If you visited my Ruby Tuesday post last week you might remember the big rooster I saw at a farmer's market in Leesburg, Virginia. This wonderful red-eyed horse was the real reason I had stopped at the market. When we visited our son last summer I missed the chance to get a photo because just as I got out of the car a dark cloud opened up and rain came falling quickly.This past August it was a sunny day and as we would be passing the market my son reminded me to stop.
I'd like you to meet Harlequin Horse or Harley for short. With his decorative coat of colors I think he looks like he belongs with a court jester or in New Orleans for Mardi Gras - not on a farm in Northern Virginia.Harley was part of an exhibit called “Horsing Around Loudoun,” that was a countywide, outdoor arts project initiated by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce in celebration of Loudoun’s longstanding equine tradition. Local artists transformed 25, life-size fiberglass horse sculptures into unique works of art. The works of art were placed in public locations around the county and then auctioned off in 2005.
If you enlarge this photo and look just over Harley's neck you can see the head of the rooster from last week's post.
Harley stands proud in his straw hat watching the traffic go by.
45 comments:
very creative horse and story! Thanks for sharing
Carletta: Pretty fancy, reminds me of a merry-go-round.
I'm so glad that your son reminded you to get Harley's picture. I love it. So awesome. What a fun place that must be. Thanks for sharing the story as well :) Aloha
I have seen painted cows but never horses. Thanks for sharing.
Someone had a lot of fun creating him. I can see why you would want to photograph this winner.
Certainly a horse of a different color?
Yep, I remember Mr. Rooster from last Ruby Tuesday.
Harley has a coat of many colors, just like Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Thanks for stopping by!
Harley is a fine looking equine. The straw hat sits proudly upon his head, his colorful 'blanket' adds a touch of style, and his shiny coat shows a horse with class. A true thoroughbred!
I photoed painted horses, Carletta, a few weeks back. They were for an outdoor exhibition at the Nassau Country Art Museum! I love this horse with the RED eye! :) Happy Ruby Tuesday!
That's a great son to remind you to stop and get these photos!
Very cool horse! We have a local florist with a horse like that out front. Different organizations paint it to advertise their upcoming events. You have to get on a waiting list. It's cool to pass by because you never know what it's going to look like next.
Wow, Carletta, what a horse!
So many artistic details about this rare harlequin horse.
I admire them all.
There's a tiny red feather in his nonchalantly placed straw hat.
Gave me one more laugh.
From Felisol
That Harley is a nice horse. Do you have an entry? It does make a good fund raiser.
In 2001 here at Houston we had 'about' 330 painted cows. The culmination was a parade and then they cows were auctioned off. One ended up in a yard down the street in our subdivision.
Also minitures of the cows were made, we bought our daughter one of those. I see in her house she has a Lourve cow, 'Item No. 7784, In Lourve With You, #2,229' but I don't see the other one.
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You are close on the guess of an African gourd drum. Not exactly it though.
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Most all of those cows are in this gallery;
http://www.cowparade.com/WorldwideGallery.php?city=7 .
You will have to paste in the link.
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Harley's looking good!
Carletta!
He's VERY COOL!!
You won't believe this but I was thinking of posting one of the art horses we had here in Ocala a few years ago. We had this big ART project and local artists did these horses in whatever way they chose! It was a huge deal here! :) I have posted some on the blog over the years...I took pictures of almost all of them!
:)....but this time I'll see if I can come up with another Ruby Tuesday pic...NOT a horse!! :)
Junie
This is really cool. Of course, Leesburg is near and dear to my heart, as I told you before.
I've seen cows, pigs, buffalo and fish, decorated, too. It's a neat concept.
It is pretty shot cool! Happy Ruby Tuesday...
Thats a very cool horse!
Beautiful. Love the colors. Reminds me of the painted horses we saw in OBX a few years ago.
That's a horse of different colors!
How fun is this!!! Wonderful painted horse and nifty background story. I'm reminded of the Painted Pony Project ;--)
Hugs and blessings,
this is really a well-crafted horse:) am sure it's a popular photo destination for people who go there. my RT is up too.
This horse is well painted in quilt pattern! Cute one :)
Harley is sooo studly :)
Harley is beautiful!! I have seen painted cows and bulldogs his size...
Happy RT!
eye-catching design on this horse sculpture.
We had a similar project with elephants in Antwerp last year. I had so much fun going on walks all over Antwerp to photograph them. Harley is cute!!!
gorgeous!!..especially his harlequin designed body!!..thanks for popping by my blog :)
beautiful horse with red diamonds.
Love your find. I want that in my Yard:-) Happy RT
What a beautiful horse! Art-work for sure and well worth the trip back to photograph him!
Isn't he gorgeous! I love the red eye. It's a great detail.
You find the coolest subject to photograph. I think the hat just crowns Harley's whole dashing steed look perfectly.
What a dapper guy :). I love those community wide art installations, we had penguins (go figure) in Tel Aviv one year, they were great fun.
Harley is quite the dandy, but I must admit that he is very dashing in that hat. I think the "Horsing Around Loudoun" is a wonderful idea.
Hi Carletta. Nice and cool shots!
Happy RT.
I think Harley is quite dashing in his coat of many colors!
Wow I've never seen a horse be so busy just by standing still. Great get up he's got on though. Love the post and the history behind Harley!
Thanks for stopping by my blog today.
Harley is well shall we say colorful lol. Love this shot it's art.
Harley is lovely and colourful.
I really like how you introduced him- head first!
Harley is cute, attractive and very colorful, I love reading your post, very interesting story.
Norm
How lighthearted and happy. Great start to my day.
He's definitely bright! Lots of work involved painting that.
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