Horse memories of Skip and Flip.
I’m always so touched when one of my horse art collectors share horse memories with me. Recently, I received a wonderful email from a local Prescott area realtor about a recent purchase she had made of my artwork in Arts Prescott Gallery. The image she had purchased was on a small travertine tile on an easel. I like having options for sizes for my clients. This particular image was from a photo shoot in Wickenburg, Arizona in 2003 at The Lazy J Dude Ranch. The ranch closed down many years ago but the photos I took there still live on. It was a fun filled weekend meeting fellow horse photographers from all over the country and some really fun wranglers around the Wickenburg area.
Below is the image that was purchased that brought back such great childhood horse memories.
“We did everything a person could think of on Skip (rear pony picture) and Flip (lead pony picture).”
“My sister and I got our first horse when she was 12 and I was 10. The we’re brothers, Skip and Flip. We could not have been more ecstatic then that day 10-10-1960 that we were escorted to the stall in which we were introduced. 
We had memorable years of outlandish fun on those ponies. I saw it in the window of the gallery and knew I had to buy it for my sis who still owns two horses, winters in Wickenburg AZ where we still ride together and summers in Whitefish, MT. The image sits on a stand in my kitchen window where I trip down memory lane regularly when I admire and give thanks for those times we had. My sister lives in a small RV in both homes and this was a perfect size for her and me. It has been so pleasing to me, that I sent her a picture of her gift prematurely and it will be an ongoing topic of discussion now, forever. When I say outlandish memories, I mean it. For instance riding over the main roads to the drive in movie theater at night to sit backwards bare back on their rumps to watch the feature film while they grazed. Ride through the drive up windows to order up a hamburger. Ride 10 miles to town and give the neighbors rides. Mostly we rode bareback, often with halters only and barefoot. At the livery stables they called us the Omaha Indians. In the winter we would tie snow discs to the saddle horn and run through the fields and let the disc fly over the hills at what seemed like 100 miles per hour. We competed locally in barrel racing, musical tires and other events. We did everything a person could think of on Skip (rear pony picture) and Flip (lead pony picture). I appreciate finding your art and am grateful for the memory. ”
Some other wonderful images taken that weekend at The Lazy J include images that have been used on the cover of Smith Brothers Catalog, promo pieces for the Ruger Vaquero revolver, SSG Riding Gloves.
Jody Miller is a professional photographer specializing in Horse Photography, Equine Photography, and Equestrian photography. Her work can be viewed online here in her gallery section, and she is also featured at these Arizona Galleries: Arts Prescott Gallery CO-OWNER, Dragonfly Arts in Cottonwood and Coops Coffee House at Talking Rock Ranch, Prescott Family Diner. Jody is also participating in the Prescott Area Artists’ Studio Tour Oct.6, 7 and 8, 2017