Horsey Florida Fun!

In search of sunshine and warmth I was not disappointed during my week in Florida. From world class driving events to the top dressage horses in the country and a roster of equine activities and attractions to choose from it is easy to understand why this part of the country is a mecca for horse lovers when the rest of the country is just trying to get through another winter!

In Ocala I visited with friends at Beauty's Equine Rescue, Cottage Farm and Shangri La Lusitanos. From there I travelled south to Wellington to help fellow photographer Sharon Packer shoot dressage. On my way I stopped and visited the farm where my new Andalusian mare Novelera came from and as luck would have it was able to capture some special images of a foal just seconds old. What a treat!

Beautiful Friesians!

I don't think there is anything we photographers enjoy more than being in a field surrounded by beautiful, galloping horses!
This was what our group was treated to during the recent EPNet workshop in Lexington, Kentucky: a group of six Friesians putting on a show for us!

Thank you to Fryslan Valley Friesian Farm for the opportunity despite the heat. More photos from this shoot may be seen here.

More Workshop Photos

The second group was treated to some great locations and more warm, sunny weather. Hard to imagine cold weather in other parts of the country when you are here!
Our first stop was Shangri La Lusitanos in Citra. We were treated to being able to photograph some horses that love to play and dance and show off for the cameras and some incredibly accomodating farm owners, thanks to Robert and Carolyn Crum and their trainer Whitney and friend Holly for their gracious hospitality.

Later that day we went to the INSPO training facility to photograph dressage horses as well as a Friesian at liberty. We spent some time photographing our riders, Amber and Alex from new perspectives, angles and focal lengths to expand our creativity.

Early the next morning we visited Vinery Stables, a thoroughbred training facility. This state of the art stable is a sensory overload of photo opportunities, friendly exercise riders and young thoroughbreds ready to run. Being able to photograph here is a real privelege! This faciltiy also has the first underwater treadmill and our group was able to photograph some horses being exercised here.

As if our group had not already been treated to enough horse eye candy we finished the workshop with an afternoon visit to the Live Oak CDI. We were able to see many of the world's top four in hand carriage teams competing in dressage with the Chester Weber team finishing out the day.