This is "Commander Duck" from Bakers Hill in WA. His mother was "Special by Spin on Command" and his father was "Duck'n Lethal" so owner, Sam, came up with the name "Commander Duck". He comes from a long line of Ducks!
I like to combine a textured, more abstract background with a figurative element, that is usually the focus of the painting. The figurative elements in my work are usually more impressionistic in style. In this case it worked well as the sun was very bright and glary, making the background blurred and hard to make out. The horse and the background merge slightly because of the light bouncing off his back.