The Missoulian reporter dutifully noted Missoula artist Scott Miller's comments about how his canvass sometimes twitched as he painted. Scott wasn't prepared for the vastness of the canvass or for Lady Lonza's twitching as he applied his paints to her sometimes sensitive body. It was his first ever horse painting.
 

Scott is partnering with Dunrovin Ranch to experiment with painting ponies in anticipation of helping Dunrovin create a series of equine art contests for the first annual Big Sky Equine Art Fringe Festival to be held at Dunrovin during the third week of August 2017. He gathered his nontoxic paints, conjured a vision in his head, and spent a good four hours working with her. He learned a great deal and he crafted a beautiful work of art. While Scott worked up a sweat on that hot afternoon, the lovely Lady Lonza lazily munched hay from a nearby hay bag and enjoyed the attention.

Kyla Two Bulls at Dunrovin Ranch. Photos by Tamar Kasberg
 

Dunrovin's fascination with painting ponies started when we had the great fortune of employing a young Lakota Sioux woman as a wrangler. Kyla Two Bulls brought to us a great deal of energy, horse skills, and knowledge of her people's traditions and art. She gladly shared them with us and with the many kids who attended our summer camps that year.   
 

One of the many wonderful results of having Kyla at Dunrovin is that she planted the seeds for our painting horses. She taught us to paint them in the tradition of the Plains Indians of North America. However, within no time, we were branching off on our own. Soon Martine, Cool Dude, Whiskey, Annie, and Mickey all were stepping up and standing still while kids of all ages, and from all over the world, expressed themselves through horse painting. 
 

Then in 2015, I decided to get serious. But frankly, I didn't really know how to do that. While I have a great appreciation for art, my own painting/decorating/artistic skills are nonexistent. So I turned to three young women who were working for me at the time: Nevaeh, Sarah, and Maggie. All of them showed artistic talents and seemed willing when I asked them to paint and decorate a horse. Then I asked two professional photographers, John Ashley and Laurie Childs, to come and capture their work. 
 

My long-term goal for painting ponies at Dunrovin is to establish online and onsite horse decorating contests to raise money to support equine assisted therapy and wellness program and for university level research into their effectiveness. I strongly believe in the ability of horses to heal people from all sorts of physical, emotional, and mental trauma and disabilities. I have personally experienced it and I have seen it in others. However, I also know that such programs are expensive and that insurance companies will not reimburse for many of these program without further evidence of their effectiveness. Equine assisted therapy programs across the country a constantly seeking funds to provide their services, and I want to help.
 

Painted ponies at Dunrovin Ranch. Photos by Tamar Kasberg

So in order to hold online equine art contest, I would need to ascertain how interesting horse painting would be for online, rather than onsite, participants. Was my technology professional enough to really engage an audience and bring them right into the activity? I needed answers so I needed to experiment. Thus, I build this into my 2015 experiment.
 

Everything surpassed my expectations by a mile. The young women did an outstanding job of creating three very different artistic expressions. Photographers John Ashley and Laurie Childs went out of their way to pose the women and the horses in a variety of circumstances and natural light to capture some truly stunning photos. Furthermore, the online audience was most excited and engaged. They loved watching the art unfold and talking with us as it happened. Our web cameras captured it all in great detail and high definition.

The photos speak for themselves. The first set of photos were taken by John Ashley, the second set by Laurie Childs, and the third set came directly from my web cameras.

Photo by John Ashley

Photos by Laurie Childs

Photos by Dunrovin Ranch web cameras
 

Some of the lessons we learned are obvious from the photographs:

1. It is as much about the photo as it is about the art. Photography is an integral part of this art form.
2. It involves both still art and art in motion. Running horses, horses walking through fields, horses splashing in the river, or horses being ridden all offer different artistic options.
3. The web cameras are capable of capturing the art and the process. 
4. Natural surroundings provide many photographic options.

Lessons that we learned which are not evident through the photos include:

1. The horses tolerated it very well. They seemed to enjoy the attention and generally stood quietly throughout the decorating (well, the hay bags helped!).
2. Our low quality paints were difficult to use and required several coats for each color. Quality, nontoxic paints with more pigments would work better.
    

Armed with these lessons, we organized another horse painting trial in July of 2016 which brought Scott Miller to Dunrovin along with photographer Pam Voth to try to take things to the next level. Pam suggested creating an outdoor "studio" and special lighting to try to capture a quality portrait of a painted horse. This became our goal. Again, the photos tell the story. 

Artist Scott Miller paints on the lovely Lady Lonza. Photos by Pam Voth

As you can see, the higher quality paints really make a difference. Scott chose some a wide array of vivid colors that really pop out on Lonza's uniformly champagne coat.

While the white backdrop proved too small for a horse portrait studio, Pam Voth's white lights evened out the bright sun on the colors on Lonza's body. Photos by Pam Voth

At her studio, Pam Voth was able to use her computer to take Lonza's image and create this truly unique and striking composite photo as her portrait. This is a wonderful example of the collaboration between our Dunrovin horse, artist Scott Miller, and photographer Pam Voth. All three components were essential. 
 

