One Iron Ballet

A lot of my pictures are chaotic and there are things happening that people don't notice or understand. And that's typically because of the story behind the art work. Almost all of my pictures come from things that have happened first hand to me or some else I know. In this piece of work the jockey's iron(stirrup) has broken. You can see the horse looking back at it. It was all inspired by friend and former jockey Jerry Burgess. Jerry is a Hall of Fame jockey who won the All American Futurity on Bugs Alive In 75, among many other accomplishments,  and has been a racing official for over 20 years.

 I'll never forget when I saw Jerry jogging back after a race. He pulled one of the classiest moves I thought I had ever seen a rider make. Instead of dropping his leg down and riding Indian style he held his foot up on top of the horse and never faltered. You would have never known what happened if you didn't have a keen eye. It's little things like that, that make someone as well respected as Jerry.

I remembered Jerry when it happened to me in a race. I managed to get the job done and pull it off but I'll be the first one to tell you it isn't an easy feat holding that leg up there, it's plenty hard.  Plus,  making it look graceful as Jerry did, that's a whole other ball game but I managed. That's where the "ballet" comes into the title of this picture I did. Ballet dancers are extreme athletes, and manage to make everything look effortless with their partners, despite mistakes that the unknowing observer might miss. That's what it felt like was going on. My horse and I  where the dancers and we where the show. We had this huge mishap, and it was my job to make it look like nothing had happened to keep the audience happy so they would get what they payed for.
Who knew ballerina's and jockey's had so much in common?


I was proud to be able to get through that the way I did, and it was all Thanks to Jerry for unknowingly showing me that a great rider doesn't let anything stop them from getting the job done. That is, getting the job done despite what happens, and making it look gooood. Hats off to you buddy!

--Marvin Hayes

March 12, 2012

Welcome to HorsnHayes Art, Would you like to place a bet on #1 or #1A?



   Horses and art have always gone hand in hand for me. There's so much excitement that goes on with horses, even the backyard pony. Bringing out that exhilarating in my pictures is what drives my creativity. When your riding and you feel the power, grit, and determination your horse has to win it makes it easy to illustrate everything that the horse possesses and exerts. In my pictures the eyes are hemorrhaging, sparks are flying, teeth are grinding and the horses are breathing fire. When you're riding that is exactly how it feels. It's an absolute blast to bring it to life on paper. I think horse people can look at my pictures and relate. They can look and say, "Hey, I've been in that same situation!" or, "I have a horse just like that!"

    Most of my pictures come from personal experiences, or happenings of my friends or family. That is why I wanted to start this blog. So I can write about pictures, and the stories behind them. Creating these pictures is like documenting my life. They are memories that I have been able to put down on paper and I can see and experience it all over again. 

   The picture I have up in today's post is one that I had a whole of fun doing and was very happy with how it came out. Horse racing is all about competition and who's the best, who's "#1." And there is a lot of confusion with the betting public on horses in the program who are #1 and #1A. There is a #1 horse and #1A horse when a trainer has 2 horses entered in the same race. This is called a "coupled entry". Both horses, #1 and #1A, are considered a single betting interest. You wouldn't say I want to place a win bet on #1A. You would just say, I want to place a win bet on the #1 horse. In doing this you are actually getting two bets in one, because the #1 horse also represents the #1A horse as well. So let's say you have your win bet for the #1horse, but he loses and runs 5th, and the #1A horse wins, therefore you still win! Clear as mud?

   The horses I have in this picture depict everything that a race horse is a feels like when you are riding. These horses are like fire breathing dragons ready to explode like dynamite with sparks coming out from under their shoes. It's like organized chaos which makes it so much fun to bring to life on paper. Capturing that unbridled, raw integrity that these athletes have. Horses really are amazing animals, and it's my joy to be able to bring them to life and express themselves on paper in a way that they cannot in reality.

 



-Marvin Hayes

Monday, March 5, 2012