This listing is for : PURA VIDA OXCART PONY (1 Only)
OVERALL PONY NUMBER: 0002
#1 IN A SERIES OF 10 Horse Types: Various Countries Artistry & Horses

You are viewing a custom handpainted Pony called PURA VIDA. "Pura Vida" is the slogan for Costa Rica (see the excerpt below). PURA VIDA is an original, signed by the artist on both the small Trail of Painted Ponies placard and on the underside of Pura's Base. He is the only edition (1 of 1) But... he is also the First of 10 Ponies in this Series of: Various Countries Artistry & Horses. He is also the artists second Pony offering, overall. Pura Vida has the tradition of the Costa Rican Custom of "Oxcart Painting" detailed on his body (see excerpt below). There is no air-brushing on this pony, the work has been done totally by paintbrushes. His body is painted a Brilliant Deep Blue and the circular "Oxcart Wheel" is painted on him in vivid yellows, red, limes, lt blues. This bright, happy Oxcart wheel is painted on his side & continuing up & over his back. Encircling each of his front legs in intricately fashioned fine gold wire to imitate the fine detailing of the 24kt gold work on display in the Gold Museum located in San Jose. On his head is more scrolled gold wire and a headpiece consisting of an ornate square & 2 circles to compliment his head. The breast plate is identical to the headpiece except it finished on the ends with a painted wooden bead attached by common twine to the plate. Across the ponies back is common twine tied to a large bright red clay pot with "Pura Vida" scripted in deep blue & a linen drawstring sack of REAL coffee beans. It is finished off by a wee decorative version of a wheel in front of the coffee sack. The Breast Plate and the Pots can be removed at will, as shown. Pura has been finished & sealed with a brushed-on satin polyurethene to make him appear like CLAY Pottery. A letter of information/explanation will accompany each pony purchased. THIS ITEM IS NOT A TOY and is for display or collection only.

PURA VIDA: Literally translated means "Pure Life" but means contextually something approximate to "Full of Life" "Purified life", "This is living!", "Going great", or "Cool!" It is the country Slogan of COSTA RICA since 1956. Costa Ricans use the phrase to express something akin to a philosophy of strong community, perseverance, good spirits, and enjoying life slowly and celebrating good fortune of magnitudes small and large alike. Since there are many visitors to CR, the phrase has also become widely known in the USA. Costa Rica has much to boast about: Famous Painted Oxcarts, Nearly perfect weather, Mountains & Beach, Volcanoes, Winter home for most USA Hummingbirds (yes, they fly alllll that way), THE best tasting coffee world-over, 24kt Fine Mayan Gold, Beautiful, ornate Churches, Fantastic fruits & vegetables, and an unabashed love & respect for horses. The theme for this pony was those fantastic and mesmerizingly cool oxcarts:

The Highly Decorated Ox-Cart : The National Work Symbol of Costa Rica

In 1988 the Costa Rican ox-cart ("la carreta costarricense") was established as the national symbol of work. This decision was based on the contribution that the ox-cart has had throughout Costa Rican history in the economic & social development of the nation. Drawn by a team of oxen, the ox-cart was used during the colonial period for the transportation of sugar cane, tobacco, and coffee. Thus, it became a very important factor in the development of agricultural activity of Costa Rica. The peasants used to paint the carts in very strong, bright colors with the two-fold purpose of making them look beautiful and preserving them. Eventually, this evolved into a kind of competition among the owners of the different farms to see who had, not only the best team of oxen, but also the most beautiful carts in the area. In the present, the ox-cart is one of the most representative handcrafted objects in Costa Rican culture.

TRUE STORY>Artist Notes on LAST PHOTO #10 : Costa Rica is a country with simple, gentle peoples; many of whom think they are kings/queens... IF THEY OWN A HORSE. Each year, a week or so before Christmas, they celebrate what is called "Tope' " or "The Parade of Horses" (English) where anyone in the whole country who owns a horse can ride their horse in the parade. All are invited to decorate their own horse in their finest attire to represent their family, clan, farm, ranch, or town. Poms, streamers, fine hand-fashioned saddles, bridles & breastplates, colorful robes, blankets and flags, jewelry and on & on! You cannot imagine the pageantry. I have never witnessed anything so amazing in my life. Some of the horses were very old, thin, small, crippled, used for work..but the owners decorated them as if it were their finest hour. And the animals KNEW it! Heads held high in the air, a strut in their gait..a whinny to other horses. Later, after the parade.. some of the riders told me to expect God to send a series of GLORIOUS Rainbows on Christmas Day. They believe that the Rainbows on Christmas Day, are God's Promised Gift that NO animal will Perish on that 1 special day. I was astounded when, on Christmas Day, the Rainbows arrived like they were scheduled. I have included a dated photo so you can share that rainbow AS PROMISED ON DECEMBER 25.

I am a Seller located in the USA & I invite you to read my bio. The package that you receive from me will have an American return address. The items that I list & sell are in my possession and the photos are REAL. You won’t ever wait for me to ship it. Please READ the measurements or descriptions and ask ALL questions about concerns you have, prior to Buying. Sales are final. Our items come from a smoke-free & pet-free home.