A horse is a horse, of course, but the horses to be seen this winter in Southern Pines are a totally different breed. The second annual Painted Ponies program returns in 2021 and will run from January 30 through March 30.

The Painted Ponies Art Walk is a public art display of twelve 5-foot-tall fiberglass sculptures (10 ponies and 2 smaller foals) painted by local artists who have donated their time and talent to turn each pony into an exquisite work of art. The event culminates in an auction of the ponies on April 3, with all proceeds benefiting the Carolina Horse Park Foundation.

One of the Painted Ponies was produced by the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) and has a ‘Home of American Golf’ theme. The CVB’s Destination Storyteller, Dan Dreyer, created this specific pony for the display and truly captures the essence of our golf-centric destination. The work includes what is arguably the ‘Mt. Rushmore’ of the Pinehurst area with likenesses of the 1999 U.S. Open champion at Pinehurst No. 2, Payne Stewart, world-famous golf course designer, Donald Ross and female golf pioneer and trailblazer, Peggy Kirk Bell. You can also see the iconic clubhouse at the Mid Pines Inn & Club on one side of the horse.

Dreyer is a graduate of Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) with a specialty in painting, so having the opportunity to create the ‘Home of American Golf’ painted pony was a joy to produce. “It was so much fun getting the chance to paint this pony on behalf of the CVB,” said Dreyer. “I hope people appreciate the theme as it really captures what is a large part of the history of this destination. Ironically, equestrian is also a big part of our history, so it will be cool to see it on display on Broad Street, and hopefully it will fetch a large sum when it goes up for auction to support a great cause.”

We invite you to come enjoy a stroll through Southern Pines to view the Painted Ponies! Be sure to take your picture with your favorite pony and share it on social media with #PaintedPoniesCHP to introduce your friends and family to the newest attraction in our region.

The Carolina Horse Park (CHP) Foundation is a 315-acre, nationally recognized premier equine competition venue and preserve located in Hoke County, NC. Founded in 1998 as a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization by equestrian enthusiasts, CHP is dedicated to the preservation of open space for equestrian events, as well as educational and recreational purposes.

For more information about the Painted Ponies Art Walk and Auction, visit www.CarolinaHorsePark.com.