Dedicated to giving every horse person the chance to test themselves and their mounts in events like horseback sword techniques, lancing rings and horse archery, the Warhorse Challenge Association offers venues where you and your horse can put on armor or perhaps war paint and compete against like-minded equestrians.

Dameon Willich of the WCA kindly answered some questions regarding this intriguing association.

Have you always been interested in horses and when did the Warhorse Challenge Association start? Is it open to anyone?
I have been riding for 50 years, started as a young boy and have been doing it ever since. The WCA started as an idea 5 years ago, but did not actually come to exist until 2 years back. It is open to anyone 6 years old and up.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
Seems like that is all I do any more :).

In this “historical genre” of riding, is it possible for someone to make a living, carrying out a full time job?
This is not historical genre riding, because we also allow fantasy costumes, or no costumes at all. However the riding techniques are historical, at least in the main. Anyone can make a living doing anything they love to do, maybe not a good living, but a living all the same.

As a full time job, yes one could do that, but why? Training horses and people to do this sort of thing could take all your days! IF you wanted to do that.

What are the general steps taken to be able to run such an association?
Strange question. You just have to know what you are doing. Setting up an organization is not easy, especially with so many diverse personalities and disciplines. But it can be done.

People management is the hardest part. So many folks want things their way so that they do not have to give up any advantages they think they have. The legal side of things is easy, just follow the paper work: a lot of paper work.

Any advice for those interested in pursuing this line of riding and perhaps teaching others?
Learn how to do everything well yourself so that you can teach others how to do it correctly. Always study history, and then be ready to learn from anyone that will teach you something, even if you already know how to do it. Remain humble and listen as well as talk. That is why you have two ears and only one mouth.

There is always something more to learn, and there are always people out there that will teach you, so try to learn from them as you teach them. HAVE FUN!!! Too many folks get too serious about winning. it has to stay fun or it is not worth doing. Keep that in mind while training others and you will instill the same values in them.

Is there anything else with horses you’d love to learn about or try?
Everything. I have been riding for a long tie and have learned many disciplines, but there is always more. I want to learn how to dance with my horse like the Spanish /Mexican riders do.

I want to learn more training techniques for teaching horses better, and I want to learn how to be better at vaulting, cause it has been a long time since I learned that.

Favourite horse memory?
Too many to recount. I have been doing this a long time and there have been so many great times and memories I can not pick just one. I just had to put down another of my horses yesterday at the tender young age of 38.

He was a good friend and we did a lot of things together that no one else has ever done before or since. I had a mare that I put down 5 years ago and she was 33 at the time, and she was magnificent. It is hard to say goodbye to old friends, but you have to do what is necessary for them. Most of my best memories have those two in them.

Future goals?
To be a judge at the International WCA show at least once.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
It is always changing and always fun. Each new horse you train to do this is another new experience, and that is all we really have are the experiences and the memories. I love it! Training and teaching others to do this sort of thing is so much fun, just watching them have fun is great, but it is more fun when you do it too!

“The Way to Heaven is on Horseback.”

tag: horse association, horseriding, roleplaying, training, jousting, horse events

I stumbled across Thomas L. Croce Architects not too long ago and was absolutely blown away by the gorgeous designs of stables and other equestrian facilities. Tom kindly took the time to answer some questions about this line of work and for those interested, how you may go about getting into designing such facilities.

Have you always been interested in horses and when starting out in architectural design, was this horse related or something that developed later?
I got started in horses as an Adult. I had graduated from architectural school and was practicing when I started to ride, as I became more involved in riding dressage, and jumping I decided to try and combine the two.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
My work day is spent on the design of equestrian facilities, I have two horses that I care for and ride, so the majority of my time is spent on horse related items.

In the architecture field – focusing on horse related designs, is it possible for someone to be a full time professional, earning a livable income?
Yes. For the past couple of years the majority of my work has been in the equestrian design field, and as the number of horses in this country continues to increase, and as horse owners continue to become more educated about the care of the animals, I believe the demand for facilities that meet the needs of the animals will continue to increase.

What are the general steps taken to be an architect of these sorts of projects?
There are no specific programs in equestrian design. The best advise I can give to someone interested in working in the field of equestrian facility design would be to focus on getting a strong background in design and construction, then try to work with someone who is already working in the field to obtain the specific experience.

