Imperial Dominator D. - My Muse

"Spring Green"     casein       6 x 6"

Last Thursday was a sad day for us on Cob Cottage Farm. My 31 year old Tennessee Walking Horse crossed over Rainbow Bridge. We knew he was failing and that we would be facing this moment ....but it is never an easy decision.Imperial Dominator had been my main man for 26 of those years. He came to me a very green, just gelded ,still stallion-y and in need of manners. Dom and I had years of learning...and we bonded and melted into one. Rider and horse...covering miles...always sound and sane. Dom was my main man....my strength and protector. I treasure years of riding with friends, in competitions, for fun and game. Dom could be difficult. There where times when he did NOT want to go into a trailer.....and it was his call when he would eventually load. Other times he would march right on  Life was lived on his terms. He was a thinking horse and often did not think what I wanted to do needing doing. And on occasion his stubbornness saved us from a wrong step, a bad trail...a bad decision on my part. He took care of me. I hauled him to Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire.... where we competed in long distance rides against GAG's ......."Gray Arabian Geldings"......Dom was a black Tennessee Walker gelding....not the right color or breed for endurance races....but we showed them to never underestimate a determined TWH, no matter what his size of color is!! We did well.
Dom was handsome...impressive...and he knew it. But he could be a fool too. He loved opening locked doors, pasture gates, untying ropes. He loved to have his ears scratched, his nose scratched...but hated having his teeth floated. He loved apples, but knew when a pill was hiding in one and would refuse the "poisoned apple". Yes, Dom was a thinking horse.
I miss him so. I have not painted...have not even worked in the studio since his passing. His barn buddies, Victoria , our Welsh Cob mare and Duster, our other TWH gelding, miss him. It is a big loss in all our lives.......but this too will pass. The pain will lessen and sweet memories will soften our sorrow.
Dom is buried on our farm.....but I have to believe that one day I will be with him again in heaven.

Imperial Dominator D.    photo copyright Dodo Knight 1989

Dogs and More Dogs

This watercolor of a sweet Lab, called Jesse, was commissioned by the friend of the dog's owner after Jesse past over the rainbow bridge. Working on the painting brought back memories of the Labrador Retrievers we have had over the years. We always had one or two in our home while our sons were growing up. I always called them our 'doofy' dogs......but oh, how those dogs loved. Labs are also so ready to please and share hugs and kisses.

I can tell this little lady was much loved too. I can see it in her eyes.

And then there were Corgi's!!

These Cardigan Corgis are part of a HERD of Corgis that belong to a family in Texas. Herd? [or is it a gaggle of Corgis???] The Bucks' Cardigans actually herd their Beefmaster Cattle on their ranch. How cool is that?!! Corgis with real jobs to do! There will be more Buck Cardigan Welsh Corgi paintings in the works. I can't get enough of looking at these wonderful dogs and the Buck's beautiful farm.

In the meantime I need to get works out to Saratoga Springs for the summer show with Equidea Gallery....and do work for the invitational art show "Fertile Ground", to be held at Skyline Farm in September.

And the gardens are growing!!! Roses coming open and veggies growing.

This is a good thing!