Mystery Solved ... and the Koi Are Coming along Swimmingly

This was His Imperial Highness yesterday, with some hives still there on neck and saddle area.I spent about an hour , giving him a good grooming, and trimming his mane [took off at least six inches].

Here's the area on one side of the barn. Usually there are dried weeds, up to almost 3 1/2 feet high. You can see that he has mowed them right down to the ground. I believe the culprit is that weed on the lower left - called curled dock. I looked it up in noxious weeds of B.C., and though not toxic, it may cause an allergic reaction. So that's my theory, and I'm sticking to it. :) I have now fenced the area off, and will be getting a new charger for the electric fence, as the one in the barn seems dead.

With the koi, I masked here and there, and darkened all the background. Then I painted some calligraphic-type shadows in the water. 

The background is more of a violet color, like this. For the fish, I am wetting areas I want color, and then dropping in a thinner mixture, followed by a thicker one of slightly different color. Above, I am using gamboge yellow with quin. sienna. The fins and tails are thin phthalo blue, with indanthrone. I think I'll just play with the fish today, as I'd like to leave Bruno till all the hives have disappeared.


Thank you for dropping by, and I welcome your comments!

Just a quick addition on the detail work done this morning ...

Horse Woes

Bruno has these small bumps spread irregularly all over the large mass of his body. They are called "protein bumps". Actually they are collagen deposits, and usually associated with some allergic reaction.

They are on the area where the saddle rests, so I'm not riding till this clears up. In Bruno's case, I think there are several possible factors involved. For one, he is on the new hay. I am sure it has a higher level of protein, so I will have to buy a lower-protein pellet mixture for his feed. Also, he is getting his winter coat. Not only have I found horses to have more sensitive skin at this time of coat change, it is still quite warm, so he may be sweating more. Mustn't forget the bugs - the flies and mosquitoes are always a problem in the summer, and sometimes a horse will get a more severe reaction to bites.
I am not sure if a bath with some soothing soap would help much, other than relieve any itchiness, and he doesn't seem to be itchy. I might get some antihistamine, and dose him with that for a few days. I have put out a call to my trainer, and will try the vet later today. For now, His Imperial Chubbiness is enjoying a break.

Thank you for visiting, and your comments are always welcome!