Rodeos & Horses

Oct

2021

Muskoka Horses in the Autumn

Muskoka Horses

Muskoka is known for its tourism not necessarily its horses. The bugs in the Spring and Summer can be a bit harsh on the animals, but the Fall, with the nice weather, it being a bit cooler but still nice the horses are much more relaxed.

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Last year I made some new friends up the street from the cottage. Also made friends with their horses. I had driven by their farm numerous times and seen these beautiful animals from the road. One day I stopped and talked to Stirling, who allowed me to take some photos. He put me in touch with his niece and sister who own and care for the horses. So, the first of the two photo sessions with these horses was planned and they were groomed nicely. (Aside from the rolling around on the ground after the grooming.)

Still lots to edit but here are a few sorted from both days. They were all taken early October. For me, the most beautiful time of year. I was able to capture some colour with a few of the shots. Nice to get some warm weather without the bugs. For the people and the horses.

One of toughest things about photographing horses, when you are in the field with them, is that they are such curious and generally friendly animals. When I want a bit of distance, they come right up to me, maybe they think the camera is food.

The buckskin horse in these photos is Kit Kat. Very photogenic. Kit Kat will often keep some distance as well, allowing me to get some decent 'posed' photos, whereas Bella, the champagne/white horse, always comes as close as she can to me.

I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I did taking them!

Millarville Rodeo August 2014

Jul

2014

Dogpound Rodeo 2014, Alberta, Canada

Took some pictures at the Dogpound Rodeo on July 16th, 2014. I photographed this rodeo a couple of years ago and got some really great shots. I do enjoy these smaller rodeos as you can get closer in - it is a much more intimate setting. That being said, it is the roughest time of day to shoot - middle of the day - it was very hot and sunny and the sun straight up. Making shooting conditions were pretty contrasty but ... the dust was great for pictures. Not so great for camera equipment!

Not much information online about this rodeo. (If anyone from the Dogpound Rodeo is reading this, I would love to hear from you. Email me. )

Takes me about 45-50 minutes up(north) Highway 22 from Calgary. As always, some of the best horsemen to be seen are the pick-up riders - these are the cowboys that catch the broncos that have dumped their riders. Watching these guys ride at a full gallop beside a bucking horse that does not want to be caught to get him or her calmed down is a spectacular event all of its own. Definitely one of my favourite parts of any rodeo.

If you are wondering about the name 'Dogpound' - A 'pound' was a place, usually a cliff, where buffalo were driven to their deaths. Sometimes the dogs herding them would get caught up with the buffalo and over the cliff they went to their deaths as well.

Hope you like the pictures: