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Meet Tessa and Peach. This is a sweet and intimate portrait of American cowgirl, Tess, and her Mare, Peach. I thoroughly enjoyed painting it and getting to know Tess a little bit through the process! After reading a little bit about Peach, I was extra connected because she reminds me a bit of my own mare. I love Tess's responses to my questions and I know the reader will love them as well! 

Tessa grew up all over. She was born in Georgia, moved back to extended family in Indiana, moved to Missouri, Virginia, North Carolina (briefly), Wyoming, and now back to Virginia where her parents are. Tessa's heart has always loved Wyoming the most and she gets along well with the culture, style and grit of the state. The distance was hard so she moved back to the east coast to be closer to her and her husbands family. She says it has been nice to reunite with everyone, but she still feels a little homesickness for Wyoming, especially in the summer months.

 

Please enjoy my virtual interview with Tess.

Interview:

 

How long have you been riding horses?

“I've been on and around horses nearly my entire life. One of my favorite childhood photos is me hugging my grandma's beloved foal "Rainbow." She was born on my first birthday. I had a pony as a child who taught me to be tough, and I played on my grandma's horses a mile down the road. I never had formal training, it was more of a get on and stay on mentality. During my adolescent years, my family moved often and it prevented us from living the farm lifestyle that we all loved. However, I had a bucket list dream since I was 10 to go work on a ranch as soon as I was able. I skipped my college graduation and flew out to Wyoming to do just that.”

 

Ranching

“To me, the ranching lifestyle represents ingenuity, and leading by doing. I had always been fascinated with the lifestyle before leaving to go to Wyoming and my expectations were surpassed when I met some of the most hardworking, humble, and brilliant people during my time at Triangle X Ranch. The lifestyle is addictive and it was an amazing opportunity to learn so much about my horsemanship while fostering the love of horses with other guests on the ranch.

         Horses have a long history in my family. On my dad's side of the family, we all gush over stories about the great "Uncle Eddie". My Uncle Eddie, also known as Eddie Arcaro, is the greatest American Jockey of all time. He won the triple crown twice and numerous other races. Though he passed away just a few years after I was born, I was close with his sister and my great grandmother, Evelyn Maggio. Now, I love hearing stories from my grandma, and our houses are filled with silver bowls from his wins, old photographs including one that depicts him winning on a horse named "Tessa", and a print he signed of the Norman Rockwell depiction of him standing on the scale. When I purchased my other horse Rooster and learned more about his lineage, I was thrilled to find out that he is a descendant of one of the horses my uncle won the triple crown on named Whirlaway.”

 

What is your favorite part about it?

“It is hard to narrow down my favorite part about it, but something that struck me the most was being in an environment where it felt like the horses were truly doing what they were meant to do. In a herd of over 100 horses, we knew each of their individual strengths and found jobs for them that suited them best. We had "wrangle horses" that brought in the herd, "kids horses" that were so gentle, "lead horses" that you could truly point in any direction, "project horses" that were younger and we worked with to ready for all the elements we experienced on the trail, and so many more. Then at the end of the day, all of these horses were able to be turned out to pasture with their friends and eat grass, roll around and relax - tired and happy. I think these horses had an amazing lifestyle, and the two I purchased from the ranch are so level headed from all their experience on the trail. They are irreplaceable.”

 

Tell us a little bit about your mare.

“Where do I begin? My first ride on Peach actually came from a place of frustration. I was leading a ride and Peach was continually charging out of line and running to the front of the line, throwing her head in annoyance. Since the rider was overwhelmed, I waited until we got back to the corral, took my saddle off my lead horse and threw it on Peach. I thought maybe she just needed a refresher, but it turned out that she was the smartest pony I had ever been on. She knows if the rider is doing something wrong, and she is quick to let them know. She needs a gentle hand and a competent rider and frankly will not tolerate anything less. She has taught me so much and I cherish every ride with her. We have climbed mountains, loped through sage brush, brought in the herd, cleared trails and so much more together. My absolute favorite memory of her is a moment when we just finished pushing out the herd. It became somewhat of a tradition that we would unsaddle and release all of the horses that we pushed the herd out on at the same time. As we slipped the halters off, they would race off as quickly as they could to meet their friends. Peach would always wait patiently and as soon as the halter left her muzzle she would race past all the thoroughbred crosses, ears pinned and her round little pony butt just blazing past them. My stubborn, gritty, brilliant mare.”

 

 

I hope you enjoyed seeing the painting and reading her story as much as I do! You can follow her adventures on Instagram @squirrel.girrel 

 

Blessings,

Summer

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” 1 John 4:18 There are about a million things that would prevent one to do something remarkable. I would say two of the biggest things is a flat out excuse...and fear. I have come up against fear many times. It is becoming much more noticeable than it used to. And I can call it out more easily, praise God. Would you be able to list out a few big things that you have wanted to do in your life time? You know..those things that you could only do if you stepped out and made yourself vulnerable? Made yourself a target for ridicule, criticism or embarrassment? Some would go their whole lives never achieving their dreams or even one of them. It is sad to say fear prevents them. I resolved in my heart that fear will not rule me. There have been lots of circumstances that would tell me I cannot do it. Do what? Pursue a dream. For me, multiple dreams. I have really really big dreams. Dreams that scare me. In a good way. I am challenged by things that scare me. My husband and I travel the world to very intimidating places. Occupied nations...where soldiers carry around AR's and point them in your face simply because they want you to know they are in charge. We go however because there are people who need help. That's another blog though... I'm just saying that now to illustrate for you that I have faced fear on the front lines. So...painting....ahh yes, to the subject of painting. Let me say this: there are more people on this planet that have talent than you could imagine. Multitudes of people have talent. From a young age I was told from professionals...if you want to make it in the art world, your talent won't get you there. How you market yourself as an artist will get you there. OH MAN. Y'all...I'm technically an introvert (as with most artists). But I LOVE people. And that has pushed me out of my comfort zone many times. Fear would tell me that I should not put my work out into the world. That I really should just keep my little talent in my kitchen or my studio...for myself and my family. But I love to share what I have been given. Actually I don't really deem my “talent” as mine. When God gives me something I say “do with it Lord what You will, it has simply been lent to me for Your glory”. That's true for every blessing in my life... from my kids to my car. Moving along here... I have been so blessed to have collectors come along side me to support me in my artistic journey. I have been blessed to be a part of an amazing gallery. About 6 years ago I was TERRIFIED of putting my work out into the world to sell it. I didn't even dream of plein air painting where anyone could come up and watch me paint something from life. Talk about the most vulnerable place as an artist... the first time I set up my easel at La Jolla shores to plein air paint with the crowds surrounding me I was repeating in my head a thousand times “you are an idiot you look so stupid. Fold your tripod up RIGHT NOW.” But I didn't, and guess what? My painting was terrible lol. Why? Probably because FEAR was ruling my painting! Come on, that will preach. But WOW...now I have people coming up to me asking to buy the painting right off my easel. It's because fear tries to come steal the experience...but I can recognize it and say “get lost ya big dummy I'm tryin to paint a masterpiece here.” Does that sound cocky? Maybe...but years ago I went out with the mentality of “I'm just going to try to paint something decent to make this experience a good one.” And what did I come up with? Something less than mediocre. Now I say, “I'm going out to paint something spectacular.” And what do I come up with most of the time now? Something a whole lot better than what was my mediocre. I'm not saying I'm the best...but had fear ruled my every experience, I wouldn't have any fun paintings to show for. Don't ever allow the fear of experiences from the past that didn't turn out how you expected to rule your future experiences. Be blessed!