New Year and New Goals

This isn't a post about resolutions and listing my goals.  I just don't have that many specific goals that they need listing.

Rather it's about keeping on with my big goals and moving forward.  In particular with my gray horse.  We started out last year pretty well and I was excited about it.  Then we were thrown a little curve ball in the midst of my busy time of year and I never got us back on track.

Well it's a new year and I'm determined to get back to doing something with my horse.  Dressage is what I prefer to ride and learn more about.  The problem is, I haven't found a dressage instructor around here.   I know they are out there.  I just haven't found that person yet, especially one I can afford.  I don't want to just let Ollie sit out in a field and do nothing.  It does him no good.  He starts annoying the other horses and getting himself into trouble when he's not working.  I want to set him up for success and put him into doing something.  Anything!

So we are beginning to work with a natural horsemanship kind of guy although he probably doesn't like to call it that.  His name is George Smok and he works and trains many of the babies at the horse farms in the area.  He's an avid polo player and best of all he's a friend of Buck Brannaman and organizes Buck's clinic here in Lexington each year.

George will help me work with some basics with Ollie and develop a strong foundation for us to move on.  Right now, we are just working on having Ollie move away from pressure and to understand how to move only the body parts I'm asking him to move.  Ollie's a quick study!  Best of all, George really likes Ollie!

The things we are practicing now is all on the ground for now.  I am learning to drive him forward, to go when I ask him to go (not when he thinks he should go), to turn on the forehand, turn on the haunches, change direction on the lunge line, etc.  These are things that will help me in many other areas down the road.  We need to practice but he and I  pick up on it pretty well. 

So I'm feeling pretty good that we are doing something again. We don't have an indoor arena so we are subject to working only when the ground isn't frozen.  Thankfully, that hasn't been much of a problem especially in the afternoons when it's sunny.

We will keep you posted on our progress!

Holiday Spirit and Other Fun Projects

 I've been having a good time lately with my work.  Holidays are coming up and some of my clients want to share in the spirit.  Here's the beautiful St. Bernard, Nana (think Peter Pan) who will be competing in the Eukanuba Dog Show this week!

Then we had my cancer surviving friend Carrie (she's inspiring) with the love of her life, Melvin.  He's the cutest boxer!

And I'm all about black labs!  Fetch obsessive, crazy faced black labs.  Amos has taught me all I know about their crazy habits.

And sometimes I'm hired to take photos for lasting memories before tough decisions have to be made.  In this case, this beautiful horse had a neurological problem that could not be found nor resolved.  He would collapse without warning.  The vets couldn't find the source of the problem and these are some of the top equine vets in the world.  This young lady had to make a tough decision because he was a danger to himself (he could break a leg when he collapsed) as well as to others.   It's tough to do these photography sessions but it's also very meaningful and important to the owner.

This family of pugs had the elderly stateman of their group going into his last days.  He's the one laying down.  The other 6 were also documented on a very blustery day - thanks Sandy...

Of course I still photograph the cuties at the Lexington Humane Society...

And then there are certain events that we document every year since I've met Matt...  This is the Blessing of the Hounds at Shaker Village here in Kentucky.

Finally,  I have fun with the four foals I've been following since their births back in April.  They are now weaned and getting so big.  I decided to put together a video showing their growth over the past 6 months.  This young girl has the most personality of them all...


Toby and Ollie are doing well.  I have more time to get back in the saddle now and anticipate writing about our adventures soon!  :)

October In Kentucky

This is simply the most beautiful month in Kentucky.  The rolling hills of central Kentucky mixed with the colors of the hardwood trees.  It's incredible.  It's also a popular time of year for photography. 

Matt and I have kept ourselves out of trouble by photographing the races at Keeneland

Working on the farms taking pictures of certain weanlings:

Making some new friends along the way:

and getting a ride on my guys when I can.  Toby has been such a good boy for me...

I love fall!