Each year I am faced with the task of designing my Pony Penning Poster. This year I decided to create a painting I had dreamed about for many years. I knew this would be a great challenge and embrace my most inner feelings and emotions. Thus, the idea of "Spirits of the Legend" was born.

On a visit to Assateague one day, I was struck by the beautiful blue sky and these incredible cloud formations that were over one of my favorite areas of the salt marsh. As I let my imagination wander, a Spanish Galleon ghost ship came sailing out of the clouds like it was riding a huge wave. In the clouds were the faces and shapes of the wild ponies rearing up and making their spirits known to the ponies below. As I contemplated these clouds, I saw a huge stallion standing up and making his presence known. It sent chills up my spine as a gust of wind let me know I was treading on "sacred grounds." The loblolly pines in the distant horizon began to dance in the wind as the spirit ponies came to life within the trees themselves.

I let my imagination run wild as I could see the ghost ponies from afar playing and running. while the mares' watchful eyes protected their turf. All of a sudden there was a deafening thunder coming from the clouds, but in reality, it was the pounding of the hooves as a herd of wild ponies emerged from the salt marsh in full gallop. Looking in their eyes you could tell they were haunted, yet proud, to be a part of history as the "SPIRITS OF THE LEGEND" were all around them.

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