Sundancer's West, a website that explores The West as well as borders beyond, has joined HorsePower, New Mexico's Trail of Painted Ponies team. In the year 2001, HorsePower, a not-for-profit organization, began placing life-size ponies in various New Mexico towns and sites to attract attention to the project. Well-known artists selected themes, from western/ Indian to modern, and painted the life-size polyurethane quarter horse forms. One form depicts a standing horse, another is running.

The year 2001 saw 120 life-size ponies painted; approximately 80 more will be painted in 2002. Native American, Hispanic and Anglo artists provided a cultural diversity in a state rich in history and tradition.

Why horses? Horses were selected as the "animal of choice" for this art project because they are an integral part of New Mexico heritage. It was through New Mexico that Spanish Conquistadors introduced the horse to North America, five centuries ago.

A series of summer auctions will find homes for the horses, and continue efforts to raise funds for New Mexico not-for-profits organizations. The first auction will take place Memorial Day weekend, on Sunday, May 26, at the Eldorado Hotel in Santa Fe. Twelve Ponies will be auctioned live. Other auctions will take place in June, July and August.

HorsePower has placed a number of commemorative collectibles on sale in order to capture the horses in print and provide information about the horses and their artists. A book, TRAIL OF PAINTED PONIES and a poster of the Fallen Firefighter Pony, designed as a memorial to the September 11 firefighters, are on sale from the Sundancer's West site http://www.sundancerswest.com/ponyshoppe.html. More items are in the works. Links lead to sites that give pertinent information on the ponies.
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Sundancer's West Teams With HorsePower

The TRAIL OF PAINTED PONIES book contains beautiful pictures of the painted ponies. The book also provides valuable historical and cultural information on the State of New Mexico, Native Americans, Spanish, Mexican Americans as well as the history and culture of the horse.

Schools and libraries will want to include this book, not only for its beautiful art work, but as a valuable resource for themes, term papers and studies. Collectors will not want to miss an opportunity to add Pained Ponies pieces to their collections. Children will treasure the book.

Sundancer's West is in its third year and has received the International Association of Web Masters and Designers (IAWMD) award for excellence each one of those years. Although the site has a western theme, travel news from around the world is included on the site.

For more information go to the web site: http://www.sundancerswest.com/nmpaintedponies.html or contact Gerry Watkins, 1108 Meadowview Drive, Euless, TX 76039; phone 817.545.5265 or email Gerry at gwat1@swbell.net.

Contact: Gerry Watkins, Sundancer's West

Telephone Number: 817-545-5265

FAX Number: 817-571-6481

E-mail Address: gwat1@swbell.net

Web site address: http://www.sundancerswest.com/

SUNDANCER'S WEST TEAMS UP WITH HORSEPOWER, NEW MEXICO