The national art competition celebrating the Beauty of the Appaloosa Horse Breed, and its Native History, is now closed for entries. Over the next few weeks The Trail and the Appaloosa Horse Club will be narrowing down the finalists in each category. All submissions will be judged on the basis of originality, technical ability and relevance to the theme. Then the ten entries we feel deserve special attention will be presented to you – the public – and you will be given the opportunity to vote for your favorite. An online voting mechanism will be in place on this website beginning May 15, and you will have thirteen days to vote. Voting ends on May 27, and the winners will be announced on our June 3 website update. The three designs in each category that receive the highest number of votes will be awarded cash prizes and merchandise. First place will receive a $500 cash prize. Second place a $250 cash prize. And Third place a selection of Trail of Painted Ponies and Appaloosa Horse Club merchandise. All entries, including those that do not end up among the top three in voting, will be considered by The Trail for crafting into figurines.
To cast your vote now, Click Here.
This is the second national art competition, featuring a naturally colorful horse breed, that The Trail has held. In 2012 we partnered with the American Paint Horse Association on their 50th anniversary. This year, we partnered with the Appaloosa Horse Club in commemoration of their 75th anniversary. We would like to thank and commend both organizations for their interest in exploring a partnership with The Trail of Painted Ponies. By allowing their breed to serve as a canvas for creative expression, they are giving people another way of enjoying what makes these breeds so unique, and so beloved. We encourage everyone who would like to know more to visit their websites:
www.appaloosa.com
www.apha.com
Happy Trails,
Trailmaster
Blog
Rod Barker
Founder
Trail of Painted Ponies
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Let the Voting Begin…
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The Appaloosa Horse Story
Partnering with the Appaloosa Horse Club on an art competition to commemorate their 75th anniversary gave us the opportunity to learn more about the background of the breed. As everyone knows, stories are an important part of The Trail of Painted Ponies. Every figurine comes with one. The story behind the Appaloosa Horse – where it came from and how it got to where it is today - is a fascinating one. But for a few accidents of history, it might not be a breed at all.
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Let’s begin with how the Appaloosa came to this country. It was brought to the New World by the Spanish on ships beginning in the 1500s. Spanish horses were frequently spotted due to the Barb blood they carried. The flashy coats caught the attention of the Nez Perce Indians whose homelands were in what is now eastern Washington and northern Idaho. Before the arrival of horses the Nez Perce were sedentary fishermen, but they quickly became known as excellent horsemen. They also became known as the only Native American tribe known to engage in a selective breeding program. The canyons in their homeland provided ideal enclosures for separating and breeding horses and they bred the spotted horse to perfection. Because their main village was located near the confluence of the Palouse River and the Snake River, their horses were called Palouses – a term that evolved into the Appaloosa. In the latter part of the 19th century, when the Nez Perce battled with the U.S. Army in defense of their tribal lands, they lost many of their precious horses. 900 in one battle alone. Only 1100 were said to have survived the ordeal of the Nez Perce defeat and these were confiscated, dispersed, and allowed to be indiscriminately bred. |
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Over the following decades, stockmen in the area used the spotted horses for working cattle and the breed’s future was in doubt until traveling circuses, recognizing the decorative appeal of the Appaloosa, began to collect them, raising their value and price and encouraging horse breeders to pay more attention to the breed. The Barnum Circus added a special equine attraction – the Liberty Horse Act – starring twelve Appaloosas in its shows, which increased the breeds popularity. Soon Buffalo Bill Cody was starring Appaloosas in his Wild West Shows.
What ultimately saved the breed was a 1937 exhibition of the Appaloosa in art that was featured in an article in Western Horseman magazine, which described the history of the Appaloosa and fought for its preservation. This new interest in the Nez Perce’s spotted horses resulted in the formation of the Appaloosa Horse Club in 1938, an organization whose 75th anniversary we are proudly commemorating this year with the national art competition: Celebrating the History and Beauty of the Appaloosa Horse. Adding another illustrious chapter to its story.
Let the competition begin!
Click here to go to the Competition Page.
