Cards for sale!

While we're waiting on the first printing of the Christmas cards from the paintings for the book, I thought I would offer some pen and ink cards Michelle drew back in 2003 of the wild herds. There are a limited number of these and when they are sold out, they won't likely be printed again!

There are 8 designs total:

South Steens herd, sage colored cards











Warm Springs herd, pale blue cards












Palomino Butte herd, light pumpkin colored cards












Burro jenny and foal, sage colored cards
















Kiger herd, tan cards












Kiger trotting stallion, tan cards














Kiger stallion head, tan cards

















Kiger mare and foal, tan cards

















There are 6 of each of these cards available for $1 each or all 6 for $5, plus shipping. I also have 4 sets of mixed Kiger cards, 4 per set. I'll sell all 4 sets, 16 cards total, for $12 plus shipping. All the cards come in protective sleeves and have envelopes.

On the back of each of the cards, except the burros, is a short description on the herd they represent, with a small map of Oregon showing the HMA's. Michelle's name, address and phone number are also on the cards.

Here is what is printed on the back of each card:

America's Living Legends
Kiger Mustangs of Oregon

Symbols of our western heritage, wild horses are still found in most of the western United States. Each herd has its own unique characteristics of size, color and conformation. Nowhere is that more true than in the Kiger herd management area. These horses exhibit Spanish mustang characteristics, and are thought to be one of the most pure herds in the wild today. These wild horses have been managed by the Bureau of Land Management since 1971. All herds are gathered periodically to remove excess numbers. These are made available for adoption. For more information about adopting a wild horse, call the BLM 541-573-4400 or check the web page www.or.blm.gov/Burns.

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America's Living Legends
Palomino Buttes Wild Horse Herd

The Palomino Buttes Wild Horse Herd Management Area is located in Harney County Oregon. It can be reached by traveling on Highway 20 approximately 16 miles east of Burns and turning south on the OO Road. The major landmark in the area is Palomino Buttes from which this herd received its name. The Herd Management Area contains approximately 71,668 acres. The Appropriate Management Level for the Palomino Buttes Wild Horse Herd is 32 to 64 head of horses. The Palomino Buttes Wild Horses are known for their palomino and red dun colors. For the most part, these animals are thought the be more on the gentle side than horses from some of Oregon's other wild horse herds. Because of their gentle nature, travelers going down Highway 20 often mistake them for domestic horses. Palomino Buttes horses are of saddle horse conformation.

Two large colorful stallions who have left their mark on the Palomino Buttes Herd are Red Dunny and Imposter. Both stallions were red dun in color, had stockings on three of their legs and had blaze faces. The Imposter received his name because it was impossible to determine who he was from a distance because he possessed the same color and white markings as Red Dunny.

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America's Living Legends
Warm Springs Wild Horse Herd

The Warm Springs Wild Horse Herd Management Area is located in Harney County Oregon between State Highways 205 and 395 and lies about 15 miles south of State Highway 20. The Herd Management Area contains approximately 508,391 acres. The appropriate management level is 111 to 202 head of horses. The Warm Springs Wild Horse Herd is known for its colorful Appaloosa coat patterns that are seen on many of the horses. Some of the Appaloosas found in this herd are referred to as "old time Appys" as they have very little mane and tail hair. These horses are of saddle horse type. The most noteworthy stallion that has left his mark on the Appaloosas of Warm Springs HMA is Dollar. Dollar is so named because he is said to have a million "dollars" worth of color being black and having a white blanket with black peacock spots.

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America's Living Legends
South Steens Wild Horse Herd

The South Steens Wild Horse Herd Management Area is located in Harney County Oregon, westside of the Steens Mountain in the area of Donner and Blitzen River. The HMA contains approximately 154,000 acres. The appropriate management level is 159 to 304 head of horses. The Steens Mountain Wild Horses are mostly noted for their vivid colors, pintos both overo and tobiano color patterns. Of course, other common colors seen are sorrel, bay, black, brown and grey. Most of the horses are of saddle stock conformation. The bands of these horses seen in their wild state are truly breathtaking.

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So there you have it!

All total, there are 64 cards and envelopes. Nice sized, blank inside, great for any occasion! They are standard "A6" size, 4-1/2 x 6-1/4 in size. These would make great Christmas gifts for anyone and especially horse lovers!

To order, go to PayPal and order thru my email of andi@wisecomp.com and let me know which ones you want and how many. Shipping will be minimal; add $1.50 per pack of 6 cards and we should be fine. You can mix and match any quantity you want, that we have in stock.

