In Motion Photography & Horses

I stood next to a man at a horse show once.

The meet was inside, the lighting was awful and I had to climb some hay bales to get a good vantage point of the girls. We shared hay bales so to speak.

The man had a camera as well.

I asked him if he was the official photographer.

He said no, “My wife rides and I take photos. How about you?”

I said, “My daughter rides and I take photos.”

“I hear ya,” he said.

“I”m running out of light,” he said, as he lowered his camera.

“I hear ya,” I said.

The collection above is the result of lighting and staging challenges but – it’s the stuff photography that I love. Not perfect, but captured and documented just the same. These girls make me so proud.

And they scare me too.

She’s alright, she recovered without falling off. And I thought that what I was doing was challenging! Yikes!

Not In Our Home

The girl is an animal lover and on my way to yet another equestrian meet last month, she texted me, “I have a surprise for you when you get here.”

She never brags about her equestrian accomplishments – she leaves that to me – so when I read the text (at a red light), I knew exactly what she meant.

She fell in love with another animal that she wants to bring home.

I had an hour to reminisce about what animal I was going to say no to. Was it another donkey? Or perhaps a cat with only one eye?

When I got there, I saw this beautiful dog.

And I knew… he was a young dog and had a really sweet and gentle nature, you just wanted to hug him. He’s up for adoption and needed a new home – but not our home.

He was introduced to big horses for the first time that day and this is how he reacted.

“Hmmm…I wonder what that big animal is?”

“Yawn…boooorring…”

“Wait – is she going to fall off?”

“Oh well…how long is this meet going to last anyway?”

We’ve asked that question quite a few times ourselves! What a lovely dog – and no we didn’t bring him home.

Last Tale Of Woe –

I understand if you want to change the channel now – I’m just getting things off my chest so to speak – I have so many photos to post and I can’t move on until this weekend has been totally cleared from my sinuses – and consciousness.

And that definitely includes the horse meet last Sunday.

But here’s a funny “something” – Camille-girl’s mother took a video of my girl during her 6-fence because she thought Camille was riding. It wasn’t until the end of the course that she realized it. We both laughed about it and I have to admit – those two girls look a lot alike, especially when they are dressed the same. I could swear this is my girl on Pirate – or is it Brave Mouse?

Horse look alike too.

Our home meet is late in the year for some reason. We normally have it in October and having it in December is a whole ‘nother animal. Pun intended – we have another one in a couple of weeks – whose big idea was this anyway?

The lady who normally coordinates concessions did not participate this year so yours truly stepped up because I’m insane. And since we only have one car in operation because of the accident, we crammed tables, propane tank, food, blankets, chairs, coffee maker, crock pots and all the other concession stand essentials alongside of saddles, boots, helmets and other riding essentials into our little car to take to the farm bright and early last Sunday.

The husband said, “When are we suppose to be there?” I said – “Whenever we get there.” – I knew it was going to be a lovely Sunday day.

The girl stood outside the car and said, “Where am I going to sit?”

The husband and I both stared at her so she dutifully squeezed her way into a nook – and she was able to buckle her seat belt. I cursed the accident – cursed it indeed.

As we set up for the onslaught of concession stand customers, my cell phone started to ring. My heart sunk because the only people who call me at 8:30 AM on Sunday mornings are people who are reporting bad news. And so it was. And my phone kept ringing. I emailed and texted and continue to do so throughout the day. Tech support called (that was a blessing) and someone asked me, “Are you in front of a computer?”

I looked out to the ring and calmly said, “No, I’m not.”

I didn’t get many photos, I was too busy selling hot dogs and fixing website issues.

Here’s the good thing – someone brought this tree to the concession stand. It was made of fresh green and they put shrimp on it. It was so cute and so out of place at a horse meet but that was the wonderful thing about it. She brought cocktail sauce too!

I’m bringing this to my next Christmas party. Neighbor Sue do you hear me? Clear a spot for the shrimp center piece!

And now – I can move on…thanks for listening.

Can’t See The Forest For The Trees

Last Sunday was one of those “rush” days. A calm Sunday is my most favorite day. A rushed Sunday is my least.

I spent most of my time getting ready for – everything – and I may have lost sight of the fact that it’s a day of worship and a day of competition and good sportsmanship. I was too engrossed in finding a hair net and programming a GPS that I couldn’t see the forest for the trees.

And all I saw were trees. They were always in my way.

- And fences too. This is the girl protesting my lens again.

I dropped the girl off with a friend for a ride up to the farm. Then I went to church for an extra special service with baptisms. After church was an hour drive to the farm where the girls’ were having their meet – therefore the GPS.

We got there just as the girl was starting her course. I didn’t have time to find the perfect vantage spot so I just started shooting where I was standing – apparently in front of a bush.

I couldn’t find any of the girls from the farm either. If I didn’t see the girl in the ring, I would have thought we were at the wrong farm – again.

After the meet was over, one of the trainers approached me as we were leaving and said, “There you are! We didn’t think you were here.”

Of course we were there. We were just behind a tree.

Ahhh…the life of a photographer mom. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Posted on Photostory Friday.

