Artist Anita Gersch has loved horses since she was a toddler and has spent the best portion of her life with them—as a rider, an instructor and trainer, and as an artist/designer.

“I’ve ridden competitively and have taught hunt seat and dressage and run a show barn for many years,” said Gersch. “I guess I’ve tried just about everything and anything that can be done on or with a horse!

But, I’m still amazed each day at the beauty of horses and hope to portray them in an original way—using saturated color and negative space as an integral part of my work.

This week’s cover, Her First Go, is a 26” x 38” oil pastel on paper. “When I saw this adorable little girl on her gray pony I was completely captivated and knew I would have to make painting of them,” she said. “She was so tiny that her boots barely hung below the saddle flap, and yet the pony was listening to her intently.”

Gersch, started her graphic design company, Equine Design, in 1984 and uses wood cut, intaglio and screen prints as the basis for her items. She’s also focusing on oil pastel paintings, which give her more creative freedom.