Words by Jordan Greene
As you drive past Woodside’s Village Hill heading into town, the lifelike Spring and Sprite will undoubtedly catch your eye. Installed in 2010, the two bronze sculptures of a majestic thoroughbred mare and lively foal welcome visitors and commemorate Woodside’s rich equestrian heritage. In 2008, Woodside’s town council voted unanimously to approve the statues, and a campaign was launched on Woodside’s annual Day of Horses celebration to raise the necessary $108,000 in funding. Crafted by internationally acclaimed Colorado sculptor Veryl Goodnight, the striking pair weigh in at 1,200 pounds and 300 pounds, about the same weight as live horses. Goodnight describes horses as her favorite subject since childhood and credits them with being her greatest teachers. A longtime symbol of the community’s culture, horses played a vital role in Woodside’s history—whether providing transportation, plowing farmland or hauling logs. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Woodside became known for great estates with grand stables including Folger, Why Worry and Runnymede. Today, horses and riders enjoy convenient hitching posts and hundreds of miles of trails throughout the area. As Woodside’s official greeters, Spring and Sprite require regular upkeep. Once a year, the community gathers to “groom” the mare and foal. After a thorough washing, a thin layer of wax is rubbed into the horses to preserve the bronze color of the sculptures.