2011 in Photos
2010 in Photos
2009 in Photos
2008 in Photos
Happy New Year! Thank you so much for all of your support and for making 2012 such a memorable year.
On my road trips in 2012, I tried to put a face on the “unwanted” horse population, over 3,500 of them, wherever these horses were, from local rescues and farms to the horses at the auction. Each week, I met these horses and interacted with them. The horses continually surprised and inspired me.
I embarked on my second-annual fundraising project with my friend Gina Keesling from HoofPrints and together, we created
Horses and Hope: Faces of Rescue, a 2013 calendar of our favorite rescue photos. Gina volunteered weeks of countless hours designing and producing these calendars. The final product was not a simple 12-month, 12-photo calendar, but was instead a masterpiece of inspirational quotes and over 100 photos. Although the photos could have easily created a gloomy tone, we worked hard to keep the theme positive and uplifting.
100% of the profit is donated to One Horse At A Time. OHAAT is an appropriate charity, since they are not a rescue that houses horses, but rather an organization that helps horses in need across the country. What I particularly like about OHAAT is their gelding grant program- how wonderful would it be for photos of our own rescue horses to help control the unwanted horse population? We raised over
$40,000 with the proceeds from the 2012 calendar, and have already raised over
$50,000 with the proceeds from the 2013 calendar!
My work was published in several books and a variety of web/print publications, and featured as album art for bands. Through the TDN, my freelance work, and my volunteer work, I've met some tremendous friends and colleagues. HUGE thanks to the folks at HRTV, who took the time to interview me and promote the Horses and Hope calendar-
you can view the interview here.
And now… on to the photos!
Sweet Lil Lolly and the rest of her broodmare band in Maryland were rehomed with the help of MidAtlantic Horse Rescue.
Walter, a horse found wandering the streets of New Jersey, settled in
for some square meals and a roof over his head at Helping Hearts Equine
Rescue in Perrineville, NJ.
No visit to Helping Hearts is complete without a photo of the best donkey ever, Jefferson Airplane:
Havre de Grace won the Eclipse for Horse of the Year, but the OTHER Horse of the Year was awarded to Neville Bardos, a Thoroughbred with an
incredible story.
Star pranced and played at Horse Rescue United in Chesterfield, NJ:
The Retired Racehorse Training Project got off to an ambitious start with the Trainers' Challenge, which took horses from the track to the Maryland Horse World Expo, then to the farms of their trainers, and then to the final showcase at the Pennsylvania Horse World Expo:
Meanwhile, I connected with yet another great rescue, the wonderful folks at Zoar Ridge Stables and Rescue in Newtown, CT. Belle was pretty as a picture during her photo shoot:
Also in Connecticut is Scarlet Rose Farm Equine Rescue, where Stiletto Slim, a Saddlebred, strutted his stuff:
In February, Georgia was on my mind. I took a ride with Lisa Post of Helping Hearts Equine Rescue, and we picked up the Quarter Horse Mare and did her intake photos (you'll see more of her later).
Back at my barn, I enjoyed photographing Suzie Hehn's weekly
lessons, especially when the students like Emily and Konfidant jumped
leftover Christmas trees:
My horse Wizard was content to catch snowflakes on his tongue:
Camelot Auction's temporary closure did not prevent people from
abandoning their horses on the property. After a licensing issue was
settled, the auction was once again open for business (these horses also
found homes).