Happy Trails,
Rod Barker
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“War Pony” Comes to The End of The Trail of Painted Ponies
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Retiring Painted Ponies is nothing new. The Trail has had a retirement program in place since 2005. What makes this retirement special is that we are retiring the most popular Painted Pony figurine in our history: “War Pony.” This startlingly realistic recreation of a Comanche war pony was created for the original 2001 Trail of Painted Ponies public art project by the nationally acclaimed Comanche artist Rance Hood. A book written about Rance Hood describes his work this way: “Winds of history, myth and magic charge the Plains Indian imagery of Comanche artist Rance Hood.” The same could have been written about this Painted Pony. |
| Rance grew up in Oklahoma in the home of his maternal grandparents, who taught him Comanche Indian ways and values, and from whom he first heard stories about warriors preparing for ceremonial events or forays into enemy territory by painting their horse with multi-colored symbols that represented victorious battles. A hand print told the tale of an enemy slain in hand-to-hand combat. Short horizontal lines stacked on top of one another were coup marks. After painting these symbols on his Pony, Rance added a shield, arrows, and traditional buffalo skin saddle to give the entire design authenticity. |
 Artist Rance Hood |
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“War Pony” was part of the initial release of Painted Pony figurines in January 2003 and immediately became the best-selling Pony in that release. For years its sales never slowed down. With 10,000 castings in each edition, we watched with increasing admiration as “War Pony” entered its fifth edition, its tenth edition, its fifteenth edition. At the time we made the decision to retire “War Pony,” it was in its eighteen edition. That means over 170,000 “War Ponies” have been purchased by Trail of Painted Ponies collectors. It is with a mixture of pride and gratitude that we are announcing the retirement of “War Pony.” And before we say this is end of the trail for this amazing work of art, we would like to cite some remarkable facts. |
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1) “War Pony” graced the cover of our Tenth Anniversary Edition book, as well as our 2011 calendar. 2) The artist dipped his hand in a bucket of red paint and pressed it against the side of his Pony to simulate a bloody handprint. 3) “War Pony” is an Appaloosa, as indicated by its spotted coat pattern and pink hoof. 4) To our knowledge, a pre-E, artist autographed “War Pony” has sold for the highest amount on the secondary market of any Painted Pony: $1,400. |
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5) A collector sent a “War Pony” to her husband who was serving on active duty in Iraq to protect him. 6) A plaque was created that featured “War Pony” accompanied by this Native American quote: “And the Great Spirit took a handful of earth, blew his breath over it and created the horse.” 7) In many ways, “War Pony” has become the icon of The Trail of Painted Ponies. 8) “War Pony” was the inspiration for the War Pony Collection of merchandise featured on our Official Website Store 9) Today, the life-size “War Pony” proudly welcomes visitors to the Comanche Nation Tourism Center in Lawton, Oklahoma. Surely many of our collectors have stories about what “War Pony” has meant to them. If you share them with us, we will share them with others. Please send your comments and stories to: info@paintedponies.com. Happy Trails, Rod Barker |
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American Paint Horse Association and Trail of Painted Ponies Partner on New Figurine
One of the highlights of 2012 for The Trail of Painted Ponies was our partnership with the American Paint Horse Association. In commemoration of the APHA’s 50thAnniversary, we jointly issued a call for designs that celebrated the beauty of the breed, and the achievements of the Association, which is the world’s second largest equine breed association. The response was phenomenal, and narrowing the selections down to ten finalists and then inviting the world to vote for its favorite, made this competition one of the largest and most successful yet. In the end, the winner was unanimous. The APHA, The Trail, and voters agreed on their favorite: “Painted Harmony,” by Janee Hughes, which depicts a mare and her foal running together, the brown-and-white pattern of their coats blending beautifully into a single design.
In October of 2012 the annual APHA convention took place in Fort Worth, Texas, where I had the honor of formally thanking the APHA for partnering with The Trail on this anniversary initiative, and complimenting the spirit of its Executive Director, Billy Smith, who had remarked earlier, “We are always looking for creative ways to build momentum. In the current economic climate, it is vital that horse organizations explore cooperative and creative ways to grow the horse industry.” We, at The Trail, couldn’t have put it better.
I then introduced “Painted Harmony” to the crowd in attendance, which gave me as much pleasure as introducing it to Painted Pony collectors, and giving them the opportunity to add this unique and gorgeous figurine to their collection, does now.