Any advice for those interested in pursuing a similar career?
Be patient, but persistent.

Is there anything else with horses you’d love to learn about or try?
I have always wanted to ride a cutting horse.

Favourite horse memory?
My first dressage show, I was riding my horse a hunt horse, we got to the corner where we were supposed to canter, but rather than canter he saw those white rails and thought “JUMP” and we exited over the arena.

Future goals?
Stay in the ring.
Continue to inform the horse owning public about the need and benefits of meeting both the physical and the physiological need of the animals

Best thing about your sport/profession?
Getting to spend time with such majestic animals and the feeling I can give something back to these animals who give so much to us.

“A horse in the barn is worth two in the pasture.”

tag: horse stalls, architecture, stable design, property design

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Soon we will be having space shuttle flights for those who love to travel. The vacations will be perfect with more time saved on flying. The hotels culture will be given up in favor of temporary apartments.

As someone who really isn’t artistic, I’m amazed at what I find others doing with horse related things, or depicting how we see horses whether it be through photography, sculpting, painting, drawing, you name it.

One site that I’ve recently found is Wire Inspire and inspire it sure does! Artist Angela Hook took the time to answer some questions regarding her unique art.

Have you always been interested in horses and when did you start bringing horses into your wire artwork?
Yes, I have loved horses from day one… Typical horse-crazy girl. It was no surprise that the first thing I made when I was experimenting with wire was a horse! (here’s a photo of my first wire sculpture).

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
Well, I board my horse, so I don’t see him every day… Maybe 3 or 4 times a week. My art studio is open to the public 5 days a week, and while I’m here I am surrounded by my artwork, which is primarily of an equine theme.

In this field is it possible for someone to be a full time professional, earning a livable income?
It is… I would not consider myself a “full time” equine artist, as I also do graphic design work, but there are many successful examples out there.

What are the general steps taken to be able to create and sell your own artwork?
There are many different options…I started by attending some Christmas craft shows with my work. Through that, I met other artists and learned of opportunities to sell my art through shops and galleries on consignment.

Over the years, I have been juried into larger art shows and begun selling online as well. This year I had my first solo show at the community art gallery. By constantly marketing yourself, you increase the awareness of your work and ensure collectors that you are serious about growing your reputation and value as an artist. Some artists choose to have agents or galleries represent their work, while I decided to build a gallery right at my house so that I can make my art available to guests who visit my studio.

Any advice for those interested in pursuing an artistic career relating to horses?
One of the internet communities that I belong to is the Equine Artists Guild and that might be a good place to start. Looking at all of the different styles and mediums out there and learning as much as you can about the industry.

Is there anything else with horses you’d love to learn about or try?
Anything, really! I’m very interested in the popularity of natural horsemanship these days and I’d like to learn all that I can about horse psychology.

Favourite horse memory?
Wow… There are so many. But a highlight for me as a teenager was when the Lipizzan Stallions stayed at our barn and we got to help bathe these amazing creatures the day before their show. It was the horse-lover’s equivalent of being back stage at a rock concert!

Future goals?
I have recently been working with equine photography and painting too… I would love to keep learning and practicing and using my creative skills to capture and share the beautiful spirit of the horse with others.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
I think the best thing about a career in the arts is perhaps the flexibility. It may not be for everyone, but I really enjoy working at night. This allows me to spend time during the day riding!

“A horse is the projection of peoples’ dreams about themselves-strong, powerful, beautiful-and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence.” – Pam Brown

tag: equine art, job benefits, graphic design, contemporary art

Founder of Diamond D Graphics, Susan Davis kindly answered some questions about the business she set up that uses her graphic design skills to turn out business cards, websites, stallion flyers, letterheads, logos, brochures, ad design and much more, all relating to horses.

Have you always been interested in horses and when did you start out in graphic design?
I was born in love with horses and drew pictures of horses all the time. As an adult I have bred and raised American Paint Horses for 30 years. I went back to school at nights for graphic design in 1998 at the age of 43.

