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--Tami Hoag

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Mary,

Trying to describe to you the first reaction to displaying your work in our home is truely beyond words. This work is surely "Breathtaking" if not "Heartstopping" and after I took it out of the box and set it up for display, no one could speak. I heard whisperings of "Awesome, Unbelieveable, Incredible" but nothing seem to properly fit this work. It literally gave most of us "goose bumps" and from the spot it was placed, it is the focal point of three rooms. It's introduction to our home was truly spirital and we will always cherish its grace and elegance along with your wonderful talent from this day forward. It is art that transcends the monetary costs and my wife and I will treasure it until we pass it on to an heir.

Thank You so much for your efforts to ensure we had this work for Christmas. Wendy is thrilled and says she will be looking for you at this years Rolex at the horse Park in Lexington. I hope your holiday was as joyful as you made ours.

With Warmest regards,

Dan Limerick & family

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Dear Mary,

Peg and I wish you to know how much pleasure we get from your creation "Breathtaking". We have your sculpture prominently displayed in our family room where we can see it every evening as we sit and talk about all the wonderful times we've had with horses. "Breathtaking" helps to bring all those memories back.

We also take great pleasure and are very proud of your creation when our friends remark about it's presence, beauty and workmanship. Thank you again for contributing so much to our enjoyment.

Peg and Dave Werrett

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To the United States Dressage Federation, Life-size Statue Selection Committee in regards to Mary Sand:

I have known and worked with the artist, Mary Sand, for about 12 years. I have acquired many of her limited edition sculptures as well as commissioned sculptures of my horses. I commissioned Mary to create a sculpture of my first horse, a thoroughbred, standing in an alert posture, at the moment he was deciding to spook and turn and run. The second sculpture was of my young horse doing his first hunter course. I described the feeling I wanted to capture in each piece to Mary. I think it is very rare when an artist can actually “get” the essence of what the client feels when they see their horses, but Mary accomplished this. She technically represented the animals to perfection but more than that, she captured their signature postures and movements. Do you know how you can recognize a person you are waiting for at an airport or in a crowd before you can actually see their face by how the person holds their body or walks a certain way? There are the characteristics of your loved one’s movements that you can’t describe but you can recognize. Mary was able to capture this sort of essence of my horses in bronze. It is a much greater achievement than simply sculpting a “stylized” version of the animal from a photograph. If you notice, the “Young Hunter” is not jumping in quite perfect form; he is concentrating and jumping like a young horse new to his job. If you want your USDF statue to have life and movement and have people unable to believe that it is not a live horse, then Mary is your sculptor. Mary sculpts not only the action of the horse but some how she can include in her pieces, the feeling of the wind and the air moving around the horse.
Mary was always within budget and on time and she communicated with me at every decision point during the process of creating these commissioned sculptures. Most of the time I left the decisions up to her and I just gave her information like “My horse has a lot of dapples.” She was extremely conscientious about getting my approval and feedback about the slightest changes she would make.

Sincerely,
Lydia Williams

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Ex Arte Equinus II - International Equine Art Competition

Presented by Art Horse Magazine

Comments from the Sculpture juror:
2ND PLACE,: Breathtaking, 2001, Bronze, Mary Sand, Pipersville, PA www.equinesculptor.com

I like this piece for the harmonious feeling of energy and lightness the artist has captured in the extended trot. I particularly like the three quarter view of the sculpture and the flicked/tipped toe on the near fore.  The patina is particularly impressive with deep luster which adds to the quality of the piece.

3RD PLACE, Young Hunter, 2006, Bronze, Mary Sand, Pipersville, PA  www.equinesculptor.com

I love the concentration on the face of the young hunter, the detail, the correct anatomy and the way the artist has captured the eager and cheerful look of the young horse jumping. The rider is well balanced and transmits a feeling of encouragement to the horse as well as determination giving the piece a story to tell.

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