"PORTRAITS OF SENTIENTS"
EQUINE ARTWORKS OIL PAINTINGS
EQUITANA MELBOURNE
ART PRECINCT STALL A4
November 10th to 13th @ Melbourne Showground
EQUITANA EXHIBITION 2022
PORTRAITS OF SENTIENTS
LARGE OIL PAINTINGS
Figure 1
'UNDER BLUE SKIES & ETHEREAL FREEDOM' 2022
Spirit of the Mountain in the wild
Oil Painting on Stretched 12gm cotton canvas
133cm x 96.5cm
Photograph reference Karen Ferguson Wildlife Photographer
ARTWORK: $ 6000.00 +GST
REFER POST INCANDESCENT EXHIBITION 2024
NWC GALLERY KATOOMBA
20% of the ARTIST PRICE will go to the Clearview Brumby Rescue
A2 prints available on request.
GREETING CARDS A5: available on request.
Representing Clearview Brumby Rescue QLD.
100% of revenue is given to Clearview Brumby Rescue
🐴
Figure 2
'WHERE THE SNOW FALLS AND THE DANDELIONS GROW' 2022
Irish a wild brumby 2022
Oil Painting on Stretched 12gm cotton canvas
133cm x 96.5cm x 3cm
Photograph reference Karen Ferguson Wildlife Photographer
ARTWORK: $ 4000.00
20% of the revenue will go to Clearview Brumby Rescue
A2 prints available on request.
GREETING CARDS A5: $10.00 each
Representing Clearview Brumby Rescue QLD.
50% of revenue is given to Clearview Brumby Rescue
🐴
'WHERE THE SNOW FALLS & THE BRUMBIES PLAY' 2022
Pink Snip (Also known as Bestie and Apollo.) Wild brumby 2022
Oil Painting on Stretched 12gm cotton canvas
133cm x 96.5cm x 3cm
Photograph reference Ian Brown Wildlife Photographer
ARTWORK: $ 3300.00
EXHIBITION ENTRY
Seeing the Soul: Hoofbeats Sanctuary Art Prize and Exhibition
2024: 20 % of revenue will be given to the transport fund.
A2 prints available on request.
GREETING CARDS A5: on request
Representing AUS Brumby Rehomes United .
50% of revenue is given to Clearview Brumby Rescue.
🐴
SMALLER OIL PAINTINGS
Figure 4
'ARROW BOY & THE DEATH OF KHEIRON' 2022
Arrow Boy a wild brumby 2021
Arrow boy was lethally culled on September 10, 2022.
In remembrance of all brumbies culled
Oil Painting on Stretched 12gm cotton canvas
76cm x 56cm x 4cm
Photograph reference Karen Ferguson Wildlife Photographer
ARTWORK:
NOT FOR SALE (PRICELESS)
If you really want this artwork you can offer a 'generous price' on application.
100% would go to all 8 of our AUS rehomers.
A2 prints available on request.
GREETING CARDS A5: on request with poem
100% of revenue is given to TRANSPORT FUND
🐴
Figure 5
'UNDER BLUE SKIES & SHADOWS CAST' 2022
Shadow a wild brumby 2021
Oil Painting on Stretched 12gm cotton canvas
76cm x 56cm x 4cm
Photograph reference Karen Ferguson Wildlife Photographer
ARTWORK: $ 1800.00 +GST
REFER POST INCANDESCENT EXHIBITION 2024
NWC GALLERY KATOOMBA
20% of the ARTIST PRICE will go to the Clearview Brumby Rescue
A2 prints available on request.
GREETING CARDS A5: $10.00 each
Representing Clearview Brumby Rescue QLD.
Profit is given to Clearview Brumby Rescue
🐴
ALLA PRIMA OIL PAINTINGS
'ABOVE BLUE SKIES LIES A LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE' 2022
In memory of Sunshine a wild filly brumby, of the Sunshine Mob.
Born September 2020 died before Christmas 2020
Oil Painting 'alla prima' on Stretched 12gm cotton canvas
66cm x 56cm x 4cm
Photograph reference Karen Ferguson Wildlife Photographer
ARTWORK: $ 1000.00 +GST
REFER POST INCANDESCENT EXHIBITION 2024
NWC GALLERY KATOOMBA
20% of the ARTIST PRICE will go to the Clearview Brumby Rescue
A2 prints available on request.
GREETING CARDS A5: $10.00 each
Representing Clearview Brumby Rescue QLD.
50% of revenue is given to Clearview Brumby Rescue
🐴
Figure 7
'WHERE THE DANDELIONS GROW & THE BRUMBIES RUN FREE' 2022
Smokey a wild brumby Born July 2022,
Smokey is Sunshine's sibling of the Sunshine mob.
Oil Painting 'alla prima' on Stretched 12gm cotton canvas
66cm x 56cm x 4cm
Photograph reference Karen Ferguson Wildlife Photographer
ARTWORK: $ 1000.00
ARTWORK WAS GIFTED to HOOFBEATS SANCTUARY IN 2023
for
Seeing the Soul: Hoofbeats Sanctuary Art Prize and Exhibition
A2 prints available on request.
GREETING CARDS A5: $10.00 each
Representing Clearview Brumby Rescue QLD.
