Horsey Background

Riding forward is all she’s known since she was 10 years old, when a strawberry roan Welsh Mountain Pony named Ginger was “hers” for two riding camp summers at Glen Durham Stables in upstate New York.

“It was a traditional Pony Club program where we learned everything,” says Harrison. “They took us to local shows in Ulster and Greene counties.”

At the Vershire Riding Camp in Vermont, she picked up the basics of eventing before a summer on Long Island at the Thomas School of Horsemanship.

“I came off during an in-and-out combination where my horse jumped the first fence, then put the brakes on, and his bridle and I ended up on the far side of the second,” she recalls. “He was named Romeo but was no love of mine!”

Photography and Horses

By her 40s, her greatest love—her son—led her back to horses after years spent adulting to earn an MFA in Photography from Cranbrook Academy of Art. She built a work portfolio in retail and administration.

“After offering riding lessons to my 5-year-old, who liked them well enough, I realized it was me who wanted to ride,” she reflects. After three years of weekly group lessons, Harrison bought her first horse, Tony. “I had him for 14 years. He was my first horse and my last.”

The Belgian/Quarter Horse gelding was reminiscent of the “amazing” drafts she saw competing in Michigan while studying for her MFA.

“I’d never been able to draw or paint, but I had a camera in my hand since I was a child,” Harrison recalls. “My first ‘real’ equine photos were at that venue. But my immersion into horse ownership inspired me to turn my camera on the world I was part of.

“I shot unlike what most photographers were doing. I got closer to the bodies, cropping and orienting my subjects to focus on light, texture, contrast, and massing. I wasn’t ‘taking pretty pictures of pretty horses.’”

She found others who understood what she was trying to do, pre-Facebook, on a forum called the Equine Art Guild.

“There were thousands of us,” she remembers. “We held online group shows, entered juried shows, networked and supported one another. I was asked first to jury and then direct an online equine art competition called Ex Arte Equinus.”

That led to meeting more horse-focused artists, and by 2009, she was part of a Red Hook, N.Y., art collective.

“We rented a space with a storefront gallery and smaller rooms in the back that we offered as studio spaces.”

Diagnosis & Gallery Beginnings

She was renting one of those spaces for her own work when she got the diagnosis: stage 3 ovarian cancer.

“Between surgery and chemo, I was unable to get out and photograph, and was spooked about going back in the darkroom to do my own printing,” says Harrison. “When I was done with treatment and in remission, the studio space came up for renewal. I had to decide, was I going to give it up?”

The answer came from the artist friends she gathered with each year during Saratoga Race Course’s Thoroughbred racing meet, held during the summer in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Among them was Canadian artist Linda Shantz.

“Linda had gallery representation in Saratoga, so she would drop off work when we met up, and I would pick it up for her at the end of the season and hold on to it for the bulk of the year until she needed to trade something out,” says Harrison.

“I asked if I could show her art in my studio and try to sell it. I’d been selling my own, so I knew how to market it. Linda agreed and I sold one [of her pieces] almost immediately. That was the genesis of Equis Art Gallery. If I couldn’t create enough of my work to sell, I could try to sell work by others.”

She asked her Equine Art Guild/Saratoga friends if they would send her their artwork to sell.

“And they did! I still represent many of them today, including Linda.”

Giving Back Joy

Harrison’s last cancer treatment was in August of 2013, putting her in remission for the last 11 years. She opened Equis Art Gallery in January of 2014, and it now has an international collector base and represents over 30 artists from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the Ukraine.

“Inviting [Ukrainian artist] Kateryna Beilikova was in discussion when war came,” she says. “I’m honored to have her work and amazed that she continues to create and get it out of the country to me, via Poland usually. I am lucky to know her and her work.

“Equis Gallery was my gift to myself. After surviving cancer, I asked myself what could give me joy and let me give back to those I care about. Two communities took care of me when things were at their worst, my equine artists and my Red Hook, so if I can bring support to them, I am thrilled.”

Equis Art Gallery has been called the only gallery of its kind.

“[Operating] an art gallery is not an easy business, and every sale means a lot, but one of my favorite stories is of a couple one summer who bought several pieces,” she recalls. “I was so excited I looked them up, and she turned out to be the curator of a famous museum gallery in New York City. Knowing that she found art in Equis worth owning meant a lot.”

This cancer warrior believes in giving a leg up to artists who don’t always find representation and introducing them to collectors who may appreciate their work and want to own it; collectors who want their art like they want their horses—right up close.

This article about Juliet R. Harrison appeared in the June 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Juliet R. Harrison: A Gallery of Dreams appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Welcome to Barn Banter, the official podcast of Horse Illustrated. In Barn Banter episode 25, hosts Susan Friedland and Horse Illustrated Editor In Chief Holly Caccamise talk with equine illustrator and author Jean Abernethy, best known for her creation of Fergus the Horse.