For a 360 degree view of this special figurine, which actually features two horses running together, Click Here.
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Horses and Christmas: A Magical Connection
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Born Horse Crazy!
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Almost every girl grows up wanting a real horse for Christmas. In part, this is why Painted Pony figurines and ornaments are so appreciated over the holidays. They’re the next best thing, and in fact have become a gift-giving tradition. Here is a Christmas story of a girl whose wish came true… and who grew up to become an all-star Painted Pony artist. Her name is Janet Snyder, and she is the creator of last year’s bestselling “Santa’s Surprise,” and this year’s charming "Beary Merry Christmas." “When I was little, the only thing I ever wanted was a horse. I’m not sure how it started or why, there was just something about them that drew me and Iloved everything about them. I was just born horse crazy. “I had all kinds of toy horses with riders and stables to put them in. My room was covered with posters of horses, shelves with horse figurines and I had lots of books with pictures that I’d show my parents, showing them the kind of horse I wanted. All they would say is, we live in town, there’s no place to keep one. “Every Christmas my parents would ask what I wanted and I always told them a pony. They’d take me to see Santa and I’d tell him, please, please bring me a pony for Christmas, one just like Little Joe’s pinto on Bonanza. When Christmas morning would come, I’d run to the tree hoping to unwrap a saddle or bridle or some hint that a pony might be tied outside in the backyard. I’d run through the house looking out the windows but there was never a pony to be found. “After several years of this, my parents finally gave in. On Christmas we all gathered to open presents and my dad says, open this one first, it’s a special present from Santa. I picked it up and shook it like I always do trying to figure out what was inside. I opened it and let out a scream, it was a new halter with the name “Domino” engraved on a brass plate attached to the cheek piece. I ran to the window and tied to a trailer outside was a beautiful bay pinto all saddled up and ready to take for a ride. My dreams finally came true.” This year, if a live Pony isn’t in the picture, giving that horse crazy girl in your life a Painted Ponies figurine will be the next best thing.Click Here to view the collection and place your order. Happy Trails, and Happy Holidays from all of us at The Trail of Painted Ponies. |
Artist Janet Snyder
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Billy the Artist Paints a Pony
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Billy the Artist is an internationally known artist who works out of New York City. His mantra is “Create your own reality,” and his artwork captures the energy and power of the city around him in a style he calls “Urban Primitive Pop.” His signature technique begins with freehand designs drawn with a black Sharpie pen. Later he decides whether to add color. In his words, his kaleidoscopic puzzle-like images “celebrate the diversity and joy of the human spirit,” and he is currently enjoying great commercial success. He’s designed for MTV and Microsoft. He’s been featured in Rolling Stone, Vogue and Vanity Fair. He’s appeared on Fox and Friends and 60 Minutes. The guy has a resume, in other words - to which a new credit can be added. Billy the Artist, the man who loves to explore non-normal canvases, the man who has painted everything from the sides of buildings to watch bands to custom cars, has also painted one of our Paint Your Own Pony figurines. |
 Billy the Artist |
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Now it’s your turn. Make this Christmas the occasion when YOU let your imagination run wild and express YOUR unique style and personality. If there is a person in your life who would appreciate a hand-made, one-of-a-kind gift created specially by you, then painting a running or rearing Pony from one of our Paint Your Own Pony kits is the way to go. Take Billy the Artist’s advice. “Be bold and not afraid to share your vision and who you are with more people.” |
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To purchase a Rearing or Running Paint Your Own Pony Kit from the Official Painted Ponies Store, Click Here. Happy Trails,  Rod Barker |
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The Trail of Painted Ponies Remembers Phyllis Diller
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Last week the Queen of Comedy, Phyllis Diller, the legendary stand-up comedian known as much for her outrageous wardrobe and over-the-top wigs as the bawdy jokes she told and her wicked, cackling laugh, laughed for the last time. You may have seen the tributes on TV. Clips of Phyllis with Bob Hope, Groucho Marx, and Johnny Carson on the old Tonight Show before his hair turned grey. Ms. Diller was 95 years old when she passed, and the press coverage that attended her death was extensive. But to my knowledge none of the reportage mentioned The Trail of Painted Ponies, and in fact there was a connection between The Trail and Phyllis Diller. One that is not known to many people, but will be revealed now. The Queen of Comedy was on-deck to become an Official Trail of Painted Ponies Artist. The beginning of this story goes back several years, to when Karlynn Keyes was President of The Trail and she came up with the idea for a Celebrity Collection. A creative collaboration between The Trail and Hollywood celebrities whose primary purpose was to create figurines that would raise money for the celeb’s favorite charity. The famous film star Tony Curtis had gone first with “Shiloh,” followed by TV icon Barbara Eden with “Dream Catcher.” Phyllis Diller was supposed to be next. |
