horses in the home hop

I'm about 93% positive that some variation of this post has crisscrossed the equestrian blogosphere over the years. Most recently, Olivia from DIY Horse Ownership posted about the horse art decorating her home. And given my own recent addition to the "herd" (see what I did there?) I figured I'd unofficially hop in too!

Degas poster print + master huntsman stencil on reclaimed barn wood by local artist Sean Reichert

I've actually never been a huge fan of 'horse art.' It seems like most mainstream designs or images somehow.... don't really capture my vision of horses. Everything is either too whimsical (picture: glossy Friesians with billowing manes and tails), too wild (mustangs galloping across the plains), or too 'my little pony.'

Idk. It's hard to explain - but so much of what's available feels... somehow unreal. Maybe impersonal? It doesn't sync up with the humble shaggy lesson ponies I grew up with, or the nature of how I actually experience horses in real life. Kinda like how any movie that involves horses depicts them as constantly whinnying or neighing or snorting or otherwise chattering. Like. No, horses just aren't that noisy guys. Let's be real, here!

Charlie portrait on canvas by Alyssa Kelley + timber horses in glazed ceramic by local artist Jennifer Merriman

In recent years, tho, the collection has grown from that one Degas print (the frame for which has long since disappeared) to include a couple other finds from local artists. And apparently I have a thing for a wider variety of media lol.

The huntsman appeals to me for its simplicity, and I actually have a few other non-horsey pieces from the same artist. And I just kinda love those timber horses. Maryland has a strong tradition of these races, including the annual Hunt Cup (that's kind of a big deal) - so I like the local flavor to it. I also kinda appreciate that the horses aren't perfect and that they're all styled slightly different.

And obviously we've all already seen that lovely portrait of Charlie as a racehorse that Alyssa created for me!!

Izzy print in MCTA prize picture frame + Izzy print with corner chewed up by kitties

Aaaand.... haha that's kinda it. There are a few other photographs scattered on bookshelves. Mostly just printouts of photos from competitions with Isabel. The above being our first BN (on the left) and our second N (the right), both at Loch Moy and both by GRC Photo, used with purchase.

best friend Dancer from many years ago + unicorn lunch box gift from when i was very sad

I sadly have very few photographs from any other barn tho. Like, I actually do have photos of just about every horse from my first barn (when I went through the whole place with a disposable camera or two) but the pictures are... kinda poor quality haha. They don't really show the horses to, um, their best advantage. Like poor Dancer, above, who was probably just trying to nap when we snapped that unflattering shot.

Also on display, obviously, is the awesome unicorn Teresa mailed to me (complete with much-needed care package) after I wrote about things falling apart with Isabel. (Thanks girl!!)

also. this giant wooden horse. 

Oh. And of course we can't forget that giant fucking crazy-eyed, carnival-esque wooden horse dominating one corner of my living room lol. That's.... uh.... pretty hard to miss haha. And I've had that thing since I was a kid (my dad picked it up at some auction after I had {childishly} decided that I had to have it, since, obvi, horses). And I freaking love this weird creepy caricature of a horse lol.

So.... not a very large collection by quantity haha, but perhaps.... imposing in sheer size and material?

What about you? Do you have a lot of horse art or decorations in your home? Or are you more of a minimalist? Wanna hop in and share your pictures too??