I had been working as a secretary up to that point in my life. My boss at the time died of liver cancer in 8 weeks and that spurred me to follow my passion of art and change my career. I also started Diamond D Graphics that same year. But I didn’t quit my secretary job and go full time with Diamond D Graphics until 2002.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
Pretty much 24/7! ha ha. I live on a paint horse farm and raise paint horses plus my graphic design business is based around horses. The majority of my clients are horse businesses or related to the horse in some way, like cowboys or western artists.

As a graphic designer focused on equines, is it possible for someone to be a full time professional, earning a livable income?
Yes, you can make a living being an equine graphic designer. It’s a nitch market, but like any profession, there is a high amount of competition in the field. In 10 years of working on building my business I am just now to the point where I make enough to support my lifestyle of living on my horse ranch. So it does not happen quickly.

What are the general steps taken to be qualified to provide this service for a fee?
You have to know horses inside and out. I’ve grown up with horses, have shown horses and raised and sold foals all of my adult life. So I know what an ideal horse confirmation should look like in many breed types. Because of this, I know which pictures show off each horse to his best for marketing purposes.

My graphic design services are here to help my client market their horses and get results and that can only be done if I know how to show off their horses to their best ability. Including focusing and showing off that horse’s best attributes. If the horse has a fault in their confirmation, I know it and do not use pictures that show their faults, only pictures that show off their assets. I also have studied pedigrees of horses for 30 years and can talk to clients about their horse’s bloodlines and be knowledgeable about their breeding.

Customers like that I know their horse’s bloodlines and are familiar with the spelling of those horse’s names. Knowing horse “talk” with words as simple as “broodmare” are important to my customers. I have to know the horse business inside and out.

Then of course I have to be artistic and have the knowledge of the computer software to create beautiful works of art using horse photography and my own creative skills. I have spent years perfecting my artistic ability using Adobe Photoshop software. I also am constantly learning new techniques with ongoing study and training of the software.

One more thing that is important is to have people skills and be positive. I have an outgoing personality so it is easy for me to visit with customers about their marketing goals and always with a positive outlook.

To own your own business, no matter what that business might be, you have to have passion. Passion is what drives you to suit up and show up to run your business every day. Owning your own business is a 24/7/365 a day deal. You need this to be successful in running a business.

Any advice for those interested in pursuing graphic design?
Get a good education in graphic design. Practice your computer skills constantly. Get a job working as a graphic designer for a company first.

I worked for an advertising company for a year before going full time at home with my business. I learned alot at that job which gave me the confidence to go home and be a full time graphic designer. Plus you see if you like the job. Working for a company is great too. You get a regular paycheck. You won’t have a regular paycheck with your own business.

Is there anything else with horses you’d love to learn about or try?
I’m learning how to throw a rope right now. That is new for me. I work with so many cowboy entertainers, I thought it would be fun to try a new skill. My favorite activity though is trail riding on my paint mare Jewels. This is my mental relaxation time and I love this more than anything.

Favourite horse memory?
That is a tough question. I am a competitor and love to show my horses. I won a World Championship title back in 1982 at the Pinto World Show with my yearling halter gelding. That was a memory. I showed a yearling pinto stallion in 2006 to the #1 Amateur Halter Horse in the Nation. Another great memory.

I raised both of these horses, so that makes it extra special. I also raised my #1 Paint Broodmare Spoiled Fancy who just in the last two years is on the Leading Dam’s List for Paint Broodmares and that put myself on the Leading Breeders List for Paint Horses. That’s a huge accomplishment. And one I never thought I would attain! But really the best memory of all is whenever I’m riding on my mare Jewels on a wooded trail somewhere enjoying my horse and the beauty of nature.

Future goals?
Showing my new 2008 buckskin overo paint stud colt next year. He’s beautiful. Keep growing my graphic design business. I just recently hired an office manager and another web designer. So my business is growing.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
The people I get to meet showing my horses and working with my graphic design clients. I have graphic design customers all across the United States and Canada. I travel as much as I can to meet my customers in person. My #1 customer is Singer/Songwriter Michael Martin Murphey, and through working for him, I get to meet famous movie stars and entertainers. I’m racking up lots of cool memories working for him.

“The horse is a creature who sacrifices his own being to exist through the will of another…he is the noble conquest of man.” – Buffon

tag: photography, equine art, graphic design, horse magazines