Stud Muffin
This week’s cover is a life-size painting of Caroline Moran’s retired show hunter Saint Nick. The painting in pastel pencil and colored pencil depicts the gray, Dutch Warmblood stallion during a  moment of relaxation.

Saint Nick began his career in Europe as a grand prix jumper under the name Hairos. He competed successfully at the international level in Europe and in the United States. In 1999, he was imported to the United States to begin a career as a hunter.

His accolades include tricolors in the regular working and the amateur-owner hunter divisions, earning championships at every major horse show in the country including Devon (Pa.), the Pennsylvania National, the National (N.Y.) and the Middleburg Classic (Va.) to name a few.

Artist Susan Van Wagoner lives and works in Middleburg, Va. She’s combined her bachelor’s degree in studio art with a life-long knowledge of animals to produce distinctive works of fine art. The animals in her mostly life-sized work come alive with texture and feeling, and she often uses unique compositions for a dramatic effect.