Some pairs are all about contrast, and Orion and Bana are a perfect example. One is dark and powerful, the other white and elegant, and together they made some of my favourite portraits from our fine art Barn Day at Dressage Solutions in Eagle, Wisconsin. They are also Paula’s first and only horses, which makes them even more special.
A Percheron Cross and a Tempel Farms Lipizzan
Orion is an 18 year old Percheron and Thoroughbred cross, and he and Paula have been together for nine years. They spent six of those years in the hunter/jumper ring before moving on to dressage. Paula describes him as willing and an absolute gem, and one of her favourite memories is flying over jumps with him, then resting her cheek against his muzzle afterwards.
Bana, registered as Conversano VI Garcia, is a 20 year old Lipizzan stallion from Tempel Farms. He performed in the quadrille there for years and showed through 2023. Paula has only owned him for eight months, but the two of them connected the moment they met. Bana is kind, loves attention, and, as Paula puts it, he still has all the moves. He is also one of the most well-behaved stallions I have ever met, and he was a true gentleman in the studio.
Paula wanted portraits of both horses together and on their own, with the contrast between them front and centre. A black background is made for that. Orion’s deep, dark coat melts into the shadows while his eye and expression come forward, and Bana’s white coat almost glows against all that black.
Today Paula enjoys classical dressage with both of them, and these portraits capture two very different horses who share one very lucky owner. Barn Days are set up right in the barn aisle, so each horse can step into the studio from their own stall. Have a few friends at your barn who would love portraits too? Find out how Barn Day mini sessions work.
Artwork to Cherish for Years to Come
For her home, Paula chose a triptych: the portrait of Orion and Bana together printed larger in the centre, with each of their individual portraits on either side. A triptych is a lovely way to tell the story of more than one horse in a single piece, and it suits a pair like this perfectly.
It looks absolutely beautiful on her wall, and now she gets to see her two boys every single day.
More from This Barn Day
Orion and Bana shared the studio with some wonderful horses that day. Meet Rafacito, Megan’s young palomino Lusitano, and Rafa, Emily’s Lusitano FEI dressage schoolmaster. And don’t miss Indy, Christina’s six year old Friesian. Plus Queenie, Christina’s four year old Hanoverian. Bana was not the only Tempel Lipizzan there, either: meet Maestoso Gradita, a Lipizzan stallion from the Tempel Lipizzans. And meet Jed, Megan’s KWPN-NA Dutch Warmblood. And don’t miss Maestoso Batosta, another Tempel Lipizzan stallion.
Paula, thank you for sharing both of your horses with me. It was a joy to photograph them together.
Not ready to gather a group for a Barn Day? A private equine fine art session gives you the same black background portraits for just your horse.