50% of revenue is given to Clearview Brumby Rescue
🐴
'WHERE THE SUN SHINES & THE EARTH IS GOLD' 2022
Mischief & Aussie Born July 2022,
Mischief born to mare Sassy & Aussie born to mare Scarlet.
Oil Painting 'alla prima' on Stretched 12gm cotton canvas
66cm x 56cm x 4cm
Photograph reference Clearview Brumby Rescue
ARTWORK: $ 1000.00 +GST
REFER POST INCANDESCENT EXHIBITION 2024
NWC GALLERY KATOOMBA
20% of the ARTIST PRICE will go to the Clearview Brumby Rescue
A2 prints available on request.
GREETING CARDS A5: $10.00 each
Representing Clearview Brumby Rescue QLD.
50% of revenue is given to Clearview Brumby Rescue
🐴
PORTRAITS
'THE WILD DANDELIONS'
ARTWORKS DRAWINGS
All drawings are on A3 white or black paper, all signed.
Each come with own protective folder and sticker to place at back of you own frames for authenticity & all come with a complimentary greeting card.
Figure 10
'Dreams are made by wishing upon a Dandelion' 2022
Brin Charlotte and Ziggy rehomed 2021
Rotring tikki graphic ink pens, willow charcoal, graphite, faber castell colour pencils, Staedtler tri plus fine liner on A3 acid free paper 300gm.
Photograph reference Michelle Brown Photographer
ARTWORK: $ 300.00
GREETING CARDS A5: on request
Representing Indigo Brumbies
50% of revenue is given to the rehomers named on drawing.
A3 prints available on request.
🎠
Figure 11
'Under the Southern star, the dandelions sway in the wind' 2022
Southern Star NSW Glenugie Forest brumby 2022
Derwent colour pencil & Rembrandt pastels on A3 acid free paper 300gm.
Photograph reference by Red Earth Brumbies.
ARTWORK: $ 200.00 GREETING CARDS A5: on request
Representing Red Earth Brumbies
50% of revenue is given to the rehomers named on drawing.
A3 prints available on request.
🎠
Figure 12
'A Dandelion's past, makes tomorrow's wishes' 2022
Marley rehomed NSW Bago brumby 2021
Rotring tikki graphic ink pens, willow charcoal, graphite, faber castell colour pencils, Staedtler tri plus fine liner on A3 acid free paper 300gm.
Photograph reference by Breez Horse Transport
ARTWORK: $ 250.00 GREETING CARDS A5: $10.00 each
Representing Breez Horse Transport
50% of revenue is given to the rehomers named on drawing.
A3 prints available on request.
🎠
Figure 13
'Annie is running through the dandelions now' Feb 2022
Annie in the wild when found.
Rotring tikki graphic ink pens, white charcoal, willow charcoal, graphite, faber castell pitt pens, Staedtler tri plus fine liner .
Photo reference Karen Ferguson Wildlife Photographer.
ARTWORK: $300.00 GREETING CARDS A5: $10.00 each
Representing White Alpine Equine
50% of revenue is given to the rehomers named on drawing.
A3 prints available on request.
🎠
Figure 14
'Dreaming Dandelions' 2021
Atlas rehomed KNP brumby 2021
Derwent colour pencil on A3 Black Canson paper.
Photograph reference by Clearview Brumby Rescue QLD.
ARTWORK: $ 200.00 GREETING CARDS A5 available on request Representing Clearview Brumby Rescue 50% of revenue is given to the rehomers named on drawing. A3 prints available on request.
🎠
Figure 15
'Elby in the snow' 2021
Elby in KNP 2020
Polychromos Colour pencils on A3 canson Paper 225 gm.
Photo reference Karen Ferguson
Artwork Gifted not available
GREETING CARDS on request. Representing New England Brumby Sanctuary (NEBS)
50% of revenue is given to the rehomers named on drawing.
A3 prints available on request.
🎠
Figure 16
'I am the mountain, the wind, and the rain. I am a KNP Brumby.' 2021 Elby in KNP with family sibling. 2021.
Polychromo colour pencil on A3 canson paper 225gm. Photo reference of Elby by Karen Ferguson wildlife photographer
ARTWORK: $ 200.00 GREETING CARDS on request 100 of revenue is given to TRANSPORT FUND
A3 prints available on request.
🎠
Figure 17
'Arrow Boy Eating the wild Dandelions' 2021.
KNP Brumby in the wild 2021, lethally shot in September 2022. In remembrance of the Fallen brumbies
In china ink and rotring tikki graphic ink pens on white A3 canson paper 225gm.
Photo reference by Karen Ferguson wildlife photographer
Artwork sold not available
GREETING CARDS ONLY A5 cards $15.00 with Poem.
In memory of all the fallen brumbies by lethal culling
100 of revenue is given to TRANSPORT FUND
A3 prints available on request.
🎠
Figure 18
‘I am the wind, the mountain and the earth, I am a Brumby’
Soulman, a Kiandra KNP Brumby 2021
Polychromos on black A3 paper
Photo reference from Melbourne Brumby Rehomers
ARTWORK: Sold Not available
GREETING CARDS: on request Representing Melbourne Brumby Rehomers
100% of revenue is given to the rehomers named on drawing.
A3 prints available on request.
