Fran, I googled horse quilts with panels and saw this one that might give you a little inspriration. You could incorporate some of the navy into the patches along with greens and tans. I really like your panel!

Sue

Oh, love the panel. The girl will be over the moon when she gets the quilt. Is it going to be a total surprise or does she know you’re making her something?

The quilt Polar found is lovely. You can certainly use some ideas from that. Can’t wait to see the finished gift!

Maybe a med brown/tanish border (as in a matte around a painting) around the panel before doing the round of patches? I like, on the one Sue posted, how the eye isn't drawn away from the panel by a lot of other patchwork but yet is complemented by it.

Good ideas all Thanks. This will be a complete surprise and I may not be able to finish it by Christmas. It's going to need customized quilting which will slow me down.

That is a nice panel. I'm sure it will make a beautiful quilt for a horse lover!