Author Melanie Sue Bowles and Jim Bowles

        Horses of Proud Spirit

Nestled in the rolling hills of Arkansas there is a peaceful place that is home to over 150 horses and aptly named Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary. The majority of these horses have been severely abused through torture, starvation and neglect and found their way into the kind-hearted care of ranch owners, author Melanie Sue Bowles and her husband, Jim Bowles. Melanie has imparted the tales of their rescues in two books, The Horses of Proud Spirit and Hoof Prints. In the pages of both, the reader will meet the individual horses that live at Proud Spirit enjoying renewed lives of safety and kindness.

There is the story of Dusty, a young Thoroughbred who recovered from severe injuries to reveal a playful attitude and a knack for stealing hats. Maddy, an elderly mare and Dancer, a gallant Appaloosa, both of whom had been isolated for years but whose ecstatic first meeting at Proud Spirit was like a reunion of two soul mates. Then there is Wrangler, a miniature whose premature separation from his dam turned him into a tiny, dangerous menace. His bratty innocence helped Marshall , a huge palomino draft horse with neurological trauma, become a playful mentor to Wrangler as he educated the mini in horse manners.

Chock-full of laughter and tears, the tales impart the joy and gratitude the couple experienced as they rehabilitated each horse both physically and spiritually. The stories also cause one to wonder what is wrong with the human species and what would possess anyone to treat these loving creatures with such disregard and pain.

“The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose” , the personal philosophy that is the driving force behind the couples never-ending quest to save the “unwanted” horses along with 100% of the sales proceeds of Bowles two books.

The Horses of Proud Spirit and Hoof Prints are an homage to the character of these alluring creatures and are touching memoirs of lessons shared in compassion, strength and trust between the horses, Melanie Sue and Jim Bowles.  

For more information about Proud Spirit or to order a copy of both books, go to www.horsesofproudspirit.com

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    The First Saturday in May

The Hennegan Brothers, John and Brad, grew up on the east coast and in a thoroughbred industry family. Their familial background coupled with their artistic bent, has proven a winner in their film debut, The First Saturday in May. In this niche documentary, the Hennegan’s have captured the excitement of one of the most prestigious races in the Sport of Kings, the Kentucky Derby, aptly titled after the date of this historic race.

“My brother and I put every thing on the line to make this film”, says John Hennegan, “we even gave up our jobs!”

As fate would have it, out of the six thoroughbreds and trainers followed in the year leading up to the 2006 Kentucky Derby, five became contenders. One being the mighty Barbaro who won the race that year and then suffered a fatal leg injury in the following race, the  Preakness, that eventually caused his euthanasia.

The films' content jockeys between the featured thoroughbreds, their connections, families and the rigid qualification process to gain a position in this legendary race. The personal stories captured in the documentary are both heart felt and heart wrenching. One touching vignette is of Dan Hendricks, the trainer of Brother Derek, who was paralyzed from the waist down after a riding accident. Regardless, Hendrick’s spirit does not let his own frailty prevent him from pursuing his dream. Each trainer’s winning determination is instilled in the thoroughbreds they work with every day, and the jockey’s riding them. The First Saturday in May takes the viewer around the world from Dubai, to California and finally, Kentucky and Churchill Downs, the famed racetrack of the Kentucky Derby.

“This movie is about the year and events leading to the Kentucky Derby, absolutely”, says John Hennegan, “but it is also about family and the vivid, shared dream to win this most coveted spot in racing history.” 

The First Saturday in May is a film of ambition, persistence, triumph, and beauty. It is captivating and riveting from beginning to end.  Winner in the “Best Documentary” category for both the Savannah Film Festival and the Austin Film Festival, The First Saturday in May is a must see for not only racing fans but anyone who dares to dream the impossible!

The Hennegan Brothers have donated a portion of the DVD sales to the Grayson-Jockey Research Foundation. Completing a successful theatrical release it is now available on DVD. For information and to order the DVD, visit the official website, www.thefirstsaturdayinmay.com   

   Pat Roberts and her sidekick, Cody

          A Great Woman 

     "Beside" a Great Man

Roberts—it’s a name most are familiar with in the horse industry. There is Monty Roberts, the man who listens to horses. There is Laurel Roberts, an equestrian facility designer. Then there is Pat Roberts, matriarch, avid equestrian, businesswoman and, a lesser known fact, world-renowned sculptress.

Her artistic journey began 10 years after she and Monty married and bought their ranch and current home, Flag Is Up Farms, in Solvang. With horses all around her on the lush property, Roberts’s fledgling talent emerged, and she began to nurture that artistic facet of her personality initially as a painter. “Although I eventually sold some paintings, I’d always wanted to work in clay,” said Roberts.

The road to her creative dream was uphill, but she pressed on, and in 1971, she signed up for a six-week sculpting class at Santa Barbara City College, where she created her first bronze of a woman.

Roberts struggled with the wax technique she had been taught and a family friend, sculptor Jack Swanson, gave her some Plastalina clay and taught her to build an armature—the “bones” of a bronze statue. 

It took years of practice to perfect her second piece, “Horse in Motion,” depicting a galloping, free-spirited stallion.

Roberts felt she had found her muse in the majestic animal, and sculpting horses became second nature as she had admired their beauty, strength and grace since early childhood. “Horses are all about movement, and I try to capture that motion in each piece,” she said. “People say that horses are probably the hardest thing to sculpt, but I know them. I used to show championship halter horses, and they are all about confirmation. Seeing horses with an artistic eye is a great way to study their anatomy.”

Roberts’s aesthetic intuition took over, and her confidence grew as she was encouraged by her family and friends. “As the children were grown by then, I had the time to dedicate to the details and nuances of each piece and really strive to capture the subject’s emotion as well as its physical character.”

Over the years, Roberts has sculpted numerous equine statues and has exhibited from Ojai to New York, Germany to Belgium. Her work, in fact, is found in 13 countries.

Roberts has enjoyed the accolades of both her clients and peers, and she has garnered international awards as well. “My most famous collector is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second. She truly appreciates art, and I am proud to be a part of her collection.”

When asked what advice would she offer to novices, Roberts said, “Follow your dream, stay true to yourself, and your art will succeed.”

For exhibit information or to inquire about a purchase, visit www.patrobertssculpture.com

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