I grew up surrounded by Quarter Horses, thanks to my aunt and uncle, who raised them when I was a child. They had a stunning stallion named Rusty, whose coat gleamed like a brand-new copper penny. Rusty had the sweetest disposition for a breeding stallion, and he left an impression on me that has lasted my entire life.

When I met my husband, Larry, in January 1994, he owned and rode Missy, his trail horse—a running Quarter Horse. So, it feels fitting that I’ve come full circle and am now sculpting a Working Quarter Horse, doing exactly what they were bred to do: work! Since it’s taken me so long to sculpt a Quarter Horse, I wanted to make sure I was inspired by the right horse.

My search began on the Internet, and I even reached out to people at the AQHA headquarters in Texas. But every lead turned into a dead end. Fate, however, had other plans for me. I started narrowing my search to local towns within driving distance of my home. After calling a nearby Quarter Horse barn and coming up empty, I went back online to search for stallions standing at stud in Western Washington. That’s when I stumbled across a simple ad with no photo but a link for more information.

Clicking that link brought me to the website for Stroud Ranch in Snohomish, Washington—the same Snohomish where I graduated from high school! Call it fate, destiny, or sheer luck, but I knew I was meant to sculpt the breathtaking black bay stallion with the liquid brown eyes that melted my heart—Bueno. His name means “good” in Spanish, and that’s exactly what I thought when my search finally ended at the barn in Snohomish.

The moment I laid eyes on Bueno, I could tell he was bred to work. He’s sired by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Reminic and out of a Bueno Chex daughter—an exceptional pedigree. Though still a young stallion, he’s already making his mark in the NRHA, NCHA, and AQHA show circuits under the guidance of his owner, Deanna Lally, an accomplished Western and wildlife artist.

When I met Deanna, she shared her insights about working Quarter Horses versus halter Quarter Horses. She explained that the “bigger is better” mindset common in halter horse circles doesn’t apply to reining and cow horses. In fact, she warned me, “There isn’t a horse in my barn over 14.2 hands tall!” Bueno, at 14.1 hands, fits this standard perfectly.

Watching Bueno move was a revelation. His small, solid build is perfectly suited for working cattle. His movements are fluid and rounded, with an effortless quality that’s mesmerizing. His gaits are quick, smooth, and give the impression he’s an absolute pleasure to ride, even while working hard. I knew right away that he was the horse I wanted to sculpt, capturing him in a working lope—the gait where he truly shines.

I first met Deanna and Bueno last summer. After fulfilling some prior commitments and recovering from cancer surgery in November, I’m finally sculpting this incredible stallion. I’m working on him in large traditional scale in my studio, but I’ll also be commuting to Snohomish to work from life at Stroud Ranch, where he’s standing.

“Working for Chexs,” as Bueno is officially known, is truly a masterpiece in motion. I feel so fortunate to bring his spirit to life in my art.

(All images of “Working for Chexs” are copyrighted by Stroud Ranch and used with permission from his owner, Deanna Lally.)