A Reality Check

The girl has been riding since she was 8 years old. Some kids start even younger and as such they become very confident and self-assured around these beasts.

I admit that at first I was really intimated by these big animals. I was also quite nervous for the girl and stayed and watched every lesson with a thumping heart.

I’ve come to realize how gentle these animals were and what a special connection each girl has with the horse that she rides most often.

They are almost like human beings – like the girls’ best friends.

Being around these animals can breed confidence and courage, the very things that a parent wishes for and is afraid of.

Years ago, when the girl just started riding, an animal broke free inside a barn and started to rear. I ran into a stall and hid behind the door. The girl ran out and grabbed it by its halter and settled it down. I came out of hiding and immediately started to berate the girl for putting herself in jeopardy. She said, “Mom, someone had to calm it down.”

I said, “Yes, but it doesn’t have to be you, the smallest person in the barn.”

And it wasn’t going to be me either, the one hiding in a stall.

The meets can be long and the weather conditions are always unpredictable. It can be hours between each girl’s event and the day can be long. On this Memorial Day meet, it was blazing hot. The girls wilted under the heat. I had a hard time getting my own girl to perk up.

In spite of plying both her and the horse with water, gatorade and smoothies, this was her position for a large part of the day.

But then, something happened.

A horse broke loose and ran away. It was scared and didn’t know what to do. The little girl who was responsible for the horse was quite frightened as well, probably because she knew she would “get into trouble.”

And horses are big – if they don’t want to come, they won’t come and there is nothing anyone can do about it. There’s no controlling it if it starts to rear and panic or just go wild.

My heart settled when someone finally was able to put a halter on it.

The incident certainly woke me up. I ran over to the girl and said, “Please perk up and pay attention. You never know what is going to happen.” She assured me she would and said, “Mom, it’s under control.”

Then I forced her to take another swig of her smoothie.

The girl completed her first course and as we waited for her next event, there was commotion in the next ring. I saw an immobile body on the ground from a distance and then I heard the words that no one wants to hear, “Call 911!”

I frantically looked around the ring for all of our farm girls and counted heads. I watched from far away and my throat constricted tightly, it is a mother’s worst fear. I looked around for the husband and didn’t see him anywhere. A plethora of emergency vehicles show up and I finally spot the husband standing over the body on the ground. He was the one who responded to the 911 request and made the call. He came back and told the girls that the lady was unconscious and bleeding from her mouth. I told the girl to pray.

As found out recently that the lady who fell apparently passed out from the heat – while on the horse. Her horse reared and she fell on one of the fence posts and she broke her back in three different places.

I know these instances are few and far in between. I also know that we can’t protect our kids from every potentially dangerous situation – though I want to just put them in a little bubble and never have them come out.

Ella is predictable and – old. She doesn’t get excited about much. The girl and Ella have been riding together for a few years and they know each other quite well. No matter how confident the girl is about Ella’s character, we should not ever forget that these animals can change their minds on a whim. So perk up, and pay attention. Don’t be complacent. You’re on a horse, not a dog.

So says mom.

You know what? There was no eye rolling following my little speech.

Forty Winks & Blue Ribbons

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day! I certainly did. My little girl had another meet yesterday and the husband gave me a break and took her to the farm so I was able to sleep in. It was a great gift.

There was however, a strange streak of sickness that went through the house this weekend. The girl had the worst of it. She woke up in the middle of the night and informed the husband and I that she was sick and then consequently threw up all over the hallway carpet. I really have to teach my kids to throw up in the toilet, not on the carpeting.

So after spending some time cleaning it up, the husband and I dragged ourselves to bed. The girl came bounding into the bedroom a few hours later, declaring that she was all better and that she could ride. Can we please take her to the farm?

The husband got himself up and showered while I laid incapacitated in bed. He’s a great guy.

Here is a review of the meet yesterday after just a few hours of sleep.

She’s waiting . . .

She’s giving . . .

. . . up.

Here we go again . . .

She’s giving it the old college try . . .

It’s not working.

It’s not working for her father either.

Her grandparents are awake though! They came in for the weekend just to watch her ride. I was very proud to have them see her. She’s in her element.

Yeah – right in her element.

Aha! A smile!

The results of the day? Lots and lots of blue and two championships. Who knew you can ride while asleep?

Her grandparents were beside themselves with pride. And so were her parents. She was thrilled too and extremely talkative during dinner that evening but then promptly fell asleep on the ride home from the restaurant.

I suppose adrenaline can only carry you so far.

How was your Mother’s Day?

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Mud Treatment

The girl’s meet was scheduled on the Saturday before Easter and it was spring break week for our state schools . . .

It also rained so there were not as many girls riding this weekend as usual. But we were there. And happily so. I literally rolled out of bed and drove the girl to the farm. My intent was to drop her off and then come home and tidy up for the big horse meet. I didn’t comb my hair, I didn’t put on makeup and I had on the same shirt that I wore to bed. I did brush my teeth – in case you were wondering.

But I never made it home. I stayed to “help” and I didn’t want to miss any of the girl’s events and before I knew it, I had been there all day and I rivaled any horse in the smell department.

