Veryl Goodnight - Ready to Ride (Maquette)
Additional Information
- Medium: Bronze
- Edition: 150
- Size: 10'' x 4'' x 4''
"This sculpture is the smaller maquette (study) of Ready to Ride, which was the Best of Show Winner at the 2011 "Cowgirl Up!" exhibit at Wickenburg, Arizona’s Desert Caballeros Western Museum.
The sculpture reflects one aspect of the evolution of women’s rights; namely, practical riding clothing for women allowing them to ride astride a horse in the saddle instead of using the cumbersome side-saddle.
The woman depicted in Ready to Ride is wearing a split riding skirt. She could safely ride astride the horse, but could discreetly button the skirt's front after she dismounted the horse. Photographs of women of the era seem to show women enjoying freedom from constrictive Victorian attitudes.
Ready to Ride is featured in the artist's book, No Turning Back: The Art of Veryl Goodnight.