I deem our 2016 experiment to be another success. We learned what didn't work to construct a real portrait studio and I have already taken some steps to correct the problems of size and stability (more on that in a later magazine article - my solution will surprise you!) and I am now confident that artists will now have the opportunity to not only paint a horse, but prepare/paint a special backdrop/studio in which to photograph their results. 
 

We are very excited for this rather new art form and we eagerly await our First Annual Big Sky Equine Art Fringe Festival from August 12 through 20, 2017. Our festival will include a children's art and horseback riding camp, equine art workshops for adults, theater and dance performances involving equines (not just horses as our donkey Divas insist on being part of the action), and equine painting contests. 
 

We are forming a board of directors consisting of artists, gallery owners, and tourism businesses to ensure the quality and success of our festival. Calls for art will go out at the first of the New Year in 2017, with contest rules and applications.  Our hope is that you will join us onsite or online for a real art and equine extravaganza.

Photos by Pam Voth (www.PamVoth.net)
 

SuzAnne Miller is the owner of Dunrovin Ranch. A fourth-generation Montanan, SuzAnne grew up roaming the mountains and fishing the streams of western Montana. Her love of nature, animals, science, and education prompted her to create the world’s first cyber ranch where live web cameras bring Dunrovin’s wildlife and ranch life to internet users across the globe.

Visit SuzAnne live at www.DaysAtDunrovin.com!

I should have been suspicious when a giddy outdoorsman appeared before me and said he had not only planned, but actually booked the best vacation everrrrrrr...  He told me he had booked us 5-star accommodation and it would be  absolutely amazing.  He had gone so far as to schedule us both out of work, arrange dog-sitting, and claimed it was going to be the best family vacation we have ever had. Let me tell you, this has never, ever, ever happened before.   Given that I have been subject to his tricks for years, you would think I would have registered the dates as the opening weekend of bow hunting season. Dumb dumb.  But as I looked into his borderline psychotic excited eyes, I simply said sounds great! I know all of the outdoorsman who are reading this are thinking, "that is one smart son of a bitch!"  Don't get any ideas! 
 

Like anything, as soon as you have agreed and been tangled up in the web of deceit, you are trapped and that's when the truth comes out. Cue: Haunted house music with elk bugles echoing in the background...
 

The truth soon began to trickle out. This was an eight day bow-hunting trip to a cabin in the middle of eastern Montana.  This cabin was located hours from any  sort of town, grocery store or shoe store and up 45 miles of a gravel road, so needless to say- we weren't going anywhere.  I don't want to forget that our cabin was also experiencing  some severely stinky septic problems...Yes, we would pack in all of the food and I was to be named...Camp Cook!  Oh, hooray! In this situation, family vacation meant that the outdoorsman and his fellow addict would vacate the premises promptly at 5 a.m., waking the entire cabin of 1, 3, and 5 year olds as they tore off on their 4-wheelers hooting and bugling.  Yes, they expected but did not receive hot biscuits and gravy freshly cooked and served each morning.  I suppose the "family" part was when the Camo duo would appear at midday to have lunch and lay on the couch until evening when they once again would burn out in the driveway in the 4-wheeler with dancing elk in their eyes.  Hmm....  They then returned after the kids bedtime to play cards and drink beer.   Soooo I'm wondering why was I forced on this "best vacation ever"????
 

I must say this is what I suspect. I think that the outdoorsman was trying to concoct a plan where he could have another week off of work, have yummy food ready & waiting 24/7 and in his mind- still spend "quality" time with his family without feeling guilty. I have to admit- I was duped and fell for his tricks. I was warming up to the idea of a week off of work to hang out with the kids and cook, but little did I know that the party was just getting started. 
 

Apparently the 100s of acres that were were camped at  didn't have anyyyyyyy elk on them. All of the elk were on the neighboring private property and although he bugled and cow called til his eyes about popped out of his head, they were not coming even close to his crosshairs.  So then he got this fantastic idea!!!! Can you feel my excitement?!  He called his buddy and asked if we could go to his cabin and hunt for the remaining few days. His buddy agreed and the outdoorsman told me that we would have an hour drive and he would be sooooo grateful if I "wanted" to pack everyone's stuff back up while he went out hunting that morning. I figured we were here to get an elk, so I might as well. Anyone who has children knows that packing up everything is truly an act of God, especially when they want to "help".  Well I got it done and when he returned, we were off!
 

It turns out that the 1-hour drive was actually a 4 hour drive but the outdoorsman thought this little fib would be forgiven as he knew I would not sign up for 4 hours of car time with 3 toddlers. I still am having nightmares.  Honestly. But that's not where this trip ends... soon the tires on the 4-wheeler trailer begin smoking and look suspiciously wobbly...we are literally in the middle of nowhere and luckily his hunting partner is behind us flashing his lights and waving at our smoking trailer.  We all pull over and see that the trailer needs a new axle and cannot go on, especially with the weight of a 4-wheeler and a weeks worth of beer and food.  So we unload most of the coolers and food onto
the hunting partners truck and the outdoorsman asks me to drive the 4-wheeler, you know because it's safer, than pulling the trailer with screaming children for the next 40 miles at 45 mph. I, of course, say no thank you to the 40 mile ride in the rain on a 4-wheeler and hop in the truck and pull that smokin' trailer into the next town. Thankfully they had a mechanic that could work on the trailer and had it back to us a few days later.  
 

