Calendar: *Special Contest* Discussion

[Horsetopia-Annie]

7/26/06 -- The Special Contest for the Horsetopia Calendar is now closed.

Hello all,

Now that we've had some great entries to our calendar contest, I thought I would open up this discussion thread.

Please do not post new photo entries here. If you have any that you would like to submit, read the entry requirements .

[Mariuch]

Maybe Im just not getting it, but in the picture from loneappy what are the animals in the foreground??? Is it more than one dog?? It just looks a bit odd, and if it is a dog, he has some powerful looking back legs!!!

[theloneappy]

LOL! Mariuch, Thoses are my parents two black dogs. They were play fighting when i snaped that pic. Hard to make them out with that small of a picture. I have an 8x10 of that pic printed out and you can tell its dogs on it!

And that is the veiw from the south side of the property looking west. Thats onr of our veiws of North dakota. You can't see it in that pic, but there is some of the orignial wagon trail that went from Pingree to Jamestown on the back part of the property. The well on their property used to be a water stop for the wagon trains.

And that pic of the Paint that Trailrider Jo took is just Beautifull!

[Promise Ranch]

Great picture, and how appropriate! The Lone Appy!

[Mariuch]

Thats too funny!! I think all of these pictures are beautiful, can't wait to see the calendar. That wagon trail being there, I love that kind of stuff. My parents live in Idaho and when I went out to visit they showed me where you could still see the wagon trail that came down the side of this, basically sheer cliff. Those people back then had to be some of the bravest, craziest people to just take off into the unknown with everything you own and hope for the best. I think I would have loved that simpler time......

[Horsetopia-Annie]

I've been getting some great entries from you all! Unfortunately, many of them are not high enough resolution to be considered. If you send your photo(s) and don't see them posted within a week or so, it's because they're too small or don't meet one of our other requirements listed in the contest description.

Please feel free to send as many photos as you'd like -- I'll review them all and enter the ones that I think have the best chance of making it into the calendar. Remember the contest will stay open for quite some time and that we are looking for photos from all four seasons!

[Horsetopia-Annie]

We've gotten some great photo submissions over the past couple of weeks. Since we want all of our winners to be season-appropritate (i.e. the January one should have snow in it, and June should have green pastures), I want to encourage people to submit winter shots. Quartercowgirl sent some amazing photos, but unfortunately, the resolution wasn't high enough for an 8x10 print.

So, those of you who've been meaning to get out there and take some pictures of your equines in the snow, think about the photo contest.

[DixieHorseChick18]

Annie I tryed to send a picture but I dont think I had it big enough, did you even get it.

[Horsetopia-Annie]

Hi, yes I did get yours, but it either wasn't large enough or was too much of a close up (I can't remember which!). There are quite a few that I've gotten that have been too small, but also a few that didn't meet our other criteria.

[DixieHorseChick18]

it was probably to much of an up close, I had to remember what it was first, but i knew i had sent one in. I guess I have to go out and get more pictures.

[beth55051]

Shepdog,
Your Arab? is absolutely breathtaking! How do you ever keep him so white!

[QuarterCowGirl]

I was all set to go out and try and get more pics to enter for this, but alas my pasture is a sheet of ice!

[Horsetopia-Annie]

Originally Posted by QuarterCowGirl

I was all set to go out and try and get more pics to enter for this, but alas my pasture is a sheet of ice!

Don't worry, Sam. I don't have plans to close the contest any time soon!

[Shepdog]

Originally Posted by beth55051

... How do you ever keep him so white!

Oh gosh, thank you so much, Beth! Yep, Captain's an Arab - although, I won't tell him you said such nice things about him; I'm sure it would go right to his little horsie head and he'd be insufferable for weeks. I'd be bringing him carrots while he perused modeling agency ads. *laughing* I can see that conversation now...

"No, I'm pretty sure that they don't need horse underwear models at Fruit of the Loom, Cap."

*Snort!* "Fruit of the Loom? Heavens no. I've just put in a call to Calvin Klein. I do think I'm more of a brief fellow, not those ungainly boxers. Unless they're silk boxers. Do you think they make silk boxers in my size?"

"Yeah. But they're called circus tents."

Oh man... keeping him white? It's hard. I just started laughing when I saw that, because I swear, he goes outside, and the mud takes one look and runs across the pasture to hug him. Heck, grass stains, manure stains, the more the better. He seems to find the nastiest places in the pastures to roll and nap, and I've actually seen him trot up in the evening for dinner so coated in mud that he looked like he was wearing white goggles. I swear, he was grinning at me. I just gaped.

I do really love those grooming/polishing stones - that really gets out a lot with minimal work. He's got no coat (even now in winter) and it's super fine and slick, so most of the dirt slips right off with a bristle brushing. I sometimes mist him with a bit of show sheen when it's dry out to help keep it off. I've used a bit of dry powder shampoo as well when he's a bit greasy. I will say he has the common, noble decency to wait to go and roll until after I've left for the day.

(And as much as it pains me to admit it, I think he takes better photos than he looks in person. Actually, the funniest thing was a bit after I got him, the person who owns the barn Mellowdane and I rent came out to look at the horses one day, and pulled MD aside...

"You mean... she spent all that time looking for... that horse? He's sort of... um, well, he's just not, er... okay, he's homely..."

I think MD said, "He's got a lovely personality."

I still laugh about that. *grin*)

[beth55051]

That's exactly why I swore I would never own another white or mostly white horse after I sold my paint gelding. Guess I lied cause I went out and bought another paint gelding and a QH gelding with lots of white! I should by stock in Quik Silver!

[Horsetopia-Annie]

I just posted some more great photos! Remember that we're still looking for some more "winter" shots. This contest will remain open at least long enough for all of you to get out there and take some great spring shots too!

Details about the prize for our 1st place winner (who will get the cover as well as one of the months) and our our 1st and 2nd runner ups will be coming soon!

[Sundance]

The next snow we get I'll be out there with my many layers of clothing and my handy dandy camera. Its been calling for snow, but its only snowed once and didn't amount to anything. I know I could get some good ones of the gang in the snow, they love to run and play in it (especially Velvet). Listen to me! I think I'm trying to say that I would like for it to snow! ... I need to go to the emergency room for head trauma! haha.

[Horsetopia-Annie]

I've just posted some great new shots! The contest is still open, so feel free to submit any photos you have. If you do want to send in a photo, please make sure to read the contest guidelines (the first post in the thread with the photos). After the top 12 are selected, I will create a poll for our forum members to vote on who will get the cover spot and the grand prize.

We have some pretty super photographers on the forum, I just can't wait to see what the final calendar looks like.

[southernbellechic]

I don't have any great pics to post but I would like to know if the calendars are going to be for sale

[Horsetopia-Annie]

Originally Posted by southernbellechic

I don't have any great pics to post but I would like to know if the calendars are going to be for sale

Yep -- the calendars will be available to anyone who wants one. It's looking now like they'll be available direct from the printer. When we get a little closer to finishing up, I'll ask people who want to buy one to let me know so that I can comparison shop and find the cheapest vendor for the quantity. If anyone knows of a good but cheap printing company, please send me a PM.