The Synchronized Trot

Almost perfect! I give them a 10!
Perhaps this could be a new Olympic Equestrian Sport!!!

Just Out For a Sunday Stroll...

... in horse country.

Maremoto de Profeta

Do you remember this beauty from a few months ago? This is the beautiful stallion Maremoto de Profeta, owned by Steve White Motors, Inc. Riding him is his trainer, German Higuera of Santa Ana Paso Finos Farm. They make a very handsome pair don't you think?

Just look at that gorgeous red hair!!!

I Love Their Eyes

It's funny what different horse owners love about their horses. Some love the manes, some love the neck, some love the hock (I think I said that right!), some love the butt (surely THAT'S not the correct term!).... I love the eyes. I love the way they get those little wrinkles above the eye. I love their beautiful long lashes. I love those long curly hairs that grow below the eye. A person could just get lost in those large soulful eyes. They're one of my favorite things to photograph.



This beauty lives at Santa Ana Paso Finos Farm. She has lovely eyes. :)

A Sneak Peek

A little peak at one of the photos I've been working on the last couple of days. I should be back in the "saddle" on Monday. I will have lots and lots of fabulous new photos to share with you in coming days, so be sure and keep checking back!

Out Of The Loop

I must apologize for my lack of blogging, editing, delivering pictures, etc. I've been out of the loop for the last couple of weeks. Between losing a beloved friend, fighting a nasty UTI and kidney infection, trying to get kids ready to go back to school and college, and my husband taking a week off, I've just needed to take a couple of weeks off myself.

I promise that next week, after everyone is safely back where they belong and I have the house to myself again (aaaahhhhhh - can't wait!), I'll be back in the swing of it again! So expect to see blogging and those that are waiting for pictures, I'll be hard at work on them.

And I promise I won't fall "out of the loop" again until Christmas!!!

To Lisa and the Iriarte Family

What a beautiful job you did celebrating the life of Juan Carlos. I know he would have been deeply touched. Love to you all ~ Sandy

Peace for Juan Carlos

JUAN CARLOS IRIARTE


I'm sad to say that my friend, Juan Carlos Iriarte, passed away last night, surrounded by his guardian angel, Lisa, and his loving family. He fought hard and he suffered hard and now he's in a far better place. We will miss him dearly. He was quite a man. I'm so honored to have had him in my life, if only for a short while.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Lisa and the whole Iriarte family.



~ Hugs to you all, Sandy and family

Just A Little Patience ...

Meet Otis and Ollie. Are they not adorable? These little mini mules belong to Brian and Jill and live on a little slice of Heaven up in the NC mountains. My girls and I spent a wonderful Saturday afternoon at their place a couple of weeks ago. We had such a wonderful, relaxing day. And we just loved all the animals.



Jill told us that Ollie is not very social. He does not like to be touched or caught.



Kelly decided she would try and entice him over for a little pet. You could tell he really wanted to come closer, but he stayed just one step out of reach.



So close ...



But she didn't give up and her patience was rewarded. Ollie came close enough for a little nose nuzzle. And it was oh so cute!

Thinking of You Juan Carlos

~ Sandy and Family

FUNDRAISER BENEFIT FOR JUAN CARLOS IRIARTE

Those of you who follow this blog know that Juan Carlos Iriarte has been battling Leukemia for 2 1/2 years. He and his fiance, Lisa, have been having a particularly hard time over the last few months. But Juan Carlos is strong and continues to fight hard.

The Paso Fino Horse Association - Trainer's Association is sponsoring a Colt Raffle Fundraiser Benefit for Juan Carlos. Please visit Juan and Lisa's website at www.ranchoeldestino.com to find out how you can purchase tickets and help Juan Carlos and Lisa.

Below are photos of the beautiful grey yearling colt. The raffle will be held on September 19, 2008 at the PFHA National Championship Show in Perry, GA.

www.ranchoeldestino.com

The Three Amigos

As promised, here's some more of the three colts that I had the great pleasure to photograph last weekend. These guys were so much fun.



I'm sure ya'll know by now that my knowledge of horses is somewhat limited - okay, alot limited, so I was pleasantly surprised to watch these three frolick and play all over the pasture.



After they all came up and hesitantly gave me and my camera the once over, Brandie shooed them off to go run. And run they did! They were like puppies!



They chased each other and bit each other!!! I couldn't get over how many times they nipped each other! I saw one walk right up behind another and grab his back leg! Ouch! Just like puppies! Trust me, I got a whole bunch of fabulous "nipping" photos!
But this one is by far my favorite!!! It makes me laugh out loud every time I see it!



Positively LOVE this picture ... cept that pesky bush in the foreground ... anyone got a chainsaw????