🎠
Figure 19 'I am the twilight of the wild dandelions, I am Shadow, I am a wild brumby.' 2021 KNP Brumby Rehomed to Clearview brumby rescue in 2021 Shadow in KNP' 2020/21
Rotring tikki praphic pens china ink white charcoal on white and graphite. A3 canson paper 225gm
Photo reference Wild life photographer Karen Ferguson.
GREETING CARDS ONLY:
Representing AUS Brumby Rehomers United
A3 prints available on request.
🎠
|
Figure 20
'Amongst the tall grass and the wild dandelions' 2021
KNP Wild Brumby 2021.
Oil pastels and white graphite experimental drawing.
On A3 black Canson paper 140gm.
Photo reference Karen Ferguson
ARTWORK: Sold not available
GREETING CARDS: on request
Representing Heritage Horses in Harmony
50% of revenue is given to Heritage Horses in Harmony
A3 prints available on request.
🎠
🐎
ABOUT EQUINE ARTWORKS OIL PAINTINGS
All Paintings are in oil using generally a restricted palette where I make my colours using the primaries in different shades, to mix other colours like blacks and greens and greys. Sometimes lump & Ivory black are used also. I paint in oils the old fashion way with linseed oil only. I sketch in pencil then 'grisaille' in a colour/s and then do multiple sittings, to create layers.
The foal portraits are painted 'Alla Prima'.
All have continuous painted edges.
Paints brands used are mainly Winsor & Newton, & Gamblin.
I stretch my own canvases using either 3cm thick birch hardwood stretchers for large paintings or a 4cm thick softwood pine, that has rounded edges for smaller paintings. Using 12mm unprimed canvas, the surface is prepared and primed with either a 3 layer of thicker gesso or a 5 layer of gesso.
Each subject used has a story and background attached to them each have families.
The subjects are real live brumbies either still in the wild, rehomed or now deceased.
All artworks are originals & when sold, Syndy Esteves of Syndy Artist retains copyright of the 'photographed image'.
The original references used are noted on each, and I always use multiple photographs to find the 'essence & personality' of the brumby/ies that I am painting.
My profound thanks to Wildlife photographers Karen Ferguson, Ian Brown & Michelle Brown for their permissions, and to all the rehomers for their references and stories.
THE STORIES & RESEARCH BEHIND THE ARTWORKS
WILD DANDELIONS
When I first heard of the wild brumbies, regarded as an invasive species, I could not help but think of the wild Dandelions. The flora and fauna regarded as invasive species has been introduced ongoing in Australia since 1788, when the first ships came to take what then they called 'Terra Nullius' . This in Latin translates to 'land that belongs to no one'. The translation given in English is 'Territory without Master'. We now know how wrong this was as the indigenous most certainly owned their land, as they were here first. But as usual 'Prometheus' being 'the progress of civilisation' makes his own rules.
We do know that in our world, wars are still on going for 'territory' and other that touch on 'property' and 'superiority', such as slavery and other unethical conditions that make part of our 'human condition'. These are all still alive and well and all in the name of 'Power'.
Hence, if this is how we are to each other, what chance does an animal have, or our environment.
Slowly in the 20th century some steps were taken to protect forests and thus, national parks were created to retain the preservation of our natural environment.
But this began a inclusive exclusive of what is native or not native. This honestly can be argued as we have now for over 200 years in Australia, changed the natural environment. How can you revert back to 1788, and why should we? This is not about 'protecting' the native animals as we also know that for example, Koala habitats are being cut down and Koalas have become an endangered species. Also Kangaroos are considered 'pests' and are not really protected, as you can hunt them, like deer and pigs.
In other parts of the world these problems also relate in different ways. Europe having had 'invasive species' taking over for the past 2000 years are now looking at re-wildering, species in areas long gone. They too are studying the affects of introduced species. 🌴 In Europe the re-wildering in Maremma, Italy, for example, is trying to reintroduce farming within the natural context of the environment so the two co exist together.
North America is pretty much like Australia and they too have their own criteria's especially on Wild Mustangs.
What I see is how the world is conditioned by their own ideas and then all follow suit per se. Each wanting to retain their own 'pocket of unique' environment. But what I don't see is the 'Earth' as a whole. Immigration is part of the world structure, and has been for millions of years. So thus, I don't understand how an animal can be invasive on earth if it comes from earth. What is it destroying? The idea of what we think should the environment be? Nature always looked after herself, as, I mean, should we then bring back dinosaurs? They became extinct for a reason. Why can't we just let evolution be, and let nature repair herself, at the challenges we give it?
In reality the brumbies and the numbers of these animals is nothing compared to the numbers of humans populating the world. We cramp all animals in pockets of conservation areas and then deem others animals 'invasive' as their is little room for the native ones in the first place. Then for example when a kangaroo trespasses' 'private property it is shot, by some. They are native, so I don't get the logic, as in reality then, any animal is 'invasive' under the guile of property.
We are a long way from answers but in the meantime let us be more ethical in the choices of our management of wild brumbies, at least.
ARROW BOY
'ARROW BOY AND THE DEATH OF KHEIRON' 2022
This painting was painted while Arrow Boy was alive and thriving. My painting process was difficult on an ethereal level. Eventually it was finished by July 2022. The research relates the will to survive against all odds. But as the ethereal process had taken me from removing a grass background to a sky background, on the 11th of September 2022, I was sent a message that Arrow Boy was one of the lethally Culled brumbies by KNP. I have thus taken the painting off sale as I cannot retain the thought putting a price on his head, as his memory remains priceless. How much is he worth?
