Horses in Need Photo Documentary

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Angel

On a chilly December morning, a young soul made her way down from the high rim rock basin of the wild horse sanctuary. She strolled through a rickety old gate the gusty winds blew open the night before and into the bunkhouse yard like she had been there a thousand times before, where she peacefully grazed. An angel tapped me on the shoulder whispering softly, observe the moment for it is truly the gift of experience.

I poked my head out the door and there she was grazing quietly to her heart’s content. I listened intently while she snipped off blades of winter grass, each bite snapping, frozen from the crisp December air. Keeping an eye on me, she didn’t seem to mind my curious amazement.

The air smelled fresh, expanding my lungs with each cool breath drawn in and out, hanging in the air like steam from a geyser. My eyes never felt wider than in her moment. I sketched details in my thoughts, the grey blue and pink winter sky, the slow ceremonious lighting of the sanctuary’s horizon.

I floated on my toes towards the yearling, Canon in my grip. The meek filly, took two steps away from me, but was not afraid. I respected her wishes and kept my distance. Sitting back with my lens, I savored the moment, my soul soaring to a height of joy that was incomprehensible before this day; bottling the encounter to carry with me for the rest of my life.

A few hours later I received the news, my cousin was no longer in pain; cancer granted his freedom and sent him to a better place. Tears rolled down my face as I reflected on the serenity of the dawn and yet I couldn’t help but smile.

The filly that came calling that morning wasn’t just any filly, she had the markings of a tricolored Medicine Hat horse with two blue eyes, a treasure to the Native Americans. A Medicine Hat horse is believed to have special powers to protect its rider from injury or death in battle. Those with one or more blue eyes are especially prized.

Was it a gentle nudge from above? Or a mere coincidence? You can draw your own conclusion; either way that young, wild filly came into my morning and soothed me on what would have been a sad beginning to my day.

Horses are inherent healers thanks to their intuitive nature. When in the presence of horses or mustangs, I can let my guard down and not worry about any awkward feelings I have about myself. Instead, I find an inner peace that begs for the right words to explain my emotions, something so beautiful that only the experience itself could make another understand. The tender touch of a nuzzle heals and soothes my entire being, like a warm gentle rain washing all doubts away.

Angel's Band

A fellow photographer told me that photographing mustangs changes how you feel in your heart about all horses. Photographing mustangs has taught me to slow down and breathe in the essence of their beauty, grace, intimate herd dynamics, and a deeper respect for their freedom.

December 22nd, 2010

Tico and Timo, Horses in Need Documentary 2010

Imagine for moment a young boy sleeping. The boy can only sleep once complete exhaustion has taken over the fear, loneliness, pain and survival instinct that only an abused child knows. As the boy sleeps he begins to dream. The dream is a retreat for the mind sent by his angels. Out across the sky an angel is on his way, flying through the night sky with beauty and grace. The boy is gently awakened to the sound of a nicker. The angel is a bay horse with a five point star on his forehead. The boy carefully eases onto the winged horse’s back. The winged horse whinnies softly as if to say are you ready to go?, and they are off into the night soaring across the sky; climbing higher and higher-far away from the house that is not a home.

The boy has this same recurring dream over and over for years to come. His love for horses grew right along with him. At age 15, the boy, now a young man, leaves home with a broken jaw and two stab wounds vowing never to return again. The young man’s name is Tim Harvey.

In 2001 Tim adopted two mares and one stallion from the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Sulphur Springs Herd located in Utah. The horses were shipped to a BLM holding facility in Tennessee. Tim had already paid for his horses and was getting ready to head home when Kathy Malloy stopped Tim and asked him to come and look at a young stallion. The yearling had been adopted by a family who changed their minds and didn’t want him.

The two year old was in a pen alone and, as Tim rounded the corner, he came face to face with the exact horse he had dreamed of as a child, a beautiful blood bay with a five point star on his forehead. This surreal horse stopped Tim dead in his tracks, he couldn’t believe his eyes. The yearling, Tico, was loaded up with other the mustangs heading for their new home in New Hampshire.

Image courtesy of Tim Harvey

Tico was used as a stallion until he was six years old