Once we dropped  the trailer off, we continued on to the next cabin. The outdoorsman looked positively frozen as he drove the 4-wheeler another 60 miles... I'm sure glad I missed out on that.  By the time we arrived it was dark and we were in the midst of a wind-howling,  rain dumper of a storm. If you have ever seen the  winds of eastern Montana, you will understand this.  I have never been in a storm in eastern Montana and I think I about blew away!  I was scared the kids might disappear, so we frantically ran into the new cabin and were attacked by angry wasps that had taken up residence in the crooks and crannies of the log cabin.   We took cover and we're smashing wasps with shoes like deranged lunatics while the Camo men packed in all of our gear.  We hungrily mowed down some nachos and went to bed. I swear that wind howled like it was going to tear the roof off all night long and at dawn the Camo duo was gone again. Luckily, at the new cabin the sounds of their coffee making and adrenaline hooting was muted by the wind howling and everyone slept in for a bit. 
 

Midday the Camo duo came back and were as giddy as school girls. They had found the elk. They apparently had some sort of bugle conversation with some bulls and were positively jacked up.  Their steps were springy and their spirits were high. Suddenly, this was the "best vacation ever" once again.   I still remain skeptical. 
 

As I sit and write this saga down... I wonder- is this really worth it?  The elk "high" must be something I just cannot relate to. Yes, it is definitely an adventure. Now I can honestly say, that I understand why it takes them 5 hours to do a 2 hour trip, between the broken equipment and the necessity of having to glass every single moving creature in range, I get it. I get that they have a problem, the poor little fellers. It is fun to see such excitement in them though. And even though all they came home with this trip was a grouse, they had the "best vacation everrrrr".  The outdoorsmen were on cloud nine at just the opportunity at getting an elk.  They endure hours of traveling, early mornings, freezing weather, miles of steep hiking, and the many dangers of the wilds just to get near an elk and  try and outsmart Mother Nature.  These outdoorsman love hunting, they live for it, the dream of it, and they will never stop.  Hunting really is an addiction.  I'm wondering... where is the help center? I know a few people who need to check in!  Will insurance cover this?
 

 On a side note- The kids thoroughly enjoyed the bear that sat outside of our cabin window and hunting for grasshoppers.  Nothing is as priceless as getting kids into nature and letting them develop of love for it as well. 

 Kristen Berube lives a crazy, laugh-filled life with her outdoorsman husband Remi and their three camo-clad children in Missoula, Montana. A graduate of Montana State University and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, she loves being a mom and enjoys hiking, fishing, and camping.
 

“Confessions of a Camo Queen: Living with an Outdoorsman” is her first book.

It is available for purchase at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1560376287/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk

If you visit Dictionary.com and type in the word “instincts” the first definition that comes up is “an inbornpattern of activity or tendency to action common to a given biological species.”  If what Dunrovin and many other osprey web cam watchers has been learning recently about osprey behavior, we may have been attributing way too much wildlife behavior to “instincts” rather than to learning.  
 

During the past couple of years, several osprey nests equipped with web cameras have experienced the death of one of the members of the mating pair historically using that nest – the Dunrovin Ranch nest, a nest in Michigan, and Missoula’s Hellgate nest.
 

Our own experience watching Harriet teaching Hal the Dunrovin nest after her new mate Ozzie died in 2014 as well as the Facebook posts by Walter Chavers and Erick Greene all speak of the amount of learning the new nest mates must master to achieve the same level of expertise demonstrated by the previous mates. In short, while the instincts may well be telling this new mates WHAT to do, they must learn HOW to do it, and it appears that the older, more experienced female is the one doing the teaching. I don’t really know why this is so unexpected. We all completely understanding the importance in human beings, so why did we not think that it would be equally important to other species.
 

Thankfully, our Dunrovin nest’s new male, Hal, is beginning to become a good provider and protector for Harriet. His often awkward and ineffective attempts at copulating, providing fish, incubating, and chasing off intruders are becoming most efficient. Let’s hope that this summer he gets it right this summer and that the two eggs that he and Harriet are currently sitting both hatch and that the chicks thrive!

Take a look at Hal delivering a beautiful big fish to Harriet, then immediately, and I must say expertly, sitting to incubate their eggs. You’ve come a long way Hal and you continue to earn your name of Hallelujah every day!

SuzAnne Miller is the owner of Dunrovin Ranch. A fourth-generation Montanan, SuzAnne grew up roaming the mountains and fishing the streams of western Montana. Her love of nature, animals, science, and education prompted her to create the world’s first cyber ranch where live web cameras bring Dunrovin’s wildlife and ranch life to internet users across the globe.

Visit SuzAnne live at www.DaysAtDunrovin.com!