Look at the pretty boy Romeo posing so nicely for his human, Brandie. (Actually he was having a "nature call", but don't tell anyone!)



This is how my subject posed for me!!!



I hope to see these three again one day soon!

A Note...

I just wanted to take a moment to thank all my fabulous horse clients. Ya'll have just been so wonderful to me and I've thoroughly enjoyed myself each and every time I am around you and your beautiful horses. Everyone has just taken me in and really taken the time to answer my endless questions and make me feel right at home. I regard each and every one of you as a dear friend.

I have been hard at work shooting and processing horse photos steadily since last fall when I took my first shots at Juan and Lisa's place. Since then it's just been a whirlwind of horse photos in and out of my poor, weary little computer. And I have loved it!

I want everyone to know how very much I appreciate your patience and understanding. I know that it takes me quite awhile to get your photos processed and back to you. I wish I could turn them over more quickly, but I truly believe that each and every photo is like a little masterpiece and deserves the time it takes to make it all it can be. Thank you so much for understanding that. I truly appreciate it!

Jaime and Leonor, I'm sure you've given up on me by now, but they'll be on their way to you tomorrow! They should arrive in your mailbox in just a couple days!!!

Brian and Jill, I am going to work like a dog this week to make sure your pictures are in the gallery on time! I don't want folks beating down your door wanting to know where they are!!!

German and Brandie ... well, you'll be lucky to get yours by Christmas!!!! HO! HO! HO!

I wanted to leave you with a sneak peek of some beautiful and humorous photos I took on Saturday. I spent an entire "fun day" shooting with Brandie and German. This is just one of a boisterous threesome that I fell in love with. The one on the left is Romeo. He's German and Brandie's baby. Isn't he gorgeous!

... more to come in a day or two ...

More from Santa Ana Paso Finos

As I continue to sort through and edit the hundreds of horse photos I've taken over the past several weeks, I keep coming across ones that are just so pretty that I want to share! Like these ....







These are from my day spent with German and Brandie at their farm, Santa Ana Paso Finos. I just love the scenery at their place. It's so beautiful!

Shot of the Day

Today I traveled up to beautiful Blowing Rock, NC, where I shot some photos of a Paso Fino Trail Ride.

This is one of my favorite shots of the day. This is Jill and Eco enjoying a little splash in gorgeous Trout Lake. Eco loved it! Jill says he would lay down in it if she would let him! There were other horses with them, but they wanted no part of the water.

Thanks Brian and Jill for inviting me up! We had a wonderful time and I can't wait to share the rest of the photos with you!

A Flower for You

I just love this picture!

This one, too!

Santa Ana Paso Finos

Look at these beautiful stallions!!!




This gorgeous gray stallion is Fantasma de Santa Ana, owned by Santa Ana Paso Finos.
He had posing down pat! Just look at him!





Now this beautiful Chestnut, named Maremoto de Profeta, was a little more difficult. He was much more interested in eating the lush green grass than posing for me! I did manage to catch a couple of him looking very handsome! Will you look at that mane!!! I know that's a good thing in Paso Finos, but I sure would have liked to get a pair of scissors and given him a little trim so he could see!!! ssshhh....don't tell anyone I said that!





Fantasma is a real heart-breaker. He just has a sweetness and gentleness to him that I just adored.





I couldn't have asked for a more scenic background than this lovely pond...and the rolling hills behind it. So pretty. Perhaps German and Brandie will build a lovely house back there someday. (hint, hint)


Note to German - so sorry but I just had to nix you out of these pics!!! hah!

A Few For Brandie...

Yesterday I spent the day at a lovely little farm called Santa Ana Paso Finos. It has beautiful rolling hills and a lovely pond. We took hundreds of photos (which I will post more of soon). Here is a series I took of Brandie and their gorgeous stallion. He was just too, too sweet!





LOVE this pic!!! Have you been kissed by a horse lately???

Something A Little Different

I snapped a couple photos of an unusual "horse" today. I thought she was the cutest darn thing! Now, I'm not sure what those of you with purebred horses think .... but I loved her!









I must say she was the biggest, tallest donkey I've ever seen! She was as tall as a horse ... hey, you don't suppose she's a "h"onkey do you???? Is that even possible???
Anyway, she was tickled pink to find out that she was going to be on my blog today.

A mythical creature ... perhaps?

As I finish up the photos from the Startown Stock Sale, I came upon this one. There's something about this horse that just touches me. Imagine her in a lush green field running free with her gorgeous white mane and tail flowing about her ... maybe with a horn jutting out the center of her forehead ... okay maybe THAT'S a little much (haha). But I really am drawn to this beauty. I always thought I preferred the rich dark colored horses, but I have to say I really like the white horses as well. Shoot, I love them all!!!