March 2025’s Blog
The month of March marks the true beginning of the New Year at the Spring Equinox, which also makes this the ideal time of year to embark on a new project or make a significant change.
This month, particularly around the Equinox, I've felt as if a higher power has gently directed me towards doing something new and meaningful that I might not have considered previously. The adage "when one door closes, another opens" has never rung truer for me than it does now.
We attended the Cheltenham Festival on the second day of the four-day event and had an absolutely fantastic experience. We witnessed The New Lion win the first race brilliantly at the finish line. Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty both won their races in spine-tingling tributes to the late jockey Michael O'Sullivan. Although the jaw-droppingly handsome Jonbon did not secure his coveted Cheltenham crown this year, it was amazing to see him up close in the paddock, with Nicky Henderson gently tickling his muzzle after the race (he finished second to Marine Nationale in the Champion Chase).
However, I’m too much of a worrier to watch any more horse racing. Fortunately, there were no negative incidents involving horses on the day we were at Cheltenham, but I am now aware of how frequently they do happen. I acknowledge that accidents do occur in sports, particularly those involving animals. Obviously, I'm not a professional in the field. I've been told by someone who is that the majority of racehorses are well cared for. But I won’t be painting any more horse racing scenes; there will only ever be just two in the Gallery.
“Flying Colours”
I thoroughly enjoyed painting the beautiful physical features of these awe-inspiring equine athletes. However, I've concluded that I cannot love both horses and horse racing. My eyes have been opened to aspects of the sport that I was previously unaware of. This is a challenging subject. I can no longer stand and watch.
By the end of March, I’d discovered an unexpected opportunity to get closer to horses in a kind and friendly environment, where I could learn more about equine care and management while also assisting people who were less fortunate than me, all while gaining valuable hands-on experience with our equine friends; this was at my local RDA. Horses are highly spiritual animals. I believe their energy does not vanish; rather, it transmutes in accordance with the laws of physics. As I previously mentioned, this month, I felt as if a higher power had gently guided me towards a fresh new beginning, and it has been a very humbling experience.
