The Original BrindleLady: Brenda Batty Atty



My muse appeared in the form of a 1x2" black and white image in the 1990 October issue of Western Horseman.  Remember back in the day when there used to be pages and pages of common and obscure breed/type registries?  This entry was for the International Striped Horse Association and the image was of Brenda Batty Atty in the now world famous image of her standing by the palms in Stockton, California.  At that time she was owned by J. Sharon Batteate.



The image of Brenda struck a chord in my creative mind.  I was in college for the second time and studying Art so I was ripe for inspiration.  I had just been reacquainted with the model horse hobby after a long hiatus - something with which many of us are familiar who been collecting for a long time.  The concept of hobby rags was new to me as was the idea of customising, model horse showing, photo showing, pedigree assignment, model horse racing...oh my!.  I soon got a subscription to Hobby Horse News, Model Horse Gazette, and a renewal to Just About Horses!  A monster had been created.  I was suddenly plunged headlong into the new to me world of model horses and all the wild and wonderful things involved. 



My first feeble attempts to capture the brindled beauty who stole my heart yielded a couple halting starts one of whiche was Chicken Ripple - A Diamond in the Rough. My first remaking was a redo of the SM G1 QH Stallion into a brindled quarter horse.  My view was "create it and it will come," which has proven out time and again!  It was with this horse that I got into photo showing, model horse showing, buying and selling, remaking, resin casting, and many of the odd and wonderful facets that goes with our hobby - including meeting and making many wonderful friends.

Brenda Batty Atty-model of brindled goodness

My portrait of Brenda was made from the Carol William's Matriarch released by Rio Rondo.  I added a little epoxy to her nose to give her that distinctive Walker head and a longer mane to take away that stock horsey look.  I started with an airbrush base of yellow bay, then built up the shadow and pangare' again with airbrush before I started the brindling process with coloured pencil.  Slowly building up the striping and detailing with pencil and pastel until I achieved her image.  I never could quite capture that mischievous sparkle in her eye or the way that she carried herself that made me know I was the love of her life. 


As it is, sometimes you have to lose to win.  I lost someone I loved, but her gift allowed me to bring into my life the mare of my dreams.  In 2003, I was able to bring Brenda into my life for the rest of hers. 

Brenda was my muse.  She was the reason Brindle Horse Productions came to be.  She left an indelible print on my heart and for her I will always be grateful.   She touched a part of my soul that I will carry with me forever.  Her kind, gentle and sweet nature helped to rebuild my trust in horses and even though I made every stupid mistake a horsey n00b could make, Brenda forgave me and loved me anyway.  She was the best horsey friend I could ever have been lucky enough to have known.  I miss her every day.



Brenda in 2004

 

Brenda crossed the Rainbow Bridge after a sudden bout of colic took her life 17 July 2007. 







Welcome to the Slab

After some thought and consideration I have decided to let sail this new blogspot blog about the musing and happenings for Brindle Horse Productions (aka BHP). 

Future plans include features of horses new and past created by myself (and guest artists), tack making adventures, prop making amusements and whatever news that happens across the slab.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and may the horse be with you!

Peach Out Apricots