• The Horse in Chinese Sculpture
• Cavalia
• Photographer Tony Stromberg
• Equine painter Joy Aoki
• Frederic Pignon and Magali Delgado
• The American Academy of Equine Art
• Jean-Francois Pignon

Breed Profile:  The Trakehner 
 

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     Throughout civilization's early history, the enthusiasm with which the Chinese have traditionally embraced the horse was rarely matched by other ancient cultures.  They enjoyed riding, racing, driving, and training them; they even invented Polo, a game that is still popular today. 
     The earliest horses in China were from the Longshan culture, where fire pits dated to 5000 B.C. have been found to contain the bones of horses, though scholars are unsure if the horses were wild or domestic.  The first evidence of a domestic horse in China appeared at about 4000 B.C., and was a horse similar to the Przewalski. 
     By the time of the Shang Dynasty (14th century B.C.), considerable effort and care was already being given to selectively breed horses in China for specific traits, and the judging of horses had become a national obsession.  In the Zhou Dynasty (1100-221 B.C.), horses were becoming animals associated with the nobility, and were most likely to be military mounts, ceremonial horses, hunting coursers, or breeding stock... 
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     I don't know if he knows it, but Tony Stromberg may be one of the most important equine art photographers out there today. 
     As an artist, I didn't hear about Tony's work until well into my own journey of photographing equines.  I think the first Stromberg image I ever saw was Ghost Horse, and when I saw it, my reaction was immediate. 
     Yeah--this guy gets it. 
     Tony lives at a secluded ranch, out under the quiet blue skies of New Mexico.  He's a private guy.  He's humble, very down-to-earth and completely non-pretentious; despite the fact that he is undoubtedly on a lot of peoples' short lists of Great Ones. 
     His pictures don't look like everyone else's.  What makes him such a force isn't so much how his pictures elevate their subject matter--though they do--or how his photos of scruffy range horses can transmit such strength of dignity, though his pictures definitely do that too.  The secret is that he lets the horses do the talking; wild horses, not fancy, pampered purebreds placed against something manicured.  There's a place for that, and it isn't here. 
     The secret is that when you are looking at his horses, you just want to be quiet and listen. 
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     ...In the early thirteenth century, a hardy but rather undistinguished native horse was discovered during the colonization of Eastern Prussia by the Order of the Knights Templar.  Known as the Schweiken, a larger descendant of the Konik pony, it was prevalent and indigenous to the area, and the regional folk celebrated its hardiness, excellent health, vitality, and strength.  Quickly acknowledged as a versatile riding mount with great endurance, the Knights set up a breeding program with the best quality Schweiken horses they could procure. 
     At the time, mainland Europe had been primarily breeding horses with agricultural needs in mind, and so farmers and local inhabitants predominantly handled the stable operations.  However, continual expansion by the Knights Templar led to the establishment of their own stud farms in quite a few villages like Sperling, Ragnit, Beatricken, and Guddrien to name a few.  Sucessful at the time as useful, long-lived and multi-purposed horses, these Prussian predecessors to the Trakehner flourished for many centuries... 
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     Love and Respect. 
     Not just mere technical terminology, but rather a mantra, essential components in the partnership between human and horse.  They are not vocabulary words thrown 'round lightly, but the doctrine of a way of life chosen and practiced daily, establishing a remarkable unbreakable link between man and beast.  It is a bond producing trust and mutual friendship twixt the two, and a better, dare we say the best, way to bridge the gap with adoration and communication, over brutish conquest and domination.  A glimmer of understanding seldom seen throughout time's long standing connection of man and horse.  Yet now, it flickers solid here before us today through the dedication of Frederic Pignon and Magali Delgado, the majesty of their cast of gorgeous equines--and for all of those who believe...Cavalia. 
    You will have expectations.  They will be surpassed. 
 
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