Our Carolina Foothills held the Art of the Horse auction at the Tryon International Equestrian Center Friday evening, Aug. 19, to a crowd of about 400 people. Of the 16 horse sculptures, painted by local artists, on display since April around Columbus, Landrum, Tryon, Saluda and Green Creek, 10 were sold at the auction to the highest bidder. According to Mindy Wiener with Our Carolina Foothills, 25 percent of the campaign’s proceeds will go directly to the artists and the remaining 75 percent will go towards marketing projects at Our Carolina Foothills. Duke Says Sold, spearheaded by Duke Domingue and Bird Bartlett, were on hand to auction off the horse sculptures Friday evening. (Photos by Michael O’Hearn)

The winning bids for each Art of the Horse sculpture:

“International Destinations,” painted by Marie-Christine Maitre de Tarragon, sold for $5,500.

“Silver Bullet,” painted by Linda Castren, sold for $4,100.

“All I Ever Wanted,” painted by Aimee Wise, sold for $2,500.

“Night and Day,” painted by Hamed Mahmoodi, sold for $2,750.

“A Horse for all Seasons,” painted by Sarah Holmberg and Joan McIntyre, sold for $15,750.

“Well Read Horse,” painted by Kim Attwooll, sold for $6,000.

“Dream Weaver,” painted by Gigi Dover, sold for $8,250.

“Peace Keeper,” painted by Gigi Dover, sold for $3,750.

“Homage to Chinese Horse,” painted by Christine Mariotti, sold for $2,500.

“Quilting Bea,” painted by Lee Barker, sold for $7,000.

An additional unpainted horse was auctioned off Friday evening to the highest bidder and, according to artist Barbour Taylor Bordogna, the horse was a custom commission for whatever the winning bidder wants painted on the sculpture. The blank canvassed horse sold for $10,250.

Three horses were selected at the Saturday Night Lights event on August 13 as people’s choice winners. These horses received blue ribbons on Friday evening and were displayed along with all 16 horses at TIEC. The people’s choice award winners were Barbour Taylor Bordogna’s “Thoughts of Home” and “When I Think of Horses,” and Gigi Dover’s “Lily.”

According to Carol Browning, the auction and sale yielded more than $83,000 including the six pre-sold horses that were also present Friday evening. The six horses that were pre-sold before the auction at TIEC are “Queen Bee” by Becky Collins; “Horses in Art History,” “Horses I First Loved,” and “Thoughts of Home” by Barbour Taylor Bordogna; “TR&HC Spirit” by Christine Mariotti; and “The Harvest” by Gigi Dover.