Hundreds of equine fans gathered at Equifest 2008 at the Lake Helen Equestrian Center in Florida.

The one-day event was presented by the Museum of Florida Art. All the proceeds from event yesterday (April 12) will go to youth programs of the museum.

Romeo and Juliet, the two painting horses from Floral City, Fla., held brushes in their mouths as Cheryl Ward held the white canvas. The horses moved their heads up and down to create the strokes.

Ward, co-owner of Painting Horse Studios, says she began to teach the horses how to paint some eight years ago. Ward said one of the horses, 13-year-old Romeo, a Paso Fino, had been mistreated and was skittish around people