Rough Rider Shuffle captures a moment of speed, control, and athletic precision as a rider guides his horse through a demanding maneuver within the corral. The force of movement is made visible in the earth kicked up from the ground, clinging to the horse’s hindquarters and trailing behind, marking the intensity of the exchange where balance, trust, and responsiveness are essential. The rider depicted is Chris (AKA: Boi Boi), a Washington, D.C. firefighter whose life was profoundly altered after being wrongfully charged and incarcerated as a teenager. Following his release, Chris found community, discipline, and healing through Western riding and the daily care of his horses, which he describes as a form of therapy. Working from photography, Edwards combines oil and cold wax with sawdust to heighten tactile realism. The embedded grit mirrors the churned earth of the corral, reinforcing the physicality of motion and labor.

Rough Rider Shuffle, 2025

Oil, cold wax, saw dust on canvas

42x52”

Rough Rider Shuffle captures a charged moment between rider and horse, emphasizing balance, control, and physical awareness. At 42 x 52 inches, the work places the viewer inside a moment of restrained power and motion. The rider is shown from behind and slightly to the side, mounted on a white horse mid-step. His torso twists sharply as he looks back over his left shoulder, reins pulled taut in his hands, suggesting alertness and responsiveness to unseen movement beyond the frame.

He wears a light long-sleeve shirt and warm brown leather chaps with fringe that echo the rhythm of the horse’s shifting gait. A blue saddle blanket and worn tack introduce layered color and texture, while a blue and white bandana flares out of the rider's back pocket. The rider's textured hair trimmed in a fade and an intricate neck tattoo displays his showmanship and style. The horse’s raised foreleg and swishing tail heighten the sense of motion and tension.

The surface is materially rich, with oil, cold wax, and embedded sawdust creating gritty textures that evoke dust, churned earth, and the physicality of the arena floor. The background is loosely rendered in muted browns and grays, allowing the dynamic relationship between rider and horse to remain the focal point.