Kindlehope Farm Lusitanos

I recently spent an afternoon at Cathy Howard's Kindlehope Farm in Cooperstown, New York photographing two very photogenic Lusitano stallions Quinze Quilates Do Triano and Xerife Interagro. See all the photos at this link

Susan Sexton

Last Thursday I received the news that my friend and fellow photographer Susan Sexton passed away after battling leukemia.

Susan was one of the photographers I admired as a horse crazy teenager and before I dreamed of becoming a professional photographer myself.
It was not only a privelege for me to know her and spend time with her over the last ten years at various events, but fun too.

Last year we worked the NEDA Fall Festival together and she also joined us for the Sombrero Ranch Horse Drive last May in Colorado. If you look very closely at this photo you will see her standing off in the distance. This is how I will always remember her, with horses swirling all around her and a big smile on her face.

"A goodbye isn't painful unless you're never going to say hello again" ~ Author Unknown

2010 Colorado Horse Drive Calendar

Get a sneak peek and pre-order the 2010 Colorado Cowboys and Horses Calendar now!

Enjoy 13 months of 62 all new and exciting photographs featuring the horses and cowboys of the 2009 Great American Horse Drive in Northwest Colorado.

Go here to see some preview pages and order your copy! Remember these calendars make a great gift to be enjoyed all year long.

Montanvale Carriage Show

I recently spent the day photographing a carriage show at Wayne and Ruthann Gavitts' Montanvale Farm in Forksville, Pennsylvania. As you can see it was a lovely fall day, the best time of year in this part of the world!
Here's the link. Make sure you check out the Coach Dog class photos!

Larry Bason is shown driving the Gavitt's veteran campaigner, Mohamed Knockout, a National Show Horse. "KO", as he is known has shown at the Arab shows with the whole Gavitt family for many years but I got the idea by the way he trotted by me that he really loves being driven! I joked with Larry later that I was surprised they didn't get a speeding ticket :)

I have been photographing the Gavitt and Bason families for many years and it is always a joy for me to photograph horses that are happy and the familes that love them.

Mythilus

This morning we heard the sad news that Courtney King's horse Mythilus died during colic surgery. I have been a huge Courtney fan for many years and have spent some time with Courtney and her horses. To me she is the epitome of horse(wo)manship. She truly cares for her horses and she is a pleasure to watch ride as she has such a strong connection with her horses. In the fall of 2007 she welcomed a group of us during our fall EPNet workshop to her home at Sunnyfield Farm in Bedford, NY and we got a chance to photograph her at home with her horses and little dog Viva. We followed her and Mythilus through her highs and lows at the Olympics and showed us what true sportsmanship is all about.

I know all too well how hard it is to lose a horse and have spent a lot of time thinking about her today. This is a link that was made using many of the photos we took aduring our workshop and really describes the love Courthey feels for her horses.

Beautiful Autumn

The colors are peaking here in the western Catskills and I have had some fun getting creative with slow shutter speeds. This is my favorite time of year despite the fact that winter is right around the corner!

NEDA Fall Festival

I spent five days officiating at the New England Dressage Association Fall Festival in Saugerties, New York with friends and fellow photographers Carole MacDonald and Matt Baldelli recently.
It is always a thrill and a privelege to be able to photograph this event and see so many incredible horses and riders.
Go to this link to view the galleries, make sure you check out the favorites, candids and dogs of NEDA!

Donkey Cuteness

I don't think there is anything quite as endearing as baby donkeys. Here is a gallery to the photos I took during my recent visit to Asspirin Acres. Enjoy!

This Week's Travels: NY, Vt, NH, MA...

I had a busy week this past week and was lucky with beautiful weather. On Tuesday we did the 3rd day's shoot for the Story Book Project. The videographer and I shot dressage figures all day from the end of a very high and long boom giving me a whole new vantage point and perspective.

Later that day I headed north to Addison Vermont, home of Asspirin Acres, breeders of miniature donkeys. I don't think there is anything quite as cute as a miniature donkey!

I was treated to a gorgeous sunset over the Lake Champlain Valley with the Adironacks in the distance. The following day I traveled through the Green Mountains of Vermont to New Hampshire and Massachusetts to visit family. It is a beautiful time of year to explore this part of the country!

Walton Fair Draft Horse Show

The Walton Fair in Delaware County, New York is known for being one of the best agricultural fairs in the state. I always make sure to go down and watch the breeding classes and the big hitches. This year the Draft Horse Show had a very good turnout with 5 6 horse teams! See all the photos at this link.

