(The following letter was sent to me via email:)
Dear Betty,
I just went back to your site and pulled up the painting "Looking for Rebecca".
It nearly brought tears to my eyes to see my pony in such a life like image.
I remember the saddle it was my only saddle and rarely got used for I rode here everywhere bareback.
The saddle bags were one of my mothers prized possessions.
I loved that pony she was my birthday present. My mom had purchased her from a family friend.
The story behind her name from what I am told
was that when they broke her for riding they got her a little tipsy on Ripple wine.
I do not know how true that story is but it makes for great telling.
A few years later my mother had a job offer in Santa Monica and we moved there,
she left our horses in the care of the same family friend who she had bought Ripple from.
He had a fight with a neighbor and the neighbor poisoned his grain.
It killed two of his cows another welsh pony he had bred with my Ripple.
Ripple and her unborn fowl also perished.
Tis a very sad ending to her life but she lives very fondly in my memory.
Every other week after we moved away before she died we would go back to our home town
and I would spend the whole day riding her.
She always remembered me and we had wonderful times together.
It has been many years since I have owned a horse and I miss them greatly,
but I pay tribute to them in my own way.
My whole back is tattooed with five horses running at you, it is not complete but when
it is done they be running along side an ocean flanked by high cliffs.
Almost like the cliffs in the Pacific Palisades near Santa Monica.
I would very much like to have a copy of your painting, it is truly beautiful.
Lovingly Rebecca
Website: http://www.billupsfineart.com - Sitemap - Email - Phone: (208) 263-1117
All Text and Images Copyright Betty Jean Billups. All Rights Reserved.
Address: P.O. Box 102, Sandpoint, ID 83864