The Pamplemousse: Good Looking AND Talented!

Last week The Pamplemousse tested his artistic talent by painting a picture with Sharla Sanders of Equine Expressions at trainer Julio Canani's barn at Santa Anita. I was in the Bay Area (at Golden Gate Fields) and couldn't be there in person, but I was able to get a copy of a video from CERF (California Equine Retirement Foundation), sponsors of Equine Expressions.

Equine Expressions' mission is to create artwork by renowned Thoroughbreds to raise funds to care for retired racehorses. The concept was developed by CERF after Re-Run (who create the "Moneighs") and CERF agreed to "split" the U.S. and focus on their respective coasts. According to Sanders, many of California's leading trainers have been very supportive of the project, including Canani, Doug O'Neill, Mike Mitchell, Dan Hendricks, Brian Koriner, and Richard Mandella. 100% of the proceeds go to the care and feeding of retired racehorses at CERF.

Paintings start at $300 and go up, depending on the horse. Top sellers have been paintings by Lava Man ($1,200) and The Tin Man ($1,500).

"I will paint with current and ex-racers, stallions at breeding farms, geldings, and someone's backyard racehorse," Sanders said. "If it's a horse, I will paint with it!" Rest assured that the horses are using non-toxic, water based paints. Sharla Sanders can be contacted at sosillyfilly@gmail.com.

Apparently The Pamplemousse is not only good looking and a talented runner, but artistic as well! Enjoy the video.

Azul Leon Painting his Masterpiece

Azul Leon with Blue Paint on his Whiskers!

Saturday morning, two-year-old Azul Leon was led out into the sunshine at Doug O'Neill's Hollywood Park barn to try his "hand" at fine art. Helping him with his painting was Sharla Sanders, "Artistic" Director and Fundraising Volunteer for Equine Expressions for CERF (California Equine Retirement Foundation). Equine Expressions' mission is to create artwork by renowned Thoroughbreds to raise funds to care for retired racehorses.

Equine Expressions was developed by CERF after Re-Run (who create the "Moneighs") and CERF agreed to "split" the U.S. and focus on their respective coasts. According to Sanders, many of California's leading trainers have been very supportive of the project, including O'Neill, Mike Mitchell, Dan Hendricks, Brian Koriner, and Richard Mandella. 100% of the proceeds go to the care and feeding of retired racehorses at CERF.

Paintings start at $300 and go up, depending on the horse. Top sellers have been paintings by Lava Man ($1,200) and The Tin Man ($1,500).

Sanders is herself a licensed owner, who began volunteering with CERF in 2004 when she took on the sponsorship of a horse. She later became involved with the annual charity golf tournaments, and started painting with horses in 2007.

"I will paint with current and ex-racers, stallions at breeding farms, geldings, and someone's backyard racehorse," Sanders said. "If it's a horse, I will paint with it!" Rest assured that the horses are using non-toxic, water based paints.

Sharla Sanders can be contacted at sosillyfilly@gmail.com. Enjoy the video!

California Equine Retirement Foundation: Providing a Happy Retirement to Our Equine Athletes

California Equine Retirement Foundation (CERF) was founded by Grace Belcuore in 1986 to provide charitable assistance to former race and performance horses upon the conclusion of their careers, through permanent retirement or rehabilitation into other careers.

The foundation's goal is a relatively simple one – to give former racehorses a happy place to retire or help them find a new job and new life.

Two years after its opening, CERF found a home in Winchester, California. Bit by bit the facility has been refined, expanded and adapted to the work at hand – making a happy home for ex-racehorses. Since its inception, CERF has rehabilitated more than 300 thoroughbreds and today runs at maximum capacity with some 70 to 75 resident horses.


Click on the photos for a visual tour of the CERF Ranch.

CERF is supported by sponsorships of individual horses, direct donations, special fundraising events such as golf tournaments and stallion auctions, and an ongoing equine art project, Equine Expressions.

Equine Expressions represents a partnership between humans and horses, featuring well-known racehorses creating artwork for sale. The thoroughbred “artists” are assisted by a team of horse lovers who provide the paint, canvas, and motivation in the form of carrots or horse treats and the critical eye that determines when enough is enough. For more information, contact Sharla Sanders, Artist Director of Equine Expressions. All monies from the purchases of these works of art go directly to the care of the horses at CERF ranch.

For more information about how you can help, visit the CERF website.