A CO Donegal equestrian artist has literally 'put her money on a horse' to help two Irish charities.
While other artists have painted the life-size horses Marina Hamilton used both sterling and euro coins to decorate her sculpture as part of an Ireland-wide public art initiative.
Twenty Irish artists have taken part in the “Under stARTers Orders” initiative which will raise money for the Irish Injured Jockeys and the Sensational Kids autism charities.
All 21 life-size horses will go on display on April 13 at Naas race meeting and later at Punchestown Race Festival before being auctioned off after the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh.
Marina, who is from St Johnston, is Ireland’s foremost equestrian artist with her sculptures sought after by horse-lovers throughout the world.
A former jockey, she still rides on the cross-country circuit and last year competed in the Corinthian Challenge three-race fund raiser, also for the Irish Injured Jockeys charity. She hopes to repeat the challenge this year.
“I rode the races last year on my horse, Six Silver Lane and when I was invited to do this, I wanted to make the resin horse silver. I started trying to cut up old CDs but it was cutting the hand of me so I thought I’d stick money on it.
“My daughter said you can’t stick money on a horse but I thought that’s exactly what people do, stick their money on a horse.
There’s everything on it, euros, sterling, old Irish coins, old English coins; I think there’s even a few holy medals in there too,” she said.
The Under stARTers Orders auction will take place from June 27 to 29.