Three weeks of good food gave Georgia some much-needed weight:
Through the winter, I managed to get some time in the saddle:
In March, fan favorite Hansen won the Gotham at Aqueduct, much to the delight of an enthusiastic crowd:
Sweet dreams at Camelot:
Horses and humans alike celebrated St. Patrick's Day at Handy Acres in Jackson, NJ:
44 days after intake, Georgia was proud to show off her healthy coat and weight gain:
In March, Festus and Eeyore, the famed "Aliens," arrived:
Blue and White Brigid, a Morgan filly, shows off her Easter nest:
This spring, Jon and I visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:
In April, I officially became a horse owner once again, and Wizard was signed into my name. Here he is taking a spin around the pasture at our new barn:
Some faces just beg for the camera:
A tall, dark, and handsome mule at auction:
The official kitty greeting committee:
Smithwick and Mel Monti prepare for the Thoroughbred Jumper Classic at the Garden State Horse Show:
Linda McBurney and Less Is More get ready for the same jumper class:
Saddlebreds at Camelot:
Four's a Charm, aka Ruslan, and Kacey Rovere at the $4,000 Thoroughbred Jumper Classic at the Garden State Horse Show:
Scout and Toppy spar in the fog in Cloudland, GA:
Rosebud poses for her adoring fans at Central Virginia Horse Rescue:
Some horses (and minis) know just how to pose for the camera:
A super-cool blaze at Camelot:
A star is born. Ruby (third from the left) makes her debut:
And speaking of stars, my training blog about Thewifedoesntknow began in June:
Wizard and Sunny graze at sunset:
Brigid poses in the Black-Eyed Susans:
Cathy and Miss Tuesday enjoy an evening in the Assunpink:
Week by week, Thewifedoesntknow blossoms into a promising hunter prospect:
Oh, Ruby, it must be exhausting being so cute:
Halter tag at Camelot:
Three bay mares:
Ruby is her usual enchanting self, this time with Sophia:
A friendly face and a helping hand at Camelot:
Paynter, another racing fan favorite this year, storms home to win the Haskell:
Kris and her BLM Mustang mare Sunny score ribbons at their first-ever dressage show:
"Find beauty not only in the thing itself but in the pattern of the shadows, the light and dark which that thing provides." -Junichiro Tanizaki
Paw, paw, splash, splash, bubbles, bubbles. Wizard loves our trail rides.
Thewifedoesntknow continues to progress under the careful guidance of Carole Davison:
Oh, and I got to RIDE HER!!!
In the lake with Wizard:
Thewifedoesntknow gets a massage:
A handsome face at Camelot:
Back at the barn after his victory in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, To Honor and Serve gets the star treatment from Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and his groom.
Thewifedoesntknow schools at her first horse show:
Rachel and Lily ace the crocodile complex during a judged trail ride at the Horse Park of New Jersey:
Sunny makes friends with one of the trail ride obstacles:
Remember Georgia from this February? Here she is in August!
Silver Gem at Horse Rescue United:
Bev Goff and her Camelot grad, Mimi, are all smiles at their first horse show:
Christie and Brigid enjoy a Centered Riding clinic with Kathy Culler at Stone Tavern Equestrian Center:
One white ear, one chestnut ear:
Point of Entry and John Velazquez win the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational S. at Belmont Park.
Tristan struts his stuff during his Horses and Hope calendar shoot:
Sunny dances and prances for her calendar session:
And Wizard zooms around like a nut after his bath:
I just love a great blaze:
Lots of spots:
My little helpers:
Hong Kong Express at Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement:
What's black and white and cute all over?
10YO Thoroughbred, Tough and Good.
"Fall For Horses" All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show at the Horse Park of New Jersey, hosted by Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement:
Monmouth Park stands strong in the wake of Hurricane Sandy
Another Camelot supermodel:
Bill and Mary, now in the care of Central VA Horse Rescue:
Thewifedoesntknow, week 23: she gets better and better.
She also was very good at her first show!
Simon, the Helping Hearts reindeer:
Joey P, a millionaire Santa:
Sunset at Camelot:
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way... Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open... jog cart! Jessica (driven by a giggly me in this photo) is available for adoption at Horse Rescue United.
Hailey the beautiful Belgian is also looking for a home:
My volunteer work has shaped my philosophy as a student of the horse and a photographer. A “horse in need” can take many forms, from a horse standing in a feedlot, to a free pony on Craigslist, to an abandoned pet, to a critical case at a rescue. Next time you are feeling frustrated, I challenge you to take some time and give back to your community. Photographers: craft your own style. BE DIFFERENT. You may think that you only have a little skill and time to donate, but as you continue to give, you may find that you are able to give more and more. The horses will thank you.
In memory of Amy Tryon
In memory of Dynaformer
In memory of Mini Cooper
In memory of Lefty
In memory of Sweetie
In memory of Love of Money
In memory of Icarus
In memory of Bronson
In memory of Maram
In memory of Sightseeing
In memory of Johnny McCarthy
In memory of Steve
In memory of Cooper
In memory of Leela
In memory of Join in the Dance
In memory of Romeo
In memory of Cocoa
In memory of Graham
In memory of Abercrombie
In memory of Rio
In memory of Missy
Last but certainly not least, in loving memory of Slade vom Marinik. Forever handsome, forever game, forever alert, forever my mom's devoted dog. And in my dad's loving words, a knucklehead.
