and filled with narrative awaiting discovery.” His Painted Pony depicts, on one side, the night with the stars, constellations, shooting star, and moon, with the North Star at the center “so we never lose our way.” On the other side he presents the day with different life forms, images and colors that represent beauty, and the sun at the center “without which life is not possible.”

37th Release ~

The Artist by Darynn Bednarczyk All Painted Ponies are unique designs created by artistic individuals, but this is the first Pony to symbolize the artistic process itself. Working with a complicated Appaloosa pattern and covering her Pony with a messy array of paint splatters that you would expect to find on an artist so focused on her creativity that she ends up with as much paint on himself as on her canvas, this Canadian film school student, who currently lives in British Columbia and is pursuing a career in Animation, has created a design that stands for the Inner Painted Pony Artist within all of us.

The Night's Watch by Vince Slate Not only did the horse give a tribe increased mobility, it could also be a "guardian of the night," alerting members to the presence of dangerous, nocturnal predators. The approach of bears and wolves in search of prey would often evoke snorting, kicking and rearing, which would wake sleeping men, women and children. With this in mind, this Phoenix, Arizona artist imagined a Painted Pony as a talisman whose powers were told by native depictions of the wolf and bear etched into the hair on his sides, and would constitute a protective force against night attacks from anything at any time.

Heart of Gold Steve Riecks Watching a horse and handicapped rider work together at an Equine Therapeutic Ranch, this artist from Parker, Colorado was so impressed with the horse's compassionate manner and seeming desire to improve the quality of life for its rider, he was moved to create a design for a Painted Pony that represented the horse's giving and caring nature. To illustrate and symbolize these endearing qualities, he came up with the idea of a Pony embossed with a golden heart with wings.

Party Animal Karlynn Keyes & Valor Lee Every special occasion calls for a Painted Pony, prancing and parading in a party hat with pretty presents. Let the fun begin because this special one is sure to be the center of attention! So look out, stand back, here comes the leader of the pony pack and everyone is invited to take a ride on the party-side with this little "Party Animal."

My other Painted Ponies | Ride over to my Retired Painted Pony Page