Soon, we will have the current, full color, Christmas cards and prints available from the new artwork for the book!

Another Weekend

Not much to report ... things are moving along!

I am reviewing different publishers, trying to find the most "bang for the buck" since I will be self-printing the book. I do have a couple of publishers I can submit the manuscript to, seeing if they are interested in printing it but with the economy in the tank, it's not looking hopeful. Most publishers won't go out on a limb for an unknown author publishing a non-fiction piece of work, sad to say!

If you know of a publisher I should look at, please let me know! I am looking at Whitehall right now as they have very nice, quality, full color, soft cover, "perfect bind" books and are fairly reasonably priced.

The air is feeling like fall, even if it is still August. I'm taking advantage of the cooler weather in the mornings and evenings to work on my book and such and taking advantage of the nicer weather in the day to try to ride!

The Burns BLM is currently gathering the Murderer's Creek horses. Let's hope for a safe gather and no orphans that I will need to add to the "Orphanage" section of the book!

This fall it looks like the South Steens herd will be gathered. With any luck, Michelle and I would like to attend this gather and maybe get some last minute photos, and maybe some art, for the book before it's printed!

On the radio!

Well, next week, Michelle and I will have our first real "promotion" of the book; we will be on the local radio station talking about the book and the artwork! I'm nervous about being on the radio but excited to get the publicity!

I will also be looking at collecting donations to help with publication costs, and I will be contacting various groups like the BLM, MHF and Oregon's tourism department with pleas for financial assistance for the first round of publishing.

And I will be pre-selling a few books as well. Soon, I will have links for paypal so you can pre-purchase a book -- which will be signed by myself and Michelle -- or so you can donate to help get it published!

I will also have some artwork for sale soon here from Michelle and when the book is completed, the artwork will be available individually or in sets.

Oh, and check out Michelle's web site for more of her artwork!

Michelle Severe Western Artist

Introduction

WELCOME!

Yes, I have joined the blogging masses! But for good reason! I'm here to introduce, and keep you updated on ...

Oregon's Living Legends (copyright 2009 LCR)

So, what's Oregon's Living Legends?

Good question!

Awhile back, I was speaking with a friend of mine, Michelle Severe, who is an extremely talented artist, with wildlife drawings and paintings one of her specialties. Actually, it's how I got to know her; she had created a bunch of artwork for a Kiger Mustang adoption event and we struck up a conversation, and a friendship, from that point on.

We were talking about how people asked if there was a book on Oregon's Mustangs, since Michelle had artwork on them.

Hmmmm ...

So, an idea formed ... and blossomed!

And Oregon's Living Legends was started!

So what's it all about?

Well, pull up a chair and I'll tell you a little about it ... and me!

Ever since I can remember, I've wanted to write.

OK, that's not 100% true ... my dream has been to live on top of a mountain with a bunch of horses and write!

I'm in the high desert, so it's sort of on top of a mountain.

And I have a bunch of horses.

So, time to write!

After speaking with Michelle, and a few brainstorming sessions, I began researching and writing a book on wild horses. Specifically, Oregon's wild horses, since those are the wild horses I am most familiar with. My husband and I have been volunteers for the Burns (Oregon) district BLM for several years and have been duly impressed with the quality of the horses found roaming free in various herd management areas here. We have been equally impressed with the quality of the BLM staff involved in the management of the horses.

I felt the efforts, and the horses, of Oregon's BLM needed to be recognized, and show-cased, if you will. I contacted the Burns BLM, I went on-line, I scoured thru documents and photos, I called upon folks who have adopted horses and I began the compilation process.

The result is my book, Oregon's Living Legends, with a hopeful release date of Christmas of 2009 or just after the start of 2010.

My book isn't a political statement, it's not "pro-BLM", it's not "pro-wild horse advocate", it's not cold with just facts and it's not all touchy-feely with the whole "Black Stallion Syndrome" type of thing either. Actually, it's all of those things and none of those things at the same time. My hope is the book will not only help people see and understand the wild horses and the herds and grow to love and appreciate them they way we have but that it will also serve as an example of what the BLM program in every state *could* be.

One of the things I things I think people will like about the book is the eye appeal! Michelle has agreed to be my artist/illustrator for the book and with her artwork gracing the pages (and it will be available separately as well), a book unlike any other will emerge.

As an example ... the piece of artwork gracing this post depicting the gentling of a wild horse by a local trainer, Corine Elser. It will be accompanied by a wonderful poem by Andrea Bassett entitled "Freeze Brand" and will be included in the book.