ARROW BOY & THE RESEARCH ON THE WILL
Arrow Boy is a Kosciuzsko Brumby that in 2020 was
hit by an arrow and survived the ordeal, unlike his mate, who died of his arrow
wounds.
This of course gives us the discourse of free
will, as to why would make someone do such a thing? Is that then free will or
the conception of conditioning, which is, ‘it was ok’ because these animals are
considered feral by the government. This questions the will regarding ‘the good’
as well as to rationality and the human within the human condition. There are
many tangents attached to this and we can look at the Philosopher Arrow, and
Arrow’s theorem, regarding the ‘social choice’ theories.
I thus
decided the fitting title regarding this story is ‘the death of Kheiron’
(Chiron). When Kheiron dies, becoming mortal to relieve himself of his eternal pain
the arrow wound was causing, Zeus then finally releases Prometheus, of his
suffering as Heracles asks Zeus to release Prometheus of his suffering, thus Kheiron
dies of his wounds and becomes mortal. This of course ties my painting ‘The
problem with Prometheus,’ continuing the same discourse of the ‘human
condition’ and his modernity.
I attached this to Arrow boy as when his friend
died because he was ‘mortal,’ I liken thus, Arrow Boy to the story of Kheiron
as Kheiron in spirit may not be as strong as our Arrow boy, in the will to
survive. Arrow Boy’s survival can be due to several things. Luck maybe, but
what of strong DNA as Brumbies have now been related to have strong DNA ties to
rare horse breeds and a number, have the strong genes of the Walers to boot.
Attaching ethereally such stories, is a way to
remind the viewers that we as mortal humans have had the conflict that we see
today is our citadels for centuries. Cities change faces but the fundamentals
of the human condition plagues us continually. As in Prometheus, name in Greek mythology
as the giver of invention to the human by giving him ‘fire.’ A simple version of the story can be found
here.
The story was also used at first by Shelley when
she wrote Frankenstein. Relating the book as the modern Prometheus, as the
professor is likened to Prometheus for giving back ‘immortality’ to the mortal
human, a modern twist in reverse. Shelley attaches many tangents also relating
to love and the female condition of her time. For me, the link gave birth in my
view, to the modern problem of ‘Prometheus’ as I relate the science part of
Prometheus to the problem of our modern citadels. Hence the title of my second
painting ‘The problem with Prometheus.
The Brumbies are innocent creatures that in their
sentient self, suffer, because of our modern cities that has caused the chaos
of our environment that we live in today. From Global warming to the
destruction of pristine land for our own commodities whether it be for
urbanisation, mining, or overproduction to keep the ‘overcrowding’ of our
humanity alive. Because the truth is, the biggest number of living things that
are destroying our planet are called humans. Animals are a minority in the
problem when weighed against our human condition and our own numbers.
We are arguing against a false number related of
first fourteen thousand now six thousand brumbies, in which the number may be
more under three thousand, but if we were to compare that to the human number,
oh we cannot do that in case we are seen as anthropomorphic in ideals. How
ridiculous are the numbers argued when compared to the human numbers that are
overcrowding our planet Earth. This problem was related by several philosophers,
and in the philosopher Huxley, we now understand
too well what he meant.
This comparison is only to relate ‘common sense’ ‘will
and free will’ ‘freedom’ and ‘human’ within the context of our created world. Are
we willing to continue with our ways, then, when we now know the suffering of
animals imposed under our human conditions of ‘the human condition.’ Singer
explains this well. We also do have free will to choose.
Arrow Boy is still wild and hopefully somewhere
chewing on green grass. Trapping continues in Kosciuszko and no changes are
foreseen for the near future. We can only hope if caught he is rehomed. My
prayers are with you Arrow Boy.
References
SPECIESISM
FREEDOM BEYOND CONDITIONING
PORTRAITURE
PORTRAITS & IDENTITY
SHELLEY ON PROMETHEUS
PROMETHEUS METHOLOGY
🐎
SPIRIT OF THE MOUNTAIN
'UNDER BLUE SKIES AND ETHEREAL FREEDOM'
Oil
Painting on stretched cotton canvas 133cm x 96.5cm
Photo reference Karen Ferguson Wildlife
Photographer
SPIRIT OF THE MOUNTAIN
The research on sentient and portrait
The story of Spirit, as you already know, he was
a king of stallions in KNP having sired offspring’s and had a good standing in
the horse world as well as a close family unit and bond. He was captured,
rehomed, and mourned his family for a while before he accepted any other mare
given to him to keep him as a horse should be kept. Yes, mourned his family,
but now accepted his new family and living happily rehomed in his forever home.
It is difficult to make the references without
people misunderstanding that I am giving a ‘human reference’ to a horse, when I
relate family or offspring, but to make it clear my reference to the sentient
is to the horse being a ‘sentient’ not a ‘human.’ We need to understand that we
are not the only sentients on this earth and there are several of ‘sentient
beings’ within the animal kingdom.
