When she was just a teen, this artist was gifted a mustang mare, descended from horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish conquistadors, that had been trained to barrel race. It was a dappled gray with a black mane and legs, caught as a wild filly in Mexico, and it had only one speed. Fast was all she knew. And she would burn that clover pattern at a blazing pace.

The art industry tends to focus on the romantic aspects of ranch life, showing less appreciation for the cow ponies that day in and day out, in rain, snow or shine, assist the cowboys in moving cattle, running fences and herding strays. “The Foreman” was inspired by the horses that assist cowboys in their daily work on America’s ranches. Guiding cattle, running fences and herding strays, he is not only the heart and soul of a ranch, “The Foreman” embodies the spirit of the West.

Out on the open range, a trusted grey horse named Silver remains steadfast in his duty to move the herd to new pastures. Watching it disappear over the crest of a hill, Silver stops abruptly as he hears the bawling of a calf. Being a ranch horse all his life, he recognizes the sound as coming from a stray that has become separated from the herd and is in need of rescuing. Tracking down a little white-faced calf, he hoists it onto his saddle and returns him to his mother.