 Phyllis Diller |
Like many celebrities, Ms. Diller’s talents were multiple. Primarily known as a comedian, she was also a classically trained pianist who had a natural gift and inherent desire to draw. According to a promotional handout in her press kit, “Miss Diller’s abstract portrait drawings and paintings capture single moments from her imagination… (She) has harnessed her intuitive and unconscious impulses, producing images ranging from the lyrical and diminutive to the bold and expressionistic.” The piece ends with a quote from Ms. Diller about her art: “The other things I do are ephemeral. This I can touch and feel and look at after it’s finished. My paintings are solid; they are a product of who I am and that one can hang on the wall and reflect upon indefinitely.”
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As coincidence would have it, Ms. Diller also loved horses. Early in her career she was good friends with several racetrack owners, and although she didn’t “play the ponies,” she did enjoy a day at the track. The Painted Pony she and Karlynn developed was titled “One Fast Filly,” and it was going to be featured as part of the new Happy Trails Collection because it was whimsical in character, incorporating a racehorse wearing one of those outrageous hats women don on Derby Day in Kentucky. It’s title? “One Fast Filly.” It wasn’t long after the design was completed that Phyllis Diller hosted an art party at her Hollywood home, and Karlynn and I were added to the invitation list. |
 One Fast Filly by Phyllis Diller |
The Diller residence was located on Rockingham in Brentwood, the same street that OJ Simpson made infamous when he murdered his ex-wife and Ron Goldman. Betty White is a neighbor. Of course from the outside you wouldn’t know Phyllis Diller lived there. A grand and stately English mansion with leaded windows and a tile roof built in 1911 by a United States senator and bought by Phyllis in the ‘60s, its privacy was guarded by beautiful mature trees and fifteen-foot tall hedges The only thing from the outside that gave its owner away was where her signature had been scrawled in wet cement when the driveway was paved.
Inside, her home was like a museum. Thick Persian rugs covered the polished floors. The furniture - gorgeous, ornately upholstered chairs and sofas - could have come straight from an expensive antique shop on Rodeo Drive. European paintings hung on the walls. There were flowers everywhere. To the left of the entrance was a large living room that featured a baby grand piano and a large oil portrait on an easel of Bob Hope that was given to her after they appeared together in a movie. Another room was full of black-and-white framed photographs of Old Hollywood celebrities posing with Phyllis Diller. Included were past US Presidents, along with handwritten notes. A dapper bartender made the rounds, serving glasses of champagne and wine off a silver platter.
The reason for the open house was to sell – drawings and paintings by Ms. Diller, along with memorabilia whose value was based on their connection to the Queen of Comedy. On a small table near the entrance, the long, ornate cigarette holder that was a prop in many of her routines could be yours for a couple hundred bucks.
 Martha's Shoe by Phyllis Diller |
Upstairs, on the second floor, there were two rooms I found particularly fascinating: the Wig Room, where dozens of Vegas-style, hair pieces she wore when she performed were displayed on styrofoam mannequin heads, and available for a price; and the Wardrobe Room, where hundreds of silk and sequined outfits were exhibited on hangers, each with a tag that told when and where the item had been worn by Phyllis. The walls on a long hallway on the second floor that ran from one end of the house to the other were the gallery where Ms. Diller’s paintings were hung. Most were small in size, brightly colorful, and childlike in their simplicity. Flowers in a bowl. A cat in a chair. A single, jewel-encrusted shoe. |
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At last, Phyllis Diller made an entrance, and she was gracious to everyone, and witty of course, the consummate performer. She also gladly posed for pictures in the foyer in front of a large oil painting of an empty stage, the curtains pulled back on either side, and a bright circle of light in the center. By itself, it looked incomplete, like something was missing. A painting of a stage with a spotlight shining on it, waiting for the star to appear. But as it turned out it was a set up, serving as the backdrop for the photographs that were taken of Phyllis Diller and the guests who were visiting her home. As you can see in the attached photo of Phyllis Diller, Karlynn Keyes and myself, the Queen of Comedy is positioned precisely so the spotlight in the painting creates a halo effect around her head. |
.jpg) Karlynn Keyes, Rod Barker and Phyllis Diller |
By sad coincidence, Phyllis Diller died the same week we made the decision that the Happy Trails Collection had come to the end of the trail, so “One Fast Filly” is a Painted Pony that will not run. We nevertheless enjoyed our opportunity to work with a legend.