In explanation, if ever you see any reference of
mine regarding a horse, or any other animal per se, that sometimes uses the
analogy of the human, please understand that it is only used to give a better
understanding of what a sentient is, but not saying at any time that a horse is
a human or has human characteristics or vice versa. We should thus, not mistake
the species identity in reference to speciesism. But do refer to a sentient of
any sentient species to be a sentient within their own rights. Therefore, the
term of anthropomorphic references does not apply here, that being an animal
with human characteristics, or any other theory attached to the term. But what
is implied is the references to speciesism, and this is mostly at the
forefront, especially in reference to Singer and his book Animal Liberation,
where he defines speciesism as “…a prejudice or attitude of bias in favour of
the interests of members of one’s own species and against those of members of
other species…” He also relates the philosophical idea to … ‘treat one animal’s
life as more valuable than another’s ….’ Therefore, empathy is used by me to
simplify the understanding. This is done via the analogy of ‘the human’ to the
horse.
In my view, I think to myself, Would I like to be
treated that way, so thus relate the means back to the human as per our human
condition sometimes removes us from the empathy as we see animals as a
commodity. But in no way referring to the horse being of human characteristics
or the human of having horse characteristics. We are all unique, and each
species is unique, and we must not misunderstand the intent of what is meant by
sentient.
This takes me now to the portrait itself. The
horse pictured and painted as a portrait as a human would otherwise be painted
in a portrait, is to establish the fact that within portraiture we have
hierarchy, we have intent, we have subject, we have ‘family,’ we have the
‘individual’ and the subject also engaging or not engaging the spectator. Thus,
relate that a horse, this horse, has family, is unique and an individual as a
horse, he also has hierarchy within his species, they are sentient, and are
also intelligent, so, can engage, and speak to the viewer as a human can in any
portrait. A sentient not a human but a sentient. A sentient horse named Spirit
of the Mountain by the persons that now have him as their ‘property’ as in
reference to our citadel and our ‘Prometheus’ world.
References
SENTIENT & ANIMALS
SENTIENISM & THE HUMAN
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
FREEDOM BEYOND CONDITIONING
PROPERTY AND INEQUALITY
PORTRAITURE
PORTRAITS & IDENTITY
🐎
LITTLE ANNIE
'ANNIE IS RUNNING THROUGH THE DANDELIONS NOW'
Annie, a beautiful orphaned filly, with a hopeful beginning and a sad end, was a reminder of how nature looks after itself. Annie confirmed the question of 'what is natural selection' . Thus it prompted the need for me to draw this beautiful filly. Annie's story begins around the end of September of 2021 with Karen Ferguson a wild life photographer.
Annie was a little filly found orphaned by Karen Ferguson on one of her Photographic expeditions to Photograph brumbies, in the Kosciusko National Park. She rescued her and Nikki Alberts of White Alpine took her in, but despite all efforts she passed away suddenly to the forever fields of the dandelions. 🐎🐎Following are the written events as per the post in 'The Keepers Pocket - Photography by Karen Ferguson' FB page written by Karen on the post dated 30th October 2021, the post reads as follows, and quote:
 |
Annie in KNP Photo reference used.
Photo by Karen Ferguson |
"I've been wanting to share the story of this little girl, but waited out of respect for Hazel who lost her battle in the early hours of Friday morning. RIP beautiful girl...your battle was immense but you can rest now ❤ After work on Thursday, I spent the afternoon in the Tantangara area hiking and falling over in the mud. I hiked for around 4 hours, taking photos and enjoying the company of quite a few brumbies. It was getting late, and as I made my way out of the dam area I was planning on heading home. When I got to the Long Plain gate I should have turned right, but instead I turned left...telling myself I'd just take a quick look around the Kiandra area and t then head home.
As luck would have it I came across Harry's mob, and I was excited to see them because I'd taken a photo of their new foal the week before but it wasn't very good. Mama was very protective and wouldn't allow me close enough, so I thought I'd pull over and see if this week would allow me a closer look.
As I started walking towards the mob, I noticed Harry and Gus had their attention focused a little further down the hill, and I thought there must have been another mob close by. I took a few photos, and then got curious about why Gus was so agitated with whatever was down the hill. I headed down that way, but couldn't see another mob anywhere. I was about to turn around and sit with Harry and the mob when I noticed a little tail wagging from behind some trees.
That's when I discovered Annie. I looked around for her mob and even though there was another mob not far away, they seemed to have no interest in her. She had take refuge in a little triangle of trees. It was her safety zone. She didn't appear to be injured, but she was weak and obviously hungry.
I sat with her a bit, and she came out and suckled my hand but went back to her triangle when she realised there was nothing to be gained from my hand. It was late and I knew I couldn't leave her there alone, but I also knew I needed to find help. I reluctantly left her there and headed to a nearby campground to seek help. My pleas for help went unanswered at the campground, so I drove a little way up the road to get phone service. By this time I was getting frantic and planning to spend the night in the bush. Thankfully Nikki and Kyle answered my call for help and they came to the rescue. The three of us guided this little angel to their vehicle and she was such a trooper, making the task much easier than it could have been. So, Annie is now safely in the hands of White Alpine Equine being well taken care of.
Apart from being dehydrated and very hungry she appears to be in good health.
I'd had such a big day and I was exhausted, but I'm so glad I made that split decision to turn left instead of right. It was a chain of events that unfolded in just the right way to lead me to Annie, and I'm so grateful for the help I received in getting her to safety. I am certain she would not have survived out there on her own, and that little triangle of trees she had claimed as a safe zone would not have protected her from starvation or wild dogs.
