Winners for Horse Portraits announced!

Portraits by ShawnaLee is proud to announce the two winners of Gift Certificates for the Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement Distinquished Older Horse Award!

The winners are "Kat" owned by Patty Ganey and "Wick" owned by Deborah Butler! Each horse received a beautifully drawn portrait by ShawnaLee in classic Charcoals!

All about "Kat" Nominated by Patty Ganey:
"Over our years, 26 year-old Equinox Katarina has answered every
question with an enthusiastic “YES!” Together we learned to trail ride,
jump, train together in dressage, event, hunted first flight, competed
in hunter trials...and that was just with me. Kat has taught a
completely blind 16 year old to jump cross country, given small children
their first ride ever, taken a brain tumor survivor through the woods
while politely in tune with the rider’s every request, and worked on the
ground with 9/11 survivors, grieving widows, and teenagers coping with
anxiety and depression. She is currently teaching a 65 year-old woman
to ride — the look on her rider’s face after their first canter together
was priceless! Kat willingly partners to take people through any
endeavor presented. She is a true gem, one of those once in a lifetime
horses we all wish we knew. Just last week Kat and I went
for our first beach ride ever — she reverted to the sparky 13 year-old
horse I brought home 13 years ago, and carried me on a lovely beach
gallop on a mild February day. What a gift she has been in my life, and the lives of many others." Patty Ganey.

All about "Wick" Nominated by Deborah Butler:

"(Just Be me) entered our lives in 1993 when he was a green pony. He ishalf thoroughbred and half Welsh pony and was always a great mover. Our daughter, Cynthia, showed him in the Large Pony Hunter division, culminating in winning the CHJA Green Pony division that first year. He was, and still is, a sweet but flaky pony, shying at leaves and shadows, but always willing to persevere and happy to work. He taught Cynthia much about riding but even more about life as she took responsibility for his training and care. He spent most of his life at Fairfield Hunt Club and retired to Mitchell Farm ten years ago. He is now ecstatically happy letting his coat grow long and rolling in mud after many years of being clipped and blanketed with limited turnout time. After a lifetime of cribbing, his teeth are worn down, but otherwise you would never know that he is 34 years old. We are so grateful to Dee and everyone at Mitchell Farm for giving him this joyous retirement after he gave so much of his life to our family and other children who rode him later." Deborah Butler.

Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement, located in Salem CT, is a 501 (c)3 organization founded by Dee Doolittle in 2014, that aims to provide a safe and comfortable retirement alternative for aged and infirm horses to live out their lives and to offer educational opportunities on equine welfare.

Portraits by ShawnaLee offers quality hand drawn and painted portraits of horses, dogs, cats, and children in a variety of media including Charcoals, Graphite and Oils. ShawnaLee teaches art classes throughout CT and is a board member of the CT Society of Portrait Artists.

Interested in a Portrait? email ShawnaLee at artist@shawnalee.com