Happy Trails,
Rod Barker
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Judith McGilvray said on December 08, 2012:
I though the main reason for your company was to enrich lives of people near & far to the love of horses anyway possible throughout time. Not only would we as collectors who love all fashions of ponies for the ponies themselves, but it is a tribute to the stars or celebrities themselves when we purchase one made in honor of them. It saddens me that we will not be able to honor phyllis diller and have the one fast pony to remember her by.
Judith McGilvray quote on December 8, 2012
Linda Wohlen said on October 13, 2012:
I totally agree with everyone on this page,and would love to have this beautiful pony in my collection! PLEASE reconsider your decision not to make One Fast Filly part of the celebrity collection. It would be a wonderful way to honor such a great comedienne!
Cynthia Sarah said on September 24, 2012:
I have many of your Ponies and loved Phyllis Diller.
I believe it should come out and the money raised could go toward her favorite charity.
Otherwise it seems like the project was done in vein. Tis would be a way to honor her.
Please produce this so we can enjoy, and remember her even more.
Cynthia
Nancy Sharp said on September 04, 2012:
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE reconsider your decision NOT to let "One Fast Filly" become a part of The celebrity collection...I know things are a little "tight" now with the world , etc...BUT I truly believe this pony would be a much sought after pony...PLEASE reconsider and produce this pony!!! It looks like a wonderful pony to add to collections...
Fran Moore said on August 31, 2012:
I would agree with Gail. Ms. Diller would want everyone to have this Painted Pony in there collection in her name. I would Purchase this pony in my collection just Like I did with the Tony Curtis Painted Pony. So bring back "One Fast Filly."
Toni said on August 31, 2012:
I too agree with the comments, and I too would gladly adopt this little filly. Please reconsider.
Gail Napolitano said on August 31, 2012:
Please reconsider the decision you made about "One Fast Filly." I can almost hear Ms. Diller saying, "Oh go for it Rod" and then laughing. As a tribute piece to her, by her, it would be unique and something I would think she would have loved. I would certainly pay for this filly to be in my barn. That, however, is not the point. The memory of a person like her stamped in a horse she created is. Please make it as a special pony.
Terri said on August 31, 2012:
I agree with both Bev and Sheila that Ms. Diller would be pleased to have her "One Fast Filly" be added to the collection as she intended before her passing. I would purchase this pony because of her. So Please reconsider.
Verona said on August 31, 2012:
What a shame to not produce "One Fast Filly" at least to Honor an American Comedic Icon.
Sheila Devine said on August 31, 2012:
I agree with Bev. I would love to see "One Fast Filly" become a reality. I would purchase this pony and add it to my other celebrity ponies as I am an avid collector of the Trail of Painted Ponies. I truly hope you will reconsider your decision not to release this Pony.
Bev said on August 31, 2012:
I for one would like to see "One Fast Filly" added to the collection. I would think that is what Ms. Diller had intended before her passing. I would purchase this pony to add to my collection as I am sure others would as well. Please reconsider.