To end the episode, they chat with Kristine Dvonch, executive director of Horses’ Haven in Howell, Mich., about Atticus, this month’s ASPCA Right Horse adoptable horse. Along with his buddies Sadie and Holly, Atticus will be traveling from Michigan to Equine Affaire Massachusetts this week to join Adoption Affaire – a barn full of ASPCA Right Horse partners with dozens of horses available for adoption.

Click to listen on mobile.

Barn Banter Episode 25 Sponsor: Adequan

Big thanks to our sponsor, Adequan! For over 30 years, Adequan® i.m. (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) has been trusted by veterinarians, trainers and horse owners. Ask your veterinarian if Adequan® is right for your horse. Visit Adequan.com to learn more. Adequan®. Start with it. Stay with it®.

Jean Abernethy, Equine Illustrator and Author

Jean Abernethy has been making cartoons and illustrations for equestrian publications for 40 years. After graduating high school, Jean’s passion for horses drew her into an Equine Studies program at a local college. Following her studies there, she was accepted into the Ontario College of Art in Toronto where she earned her art degree, specializing in illustration. Her artwork has been published in the American Paint Horse Journal, the American Quarter Horse Journal, Horse Illustrated, Young Rider, Chrome, and many more. She is best known for her cartoon character Fergus the Horse, who has earned over 300,000 followers on Facebook and 30,000 on Instagram. Jean has written and illustrated five Fergus books and illustrated several books for other authors.

In 2018, Jean’s book Fergus and the Greener Grass won a Spur Award from Western Writers of America in the category “Storyteller/Illustrated Children’s Book.” The following year, Fergus and the Night Before Christmas received “Finalist” status in the same category. In 2019 and 2020, American Horse Publications awarded Jean’s artwork first place for “Editorial Illustration,” published in Horse Illustrated and Quarter Horse Journal. Jean Lives near Waterloo, Ontario.

◆ Fergus the Horse Website
◆ Fergus the Horse on Facebook
◆ Fergus the Horse on Instagram

Adoptable Horses of the Month: Atticus, Holly and Sadie

Atticus, Holly and Sadie are three buddies from Horses’ Haven in Michigan who are headed to Equine Affaire Massachusetts as part of Adoption Affaire, where they hope to find their forever homes.

Atticus

If you like your Quarter Horse with that classic muscular stature, Atticus is your guy. He is extremely smart, good-looking and playful, so much so that he may play with you like a pasture mate. That said, in his time with Horses’ Haven, he has used his smarts to make great improvements on learning how to live in this human world. He had OCD surgery back in April 2023 and recovered very well. He has early navicular and can have off days. He is currently under veterinary evaluation to determine if he is a good candidate for riding and may be serviceably sound for flat work only in the future. Atticus stands well for the farrier, is good for the vet, loads and trailers well, is good on the cross-ties and enjoys doing anything with people.

At this time, Atticus is being offered as a companion horse only due to inconsistent soundness.

Learn more about Atticus here.

Sadie

Sadie is an eye-catching girl that Horses’ Haven has slowly been getting to know. She came into their care after being sent through an auction and then rescued by an individual. This individual exhausted their resources trying to help Sadie and her soundness issues. With time, HH’s team of vets and excellent farrier work, Sadie has proved to be pasture sound and now even serviceably sound for light riding. She does require shoes and has done best on a daily dose of Equioxx.

The organization’s trainers are just getting to know her under saddle, but she seems to have had good and basic training. On the ground, Sadie is a good girl and enjoys being groomed and loved on. However, she does bond to her pasture mates and can be a handful if separated.

Learn more about Sadie here.

Holly

Holly is a lovely mare ready to find her new home. She has been an excellent equine citizen while Horses’ Haven has gotten to know her. She enjoys being groomed and has been a pleasure to ride. Under saddle, she has been more whoa than go and might be a great candidate for some leisurely arena work or even some trail riding. She has been an uncomplicated ride so far and appears to have had basic training. An experienced rider or advanced beginner working with a trainer should be able to enjoy all this girl has to offer.

Holly is up to date on all of her dental and vet care. She is a good girl for farrier work and is currently barefoot. She can’t wait to start the next chapter of her life getting to know a new family!

Learn more about Holly here.

In addition to Barn Banter episode 25, you can check out all previous episodes of Horse Illustrated’s podcasts here.

The post Barn Banter – Episode 25: Sponsored by Adequan appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

“I always thought people who owned Minis were maniacs,” she laughs. “Until I got Tony. I take it all back. They are wonderful.”

Originally named Smoky, Parsons renamed him after her father’s friend who had recently passed away.

“He was a second father to me,” she shares. “My friend Mo Kelly added the ‘Smalls’ to it.”

Her friend also owns Tony’s daughter, Sugar Smalls. She was the product of an accidental breeding before Tony was gelded by the breeder, and has dwarfism.

A Knack for Tricks

Parsons, who also rides a Dales Pony named Bucky, decided to try clicker training when she got Tony.

“My husband is a dog trainer, so he does a lot of clicker training,” she says. “So I said, ‘Let’s give it a go with Tony and see how he does with it.’ And he just was amazing. He will do anything you ask if you’ve got a treat.” He gets mostly timothy pellets for treats, though she says his favorite rewards are Jolly Ranchers.

