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….
rumouredmomentsphotography 
Would like to purchase some pictures from the Maple Hill May event. James Middleton and Bill Moss . James Middleton is in picture 76 but cannot access your site to enter order.