Clark Farms Foals

I spent some time last week at Clark Farms in south central Pennsylvania. This farm raises some of the nicest foundation bred Quarter Horses I have ever seen. It was a pleasure to be able to see and photograph this year's foal crop. A truly beautiful batch of little ones!

To see more of the photos I took during my recent visit please go to this link. There are also more photos taken at this location during last fall's photography workshop here. Enjoy!

Fun with Fjords

A few years ago I was photographer for the New England Fjord Horse Association show in Massachusetts. During one of the breaks I was wandering around the stabling area with my fisheye lens and was treated to some horse laughs by these fun loving Fjords. What a riot! I have put some of these images on merchandise in my store.

Afton Fair Harness Racing Excitement!

This week just for fun I went over to one of the local fairs to photograph the harness racing. These horses sure do move fast at the trot and the pace and it is a lot of fun to photograph.
More photos from this shoot may be seen at this link.

Morgan Horses and Upcoming July Travels

A few weeks ago I officiated at the New York Amateur Morgan Show in Elmira, New York. Morgans are so much fun to shoot, they are such hams and just love showing. I am sharing a few photos, you can see more at this link.

I will be traveling to the Buffalo and Syracuse areas this month, so my travels will include most of central to western New York, I would like to book calls in that area so you can save on call charges and I can save on travel time! Drop me an email to discuss!

Summer Solstice

It has been a cool and wet spring here and I have not spent much time photographing the lovely creatures in my own back yard, but since yesterday was the Solstice it was once again time for the EPNet Photo Project, I spent some time following my guys around. It wasn't the best day for photographing in between black clouds and showers but I did manage to get a few nice shots and it's always a pleasure spending time with this part of the family. Bellita has fit right in to the herd but I think my mare Juno was feeling a little neglected. At one point I was sitting on a log and she came and stood over me and managed to get her nose in front of my lens each time I tried to take a photo. You can see an album of photos that I took yesterday here, if you have a minute let me know if you have a favorite!

Hughesville, Pennsylvania Arabian Horse Show

Earlier this month I photographed the North Central Pennsylvania Arabian Horse Show in Hughesville, Pennsylvania. Other than a downpour on the first day we were blessed with beautiful spring weather. This is an event I have been shooting since the 1980's and it is always a pleasure to attend and photograph. Go to this link to view more favorites from this show. Enjoy!

Bellita, my new beauty

Yesterday we picked up Bellita and brought her home. She is a beauty, and so sweet and wise. These Lipizzans really grow on you with their wonderful dispositions and regal, classic bearing. Now my herd is perfectly symmetrical with 4 bays and four grays! She is a half sister to my other Lipizzan mare, Bella.

Here are a few photos I got upon her arrival, I am looking forward to taking many more!

Colorado Link and ASK exhibit

Just a quick note to let you know that the photos from this year's Sombrero Great American Horse Drive and Photo Workshop may be seen at this link.

Join me this Friday evening at the ASK Gallery in Kingston, New York for the opening of my Horse Drive Collection Exhibit.

Catching Up

When I got home from my Colorado trip earlier this month I promptly came down with a great case of flu and that really knocked me off schedule. I was hoping to keep everyone updated on the drive and other happenings but besides being sick things just got too busy and that didn't happen. I am grateful that I got home before I got sick and was able to just suffer through it and get better here instead of on the road! I still have a bit of a cough but am better now and have been diligently going through all the photos from the workshop and drive. I hope to have the galleries up in the next few days, and will share some favorite photos here as well. In the meantime I thought you would all enjoy seeing some photos of my photographer friends so you can see what a fun time it is to be able to photograph this event!

Even though the trip to Colorado is always such a great adventure and such an awesome part of the world I don't think there is any place as beautiful this time of year as my very own corner of the world, the lovely western Catskills. Everything is green and blooming, the grass is growing and the horses are getting fat and shiney on all the lush pasture. We have been preparing gardens and planting vegetables and flowers and enjoying the view from our deck. The baby goats and new baby calf are all growing and lots of the local farmers are well into their first cutting of hay. I head down to my first horse show of the year this weekend, the NCE Pennsylvania Arabian Horse Show in Hughesville, Pennsylvania. This is a show I have been shooting for over 20 years now and I always enjoy attending this one.

On Monday, June 1, I start my online course, the Basics of Equine Photography. If you want to improve your equine photography then join me! You can work at your convenience and you are sure to improve your photography skills!