Parsons used George Bruce’s Click with Horses program and learned with Tony as they went. It was clear from the beginning that the 30-inch-tall gelding had a real knack for tricks.

They started with the basic tricks: target, fetch, spin around, stop and wait (which she says is the hardest for Tony because it’s so boring), and then moved on to more advanced tricks, including rear, lay down, Spanish walk, slow down and speed up, standing on a pedestal, and jumping.

But these are regular horse tricks that many horses are trained to do. What makes Tony Smalls so special are his more advanced tricks.

“He takes money off people,” says Parsons. “He takes laundry off the line and puts in a basket. We take him ‘shopping,’ where he pulls bags of Swedish Fish off [the shelf] and puts them in a kid’s shopping cart.” When inside the house, Tony often offers to bring you a cushion. “It was something he just did on this own,” she laughs.

Artistic Talent

Tony Smalls also plays the keyboard, but his real specialty is painting. In December 2019, Annie’s friend Danielle saw a video of another horse painting and told Parsons, “Tony Smalls needs to do this!”

While there are other horses that paint, Tony’s version of the trick is very complicated.

“Most horses that paint, the owner just hands them a brush and they move it around the canvas,” explains Parsons. “With Tony, we wanted him to do as much as possible. So, we give him several colors of paint in cups and each cup has a brush. He picks up the brush he wants, paints with it, spits it out and grabs another one in another color. My only job is to make sure there is no paint on the handle, because he doesn’t like the taste, and to pick up the brushes and put them back in the cups.”

Raising Money for a Cause

This incredible talent has helped Tony Smalls raise money for Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center on Martha’s Vineyard. The nonprofit is a PATH Intl. Accredited therapeutic riding center. Their mission is to offer an environment where horses and humans work together to transform lives. Misty Meadows offers many programs, including youth and adult horsemanship programs and therapeutic horsemanship for veterans and those with disabilities.

“They are brilliant—they do so much for the community,” says Parsons, who teaches mounted archery at the center.

During the worst of the Covid pandemic, Tony had a lot of time to paint, so Parsons decided to start selling his artwork to benefit Misty Meadows, as well as other charitable organizations.

“I have people contact me asking for paintings for auctions, and we always send one or two,” she says.

Tony is probably the only horse that has ever had his work in a real art gallery. There happens to be a gallery by Misty Meadows. The owner allowed Parsons to do a proper art show, filling the gallery with Tony’s pieces, which raised $5,000 for Misty Meadows.

“Tony Smalls has had paintings hung in the same gallery as Thomas Hart Benton, one of my favorite artists,” says Parsons. “It blows me away.”

Therapy Visits

When Tony Smalls isn’t learning tricks or raising money for charity, he is visiting hospitals and senior centers as a certified therapy horse.

“We had a donkey that we did therapy visits with, but we stopped because he just didn’t like it,” says Parsons. “When Tony came along, we decided to try again. Up until the pandemic we used to go every other week.”

Parsons is certified through Pet Partners, but their tests and program is geared toward dogs, so she looked for something that was for horses. She found the Miniature Equine Therapy Standards Association. Through them, Tony did a series of assessments, including video calls during visits, so they could watch him work. They required a long checklist of everything he can do, which he passed.

Parsons says that Tony Smalls seems to understand and enjoy his job.

“He’s a funny one because when we’re out and about doing stuff, me and him, he’s very feisty and has got a lot of energy,” she says. “He can out-run all my horses, and he’s got a lot of character. But when I take him to the hospital, he’s perfect. He’ll stand quietly next to a wheelchair—he knows his job.”

They spent a lot of time clicker training Tony to stand quietly with a relaxed head. Parsons says even if someone accidentally pats him a bit too hard, he won’t react. Of course, she intervenes if someone is getting too rough, but Tony is patient with those he visits.

“I can personally attest to the healing power and joy that this compassionate duo brings to others,” writes one woman in a letter. “I have a rare autoimmune neurological disease and was diagnosed with an aggressive form of uterine cancer. When Annie learned that I would be on Cape Cod for a respite from chemotherapy, she contacted my daughter and arranged a surprise visit. The joy I received from their visit still brings tears to my eyes.”

That visit was a special one for Parsons, too, as they had to sneak Tony Smalls into a hotel room!

Having Patience

Tony also is involved in Parsons’ archery demonstrations, and is now learning ground driving to do skijoring, if he enjoys it.

If you’re ready to try your hand at tricks, Parsons has one piece of advice.

“Patience. Go slow. If you go too fast, your horse will get frustrated. So many times, horses are labeled as bad or naughty, but it’s because they are confused, usually because of lack of clear communication from the human, which can be frustrating for them and us. So be patient.”

You can follow Tony Smalls on Facebook or purchase his artwork through Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center website.

This article about Tony Smalls appeared in the July 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post The Magnificent Mini Horse Tony Smalls appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.