Introducing... The War Pony Collection
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Have you ever taken a look around your house and felt like things have gotten a little too tame? That it’s time to liven up your living space with some new decorating ideas that will add artistic accents to your kitchen and dining room, yet are also practical and useful on an everyday basis? This is what we had in mind when we created the War Pony Collection. Over the ten years since The Trail of Painted Ponies introduced its first figurines to the world, we have explored a variety of different product extensions. There have been snow globes and magnets. T-shirts and puzzles. Greeting cards and hand bags. Candles and soap. Art glass and jewelry. Now, working with a “boutique manufacturer,” we are proud to announce the latest collection of new Painted Pony merchandise. We have named it the War Pony Collection because it features high-resolution images of the bestselling Native American war-themed figurines – War Pony, War Cry, Warrior Brothers and Spirit War Pony - and it consists of two basic groupings. One, products that are both decorative and functional. The other, hanging ornaments that are infused with protective powers. |
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The War Pony Accessory Collection consists of:
Coffee Mugs: Now you can start every morning with your favorite War Pony. Each mug is decorated with the vibrant image of a different War Pony whose image wraps around a 15 oz cup that is perfectly balanced for your hand, with roomy handles to slip your fingers through.
Coaster Sets: We guarantee that these coasters will protect your table tops and furniture from unsightly rings. They are as delightful to look at as to use, and can be paired with a matching mug.
Trivets: As gorgeous as Wall Art – in fact they can be hung on a wall or displayed in an easel like a decorative plaque – War Pony trivets accept hot and cold dishes and feature a protective hard coat to resist scratching.
The War Pony Ornament Collection consists of:
Hanging Disc and Drum Ornaments and Magnets: American Indians were a people with a deeply felt sense of design and symbolism who surrounded themselves with objects that were decorated with paint, feathers, beads, quills and more. They believed that these objects were infused with protective and healing powers. The War Pony Ornament and Magnet Collection was designed to provide people with charms and good luck pieces that are decorated with War Pony imagery and can be hung and displayed around the house. We cannot guarantee that a War Pony ornament will solve great problems or give you strength to prevail over difficult circumstances. But in our years of experience, we have seen astonishing changes in people’s lives as a result of their belief in the power of the War Ponies.
The War Pony Collection offers great gifts, even for yourself!
To shop the War Pony Collection, Click Here.
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The Pablo Picasso – Painted Ponies Connection
As most of those who consider themselves serious collectors of Painted Ponies figurines know, one of the unique things about The Trail that separates us from other collectibles is our Autographed Editions. We offer collectors the opportunity to purchase a limited number of new figurines that are hand-signed and hand-numbered by the artist whose original design inspired the figurine. This edition, which always consists of very low casting numbers as well, is sent to the home or studio of the artist who opens it up to make sure the figurine accurately captures the spirit of their design and has gotten the details right, and then he or she personalizes it… turning it over and autographing the bottom and then numbering the Pony 1/100, 2/100, doing their best to correspond the lowest casting numbers with the lowest Autographed Edition numbers.
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When an artist anoints a collectible with a personal touch, it can greatly influence its value in the marketplace. There are all kinds of historical precedents for this, to which I will add one more. Back in the days when I was a magazine writer, I interviewed a woman for an art magazine and I recall her telling me about the time her mother paid a visit to the Paris studio of the legendary artist Pablo Picasso. After a lively conversation, Picasso, whose reputation as a man partial to pretty ladies was second only to his reputation as a world-renowned artist, invited the woman to join him for lunch. As they left the studio, the woman noted that Picasso did not lock the door behind him. Slightly alarmed at the cavalier way he was leaving a fortune in artwork unprotected, she asked Picasso if it was a good idea to leave his studio unlocked. Picasso laughed and told her his canvases were just brushstrokes without his signature. Is there another Picasso among the Official Painted Ponies artists? Who knows. Certainly Painted Ponies artists share the master’s spirited willingness to explore and experiment with different art forms, different design concepts, different modes of communication and expression… and recognition that his signature adds value to his work. The moral to this story? Those of you who pay a little extra for an Autographed Edition of a Painted Pony should feel good. You may be holding the next Picasso…. |
 Picasso in his studio. |
To view the NEW Holiday Autographed Editions, Click Here.
Happy Trails,
Rod Barker
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Jennifer Kessler said on April 01, 2013:
I love this pony and it was one of my first ponies that I ever purchased for myself. However, I paid $1500.00 for the 1E/0001 Maple Leaf Pony...He now sits on my shelf protected in a glass case and I have signed him :) I look forward to seeing all the new ponies come out and all the old ones retire. So much talent!