Step one: I created a sketch, which was imported into Photoshop (CS4). I then created a mask to paint on the image. I messed around with the sketch using the charcoal filter (thickness 1 / detail 2 / balance 84), and the pencil tool (disolve opacity 100%).
Step two: Painting in the horses, and part of the background. For this I used a watercolour brush with 100% opacity and 80% flow. I then accented the edges (edge width 2 / Brightness / 46 / smoothing 5). I then used the cut out filter to break up the strokes (levels 5 / edge simplicity 2 / edge fidelity 1).
Step three: The rest of the background (as step 2) and contrast for the foreground. For this, I used a watercolour brush with 100% oppacity and 50% flow. For intensity I used the dark stroke filter (balance 4 / Black intensity 7 / white intensity 3). For more contrast, I created another mask and intensified the image further with the sumi-e filter (stroke width 10 / stroke pressure 2 / contrast 16).
As with all personal Photoshop projects, the possibilities for different finishes is endless, but I decided to end this one here. It achieved what I wanted, which was a hard edged sketchy foreground, with a soft background.
