100 favorite photos of 2014

Here are 100 of my favorite photos from the 2014 season. Narrowing it down to 100 was HARD too. There are so many reasons for a photo to be  a favorite. Maybe the color is amazing, the light perfect, the angle interesting. Maybe I know how much it means to you. It could be a simple candid of you just enjoying yourself as you watch the competition in the ring. Each of these is favorite to me for its own reasons. Hope you all enjoy the short rehash of last year as we are all more then ready to get on with the 2015 show season!

Just another day in paradise

I think by now everyone has been infected with a horrible case of spring fever. It’s an epidemic really! For those of us with livestock it’s not about the slow commute to work or the fact its dark when we get home. We do not get that much needed break the cold by curling up inside all day long. No!

At the same time every morning the horses are waiting patiently by the gate or in the run in for breakfast. They don’t accept the fact that it’s cold and icy and you may not wish to brave the elements that day.  They are still hungry.

Today I am relieved it will be reaching the 30’s. With morning feed came a stripping of blankets as it is important to your horse’s skin they get some of that Vitamin D we all are craving. Birds were chirping and I worked up a sweat while mucking. It was an oddly refreshing feel to strip a layer and let the cold air hit me while I continued working while the horses happily munched their hay. Sometimes on days like today when its oddly warm and cool all at the same time I like to go lay on the round bale with the sun warming every inch of me and the sound of satisfied horses.

With spring will come the mud season none of us are looking forward to that either as it presents its own set of challenges. But, like winter we will dig our boots in and keep trudging through. People who are not horse people don’t understand this. They constantly ask why? Why must you go at 8am to feed every day? Why must you go ride if the wind is 20mph? Why does your horses feet need trimmed or shoed?

They just don’t understand the peaceful feeling you get when you walk into the barn and take a deep breath of air and all you can smell is grain and hay. They don’t know what it is like to be greeted by soft nickers on a nightly check or a gentle muzzle nuzzling you when you are feeling sad. They just don’t understand the good it does for the heart, mind, body, and soul. Everything about is in enriching to our beings as humans.

I am a firm believer that it does nothing but good for a child, young adult, or anyone for that matter of any age. It is discipline, responsibility, and love. It’s just another day in paradise for us.

What I Get For Being a Good Dog

My name is Cinch. I am a Shetland Sheepdog. I have always been a good dog. I helped my mom raise all kinds of farm animal and I always listen. I love to go on car rides and I am great with kids. Mom even takes me out for a trail ride on occasion. But you see my mom has this crazy idea that she wants to be a photographer which is great because I love having my picture taken and getting lots of attention but now Mom has started doing crazy things like burring me in the leaves or putting Santa hats on me. This is what I get for being a good dog….

A Glimpse at the Photographer

So the other day I got the joy of going to ride a pony I recently photographed at the show. I actually love to ride more than I love photographing them and if you follow me on facebook you may find that hard to believe! It had been a while since I really worked in the english saddle but despite being a little rusty me and Levi trotted around and worked a little jump. And as you can see I am slowly training my boyfriend on how to photograph me riding as well. (Okay he started taking pictures of me before I started this whole photog buisness.) But I never really had a trainer so I had to teach my self. I could critic myself through photo and video and that was my best tool. Now it has turned in to a passion for me. Mainly because I know how frustrating it can be to get that perfect photo of you and your horse at the same time. So I try to consider what I look for when he is photographing me. Hows my position? Does the horse look focused? Are we looking where we are going? Are we working in tune? Unless of course it’s a little mishap photo. I hope you all are enjoying this journey of photography with me as much as I enjoy sharing it with you all.

Barrel Bride

This photo shoot was so much fun. Not only that but it was amazing to know I was helping making this brides dreams come true. Due to reasons that are not important here she never got to have her dream wedding. So why leave that dress hanging in the closet? She decided why not do what she loves in it and still get the photos out of it. So by simply bringing together the horses, a wedding dress, and her family I got to make this dream come true for her. I have to say a bride riding barrels, roping, and riding. Seems like a true cowgirl to me! **These are only a few choice images from the shoot. Some of my favs**

Try try again

 

So this horse was really not fond of this jump. Their first round I believe she got excused because he refused 3 times. However she came back in for her second round, used all the energy in that little body to send him over that fence. Hey their form looks pretty darn good at that. Riding is just as much about the falls and failures and it is the success. To be an equestrian means one must be a very determined person. This little rider was determined enough that before they left her pony was going to jump that jump, and they did! I have to say no matter what discipline you choose, to be an equestrian is a challenge that usually has a few bumps and bruises along the way. But that one moment you feel like your flying makes it all worth it.

Ballerina in the Woods

So I had this idea in mind for a little while now. Where I got the idea for a ballerina in the woods I have no idea. But this was my vision and today I got to do it with a wonderful dancer. Now it sure did present it’s challenges but I would love to try it again in the fall. Its serene, her face is daydreaming. You can smell the pine forest just looking at the picture. For my first creative shoot I am so far happy with the products. Of course there are always improvements to be made but it just gives us an excuse to do it all over again! Did I mention how fun this was? She was such a happy model and beautiful at that!

We All Fall Down

This weekend at Maple Hill we had a wonderful event of speed events and some roping too. Being a horse person I pay more attention to the horse normally. Now I am use to being the one working with the ‘trouble’ horses. So when I see someone come in on a hot horse I am all attention. This is where you can tell a riders true abilities. This horse seemed like he wanted to test his rider for sure. He came in hot rearing up and ready to go. His rider sent him and off they went around the barrels. Despite his misbehavior, the appaloosa gave her all he had on his run. You can see in the first one how low and spread out he is trying to get around the barrel. He lost his feet and down he went.

Now when these things happen I am always torn. As a photographer I want to capture the whole thing start to finish. As a rider and human being I want to make sure the rider is okay. Sometimes I won’t even snap pictures if I think things may take a turn for the worst. This all happened on their exhibition run. She was cowgirl tough got back up and went on her actual run where they did fantastically. As riders, we know and except sometimes things just go wrong and sometimes we fall down but what makes a rider is dusting themselves off getting back in the saddle and going back at like nothing happened. I’ll admit when she did her actually run and went around that barrel I held my breathe for her but she got through the race without another incident. Way to ride girl!

Here are some photos of things going right for them….

 

The Visit

So where to begin. Rumour had decided suddenly she did not want her ears fooled with if I wasn’t putting on her halter or bridle. We have been working at this for three days now! Luckily today was farrier day. My farrier also happens to be the man that started Rumour under saddle. He is a handy back up when I have issues! Here he is working with my girl. By the end we were both touching her ears no problem. So tomorrow before heading off to the show I guess I will be playing with pony ears again! haha. Shout outs to farriers, trainers, and friends alike!

SideSaddle

This photo was taken at Locke Meadows in Berryville Va of Maggie Johnston on her horse CattyWumpus. Look at her jumping side saddle! This was their first show together!