I cried most of the way home, mostly because I'm an emotional basket case at the best of times...but also because I was relieved that Fate had intervened and saved this beautiful little girl from certain death.
❤🐴❤🐴❤🐴❤" 🐎💕🐎
I like to think that the stallions Harry and Gus knew that Annie’s only chance was with humans, as nature works on natural selection. Instinct tells the horses or most other mammals really that one that will survive and the one that does not. Stories similar to Annie's are widespread, whether it be a horse, a donkey, an elephant, or a lion cub. 🐎🐘🐒 To strengthen this, In my last venture, to Clearview Brumby Rescue QLD, I also observed the difference in the domesticated horses to the wild brumbies. The brumbies, seem more still and calmer, they think before they act, they seem to have an independence because of this, that the domesticated horses do not seem to have, I put it down to the conditioning of the domesticated horse, as he from birth is directed and ordered, where the brumby was born free and in a equine family structure. The question of freedom as well as the natural selection, also became of value in the thinking process.
 |
| Annie Unfinished Stage of drawing |
I then as I was drawing Annie, did a post while the drawing was at an unfinished stage. To note my thinking process. Here I related the natural selection to that of our conditioning.
My Post was put up on St Valentines day 14th February 2022 and it read as follows;
Not sure if everyone has heard of little Annie. She was a filly found in the wild by wild life photographer Karen Ferguson. Annie was alone, hiding between trunks of trees. She was rescued and White Alpine took her in. Despite their great efforts little Annie did not survive and eventually passed away. It broke many hearts hearing of her passing, and more so for Karen and White Alpine Equine.
Wilderness is nature and nature works on the 'natural selection '. We are so far removed from the wilderness, that we don't understand nature as well as we should. Hence we recreated a world of citadels and try to control nature and contain nature, not thinking of the consequences of what we do to nature herself. These beautiful sentient beings belong in the wild. Nature wants them there and needs them there.
We cannot change the past and our laws do not favour brumbies relating to the 'native' of things. Brumbies are post native and so are dandelions and many other fauna and flora. We cannot eradicate the past we should let nature re-establish herself and let her do what she does best, control her own wilderness by her natural selection of things. She will have a better answer than us.
The drawing of Annie is not finished yet and is still in progress. My reference is one of Karen Ferguson's photos of when she first rescued little Annie. You can see Annie asking for help and love in those eyes. In which she got from Karen. As I draw her, she to me, as I stare at her she stares back and asks me, 'why?' I don't know why Annie, I really don't.
But we are doing our best to try and save your brothers and sisters. My promise to you, Annie.
And you turn away and I see you now happily running through the dandelions that are swaying in the breeze. I see also your mum who waits patiently to join you, with a tear in her eye and asks herself why.
Syndy 🌬🐎💙"
References
🐎
NATURAL SELECTION ALONE, A MILLION TO ONE.
'ABOVE BLUE SKIES LIES A LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE'
In memory of Sunshine a wild filly brumby, of the Sunshine Mob.
Born September 2020 died before Christmas 2020
Oil Painting 'alla prima' on Stretched 12gm cotton canvas
66cm x 56cm x 4cm
Photograph reference Karen Ferguson Wildlife Photographer
This little ray
of Sunshine, was gifted to me by Karen Ferguson, telling me her story of Sunshine
and the Sunshine mob. It follows the discourse of natural selection, as it did
with Annie, but unlike Annie, she had no human intervention, and thus the discourse
becomes more poignant.
The story of Sunshine
starts in 2020, when in September of 2020 she was born as part of the Sunshine
family (Mob.). This was witnessed by Karen Ferguson, and upon
meeting the new bub she took some photographs of Sunshine.
Then eventually
one day upon seeing the Sunshine mob, little Sunshine was not with them, and
noting that they grazed nowhere near the traps it was understood, she met her
end due to the tough environment touching on the natural selection. Little foals
have a lot to contend with in the wild, right from birth. Even their own
instinct to get up as soon as they are born, due to the ancestral instinct of being
a vulnerable prey, as the smell of the placenta would attract many scavengers. Then of
course so many other factors as we know that the ‘wildernesses’ of things, is
not a walk in the park.
This was a
special gift as not only does the story relay how unfair at times nature is but
also why she has a natural selection, as this keeps numbers down naturally.
There is a lot about horses that are so unique as we also know now how they
easily spontaneously abort at the sight of danger, and so many other reasons
that makes one understand how far removed we really are from nature herself and
how little we really know ourselves on how she works.
These beautiful
sentients’ are unfortunately affected by our human condition and all that are ‘Prometheus’
citadels dish out. More than words can
say today.
Sunshine was obviously mourned not only by her family but by Karen herself. When Karen gifted this story to me, she had just witnessed the reverse coin of still 'natural selection, for once again, in July 2022, the Sunshine mob welcomed another foal to their family. Sunshine was gone, but Smokey her brother, joined the mob two years after her passing, and little Smokey is still with us today. Let us hope that he fairs a better chance. A million to one chance of surviving to a full life as a Stallion of KNP.
'WHERE THE DANDELIONS GROW & THE BRUMBIES RUN FREE' 2022
Smokey a wild brumby Born July 2022,
Smokey is Sunshine's brother of the Sunshine mob.