The rain and the state of the equestrian mom’s hygiene didn’t stop us from having a good day, no sirree. I just love this photo. Look at her face, and look at Ella’s face. And you should have seen my face when this shower came through.

For some reason the girl had to take off her saddle and run through the mud to the other end of the ring. I don’t know why this is so – I’m very confused on any given horse meet day. The girl was also slightly confused as to what to do when she got in the ring. The trainer started yelling, “Run, girl, run!” So she did.

And here we are, mud to our knees. It’s not a big deal, those boots only cost a couple of hundred dollars. And I think we paid $20 for hoof shine. True, there is such a thing.

Splash! I was concerned that the horses would not get a good footing in the mud but as usual, I worry for nothing.

And as usual, there was intense scrutiny and the girls did just fine through it all.

I finally got a shower that night, much to the relief of the rest of my family. It was such a long day that the girl went to bed when we got home and didn’t wake up until it was time for Easter service at church the next day.

I made sure to shower and we were all smelling pretty. The husband bought me a corsage. Do you know why brides carry a bouquet when they walk down the aisle? Back in medieval times, fresh flowers were used to disguise the body odor of the bride. I’m sure that’s not why the husband bought the corsage for me.

The Banquet That Wasn’t

My little girl is a lovely and talented rider. Last year, she had a lot of success.

Last year, she came in third in the league and received a little ribbon and was honored in front of all her little horse riding peers.

Last year, we gave Miss Tina a scrapbook featuring photos from the girls and their accomplishments. She loved it.

Last year, she wore a dress and when she came down the stairs, both her dad and I almost passed out. She was in the middle of her self-imposed boycott of dresses.

Why am I posting photos of last year’s banquet?

Because this year, we didn’t go to her banquet which took place last night. We didn’t go to her banquet which took place last night because she had to write a four page paper on the Cambodian genocide for her English class before the end of the period. She had to write the bibliography too, and she wasn’t happy about that. The gruesomeness of the subject just added to the entire atmosphere.

The paper and the circumstances surrounding the paper hung over our heads and sat on our shoulders like an albatross all weekend. No one was happy about it, least of all, the girl. She managed to get half of it done by Saturday night which was a good thing. I was hosting a party I allowed her to have a friend over so she wasn’t bored. That girl ended up staying the night (last minute addition to our already crazy weekend) so no progress on the paper was forthcoming.

We all woke up Sunday and decided that was our main focus. Which means we did not travel for the B Team banquet. Which means I ate the $80 we paid for the banquet tickets. Which means we didn’t see the girl in a dress.

I just hope her team understood. I admit I was a little sentimental when I saw these photos from last year. I didn’t post them so it was nice to dig them out of my external drive. It makes me wonder how the banquet last night went – but it was the right decision.

The paper and bibliography are done and emailed to her teacher. Now we let the chips fall where they may.

Life is not a peach.

Not Over Yet

Two weeks ago I spend a weekend of misery in the rain and cold and horse poop muck. It was the end of a long equestrian season. I thought of it as an ending. And closure. A conclusion to a long, hard but rewarding season of riding.

But then the girl informed me last week that the summer season was beginning. And it began today.

I wasn’t ready mentally but I suppose that doesn’t matter.

The sun was out and all was good. The girl had a good day today. I could write an entire post on what a difference two weeks make but right now, I feel like I need to shower to get some horse slobber off of me.

Look at them fly!

Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Beautiful

And you thought styling a woman’s hair was difficult.

Try being on this side of a horse. I had to put the flowers over Ella’s bum to protect her modesty.

I wrote check after check for this horse meet, the finale of the year for the equestrian league in which the girl rides. As such, everyone had to look their best, particularly the breed of horse that requires their manes to be coiffed. Apparently some breeds are “required” to be braided and other breeds do not. Of course the girl would ride the kind that does. Go figure.

So this post is just as much about money as it is about horses, competition, or a teenage girl’s desire to spend as much of her parents’ money as she can. It’s about all of that.

As I said before, I wrote a check for the entry fee, one for the trailering fee, one for the training fee, one for the hoof polish (no lie) and etc when the girl said, “It’s $25 to braid Ella’s mane and Sophie’s mom is paying for the tail.” Notice it was a statement, not a question.

Apparently we’re splitting it because Sophie-girl will be riding Ella in the finale as well.

Cha-ching.

Another equestrian mom found out that her daughter volunteered her resources for braiding the horse that she was riding. The mom said to me, “What? This weekend has cost me enough. I’m not paying to braid a horse.” And she marched off to state her case with the trainers and then with the girls.

At that moment, my admiration for her climbed astronomically. I was in awe. I thought, “Why can’t I be like that? Why am I such a sucker?” Internally I cheered her on, “Yeah! Take that you cute little girls who think horse money falls from the sky! Take that!”

But I stayed mum because I have no courage.

But Ella looked beautiful all made up for the prom. I tried to focus on that instead of the $25.

It didn’t really help.

Now it’s time for the girls to get ready. Do you know what it cost to have your friend do your hair for the finale of the year? It’s FREE.

See? I saved money! I’d rather be ignorant because it’s bliss.

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

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