This magnificent piece of horse art by Sarah Richards called “Peek” was a Christmas gift from my sisters.

Sarah Richards is a seriously gifted artist, who I think is becoming more and more well-known. I first encountered her horse paintings over 10 years ago at the Pennsylvania State 4-H Horse Show. My dad and I came across “Moondancing” displayed on a sweatshirt.

We knew mom would love it, so we bought it for her for Christmas. She was hooked.

The last two years, my mom and I have taken a horse-girl trip to Equine Affaire in Columbus, OH to check out the hunter/ jumper and dressage clinics. While wandering through the various exhibit halls looking for ways to spend money that was burning holes in our pockets, we came across a booth filled with these lithographs and watercolors. Not only was it all Sarah Richards artwork, it also included Sarah Richards herself! We ogled the paintings for a while and told the artist how much we enjoyed her work. Mom walked past several times, trying to convince herself that she needed one of those paintings. In the end, she bought a t-shirt so she could get a free print of “War Pony.”

I’m thrilled to have my very own Sarah Richards to hang in my house now, and “Peek” is one of my favorites. I didn’t get my grandmother’s collector gene (she has over 400 Precious Moments), so I wouldn’t want a house full of them, but I would never say no to “Flight” if someone wanted to buy it for me …

“I see in nature the balance, grace, power, and humor that human beings can also embody. My work often draws the viewer into it, creating an interaction between them and the image. In my paintings I am trying to touch the essence of a creature, that certain something which we recognize in ourselves. My horses are about horses, but they are also about doing more with less, finding lightness, balance, and power at the same time. My toads are about toads, but they are also about recognizing our own potential to be toad-like.” ~Sarah Richards