Oil Painting 'alla prima' on Stretched 12gm cotton canvas
66cm x 56cm x 4cm
Photograph reference Karen Ferguson Wildlife Photographer
References
A WILD BRUMBY NAMED SHADOW
This artwork has now also become the logo for
AUS BRUMBY REHOMERS UNTED.
Shadow's drawing was done prior to Annie and posted on the 4th February on FB. Post as follows:SHADOW
'I am the twilight of the wild dandelions, I am Shadow, I am the wild brumby ' 2021
Ink Rotring tikki graphic pens and china ink, white charcoal, on A3 white canson paper 225gm. Photo reference by Karen Ferguson
SHADOW is one of the lucky ones as a rehomed Wild brumby and resides now with Clearview Brumby Rescue QLD. His now forever home.
He is a favourite of Karen Ferguson and she misses him. He is a favourite of mine
I choose my artwork carefully, and as I choose each brumby for an artwork, each has a story to tell, and each speak to me ethereally. Shadow became a favourite of mine and when Moreen Levin communicated that they had him, I was sad but delighted as I knew he is in good hands.
Shadow is the twilight of the wild dandelions as we take each horse from the wild, each is another mark of disgrace to our laws and government. Man wants to change everything and regulate everything he abstracts the world with his wants his thoughts and his art. I draw and paint what I see, for nature has created beauty that can only be the reflection of ones soul.
Then a thought came to mind as I stared at the photograph of Shadow and He said to me;
'You can take me out of the mountain, but you cannot take the mountain out of ME. His name remains 'Shadow' he remains a wild brumby. He remains what nature intended. What should be what ought to be. What is regardless what we do.
Cheers Syndy Visual Artist & Brumby Advocate 🐎💕🐎🎨
WILD BRUMBY FOREVER
While visiting Clearview Brumby Rescue, in Thangool, I met Shadow in person, making my stated discussion all the more poignant. 🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎 .
Shadow was in the process of being 'handled' and in watching this brumby stomp and snort not at me but to the person that was trying to 'dominate' him as Shadow saw it. He snorted and stomped and snorted. He was just touching him gently, nothing more, but he reacted as if he was being challenge by a stallion. Funny thing was the handler was male. He acted different to the other handlers. It seemed he understood this person wanted him to follow rather than lead, and he did not like that. He eventually did, but with a look of well, indescribable only to say, and someone said ' ...HOO, what's that look for?...' .
I had then myself the occasion to sit in Shadow's confined area and on a plastic bin, I sat, and with pencil and sketch pad started to sketch. He just kept moving, making my task so difficult, I only got 20 second sketches at best. Then he turned and came up to me and gave me a little tiny snort, like to say 'what do you want?' I looked up pointed my pencil and said "don't snort at me I'm here to draw you.' I then bowed my head like to greet him as they would to each other. He turned away went to eat and came back. He was so gentle and beautiful. But he was not sure of what I wanted. He sort of let me stay, looking every now and then at what I was up to, but then he bothered me so much that I stopped drawing and tried to caress him. I did a couple of times. He was beautiful and I am sure he remembered Karen sitting with him, I just felt he remembered that. Shadow, unlike Spirit of the Mountain is a young wild horse, that had he remained in the wild would one day have been a king of stallions like Spirit or King of the Gate. He was a bachelor when caught. This beautiful intelligent boy, will only be commanded not demanded as he will set his stakes. Not you. That was my first time in sitting in a confined space with a Wild brumby. He will always be free in his mind, just like Spirit. Regardless of any conditioning or acceptance of their conditioning, as they are the 'spirit of what a brumby is', and will always be in spirit, a wild brumby. He will one day be a riding horse maybe, but he will always be free in his head, running through KNP and stomping on the dandelions.
You can see the training mentioned here in process in the film link below:
THE IDENTITY OF A WILD BRUMBY
&
OWNERSHIP AND LABELS
'A WILD BRUMBY NAMED SHADOW, NOT A BRUMBY, ANYMORE'
The argument of not just the native but that of the labels that are placed upon the brumby are looked, in this section .
In Argument, because brumbies are deemed 'feral', explaining it as a wild horse that was once domesticated and was left in the wild, the brumby once taken out of the wild is considered then, no longer a brumby but a horse. Not that I agree with this. He also cannot be named as a breed as he has no 'particular lineage' and the fight to call him at least a 'type' is on the cards.
Prometheus and the play of words, that creates safety or destroys an animal, is here on show at its best. To give you an example, in the 1970's a dog was either pure breed or a mix or a mut. I had a pure breed pedigree miniature dog called Minou'. Beautiful boy he was too. Very expensive and with a pedigree that made 'anyone' feel like a mut.
Then someone very smart, decided to interbreed to create a healthier 'breed' as they noted, and started the 'Designer Dog'. So for example my now dog, Matisse', a 'Cavoodle', being a cross between a Charles Cavalier and a Miniature Poodle is not a cross or a mut as he would have been considered in the 70's but a now in 2022, a very expensive designer dog. Not to mention that would my very expensive designer dog go missing and end up in KNP he would then be considered a feral dog and poisoned too, another Prometheus 'beauty meets the beast'. Therefore then, the question I pose now, is SHADOW a brumby still? Is he still wild? Or is he now a designer brumby? This reminds me of Shakespeare where Juliette says regarding Romeo ' A rose by any other name would smell as sweet'. I now relate this to Shadow.
We have always a need to name and label, not just for identification, but also for the more complex reason of ownership, the sense of being in power and having the ability and right to name something. Hence, we name our children and our pets. Shadow was named by a photographer, and he retains the name as the rehomer, retained the name. Elby's Dad another Brumby that was rehomed, became Spirit of the mountain, once rehomed. It is a normal progression of our human condition, regarding ownership. But the argument remains as to what is Shadow now, a horse or a brumby? For me its not even a thought. He is a brumby and that is it. He will always be a brumby, and like the Waler or the Australian stock horse, he should remain a 'Brumby'. Not feral, not just a mut horse, a Brumby, or better still a designer horse, a horse that was designed by nature once it was let wild, and developed into a breed called the BRUMBY. Be it wild or rehomed Shadow will always be a BRUMBY.
One last note, if we have the Waler that was established as a breed, and ' The Waler' has a sad story as no blood lines are recognised after 1945. This therefore, makes the Brumby a very important ancestor and in my view the Brumby should be taken seriously into consideration. 🐎🐎🐎 The Australian pony and the Australian stock horse, is recognised as a breed, they too started like the brumby now, a mix of many horses, but done so domestically, so surely we can eventually establish the Brumby as a breed not just a type and definitely not a feral pest. 🐎🐎🐎 Remember we humans set the rules and rules can change. I vote for breed. Not just type.
🐎
The Story of
Mischief & Aussie
'Where the sun shines & the Earth is gold' 2022
'Where the sun shines & the Earth is gold' 2022
'Alla
Prima' Oil on stretched canvas 66cm x 56cm
Photo
references Mischief (right) and Aussie at Clearview Brumby Rescue QLD
Honestly when Moreen sent the picture of Mischief and Aussie, I just fell in love with them.
We here touch the 'Prometheus' in the rehoming; if these two foals were born in the wild their chances of survival reverts back to a natural 'natural selection'. In explanation, when a wild horse is rehomed they have vets that take care of all ailments as well as the 'duty of care' once the animal is yours. That is as a wild horse is taken out of the wild the horse becomes the property of the person that 'rehomes' the horse. As to the idea of property in our citadel laws. Many may think that you can just rehome them and let them be as they would in the wild. But truth has it, that once they are taken form the wild they then are subject to our governmental laws just as they would in the wild. The difference is that you must take care of the horse, you cannot just leave them be.
When mares are trapped, they may be in foal and unfortunately and that may also mean that due to stress, they eventually spontaneously abort so some lose their foal, others are born premature and others are not affected. It is a numbers gain as to the personality also of the mares.
Therefore the primary rehomers do everything in their power to calm the brumbies as they get off the rehoming trucks, so to minimise the stress. Contact is minimal at the necessity and they slowly introduce themselves so the brumbies gain trust to 'humans'. Then of course the rehomers also contend with vet bills for worming, injuries, and for all the births and maintenance of the foals, then of course all the geldings. Rehoming is not all roses, and many things can go wrong. But the assurance that the brumbies have a better chance is real, that they may thrive and live happily is also real.
Without the laws changing any time soon, rehoming is the only real answer for them, as if lethally culled these two little ones that you will meet next, may have been spontaneously aborted if their mums had been shot and left to die.
The story begins at Clearview Brumby Rescue and of actual events that took place in 2022.
THE
STORY OF MISCHIEF & AUSSIE
Where the sun shines & the Earth is gold .
Mischief
and Aussie were born in September 2022 at Clearview Brumby Rescue. Their mums,
Sassy and Scarlet came from Kosciuszko National Park. Both expecting, they were
trapped and arrived at Clearview Brumby rescue in July 2022.
In
September 2022, Mischief and Aussie were born. Sassy a bay mare had Mischief
and Scarlet a chestnut mare had the filly called Aussie. Sassy and Scarlett
were placed in the same pen to birth and lay side by side and Mischief and
Aussie were both born on the same day a few hours or so apart.
Mischief
was born first, and as soon as he got up, he was up to no good. Mischief
decided to investigate, and he ended up in the pen next door where another mare
Goldie, with her foal Rain, were. But Mischief never found his way back to his real
mum. Goldie got confused as she found herself feeding two foals and, in the
meantime, Scarlet was still delivering her foal and Sassy was missing one. When
Sassy finally got up and in not seeing her own foal, she decided to take
Scarlett's foal as Scarlett was still laying down too tired just after
delivering her bub. Eventually Scarlet got up and found herself alone without a
foal as Sassy had stolen hers.
The
next morning, Grandma and Grandpa (Moreen and Paul) went into the pens to find
a real kerfuffle. They found Mischief next door, Sassy with Scarlet's foal and
Scarlet was all alone without a foal, brooding in a corner. So they swapped
back the foals to the rightful mums, but found Mischief was his naughty self,
thus the 'grandparents' decided to put all 3 mares in the same pen, to let them
work it out, by themselves. It was a bit of a kerfuffle for a bit, especially
between Sassy and Scarlet, but they worked it out themselves. The result was
that Sassy kept Aussie, and Scarlett kept Mischief, hence swapped foals. For
now they are living all together, and the foals are sharing milk between the
three mares, so a happy ending after all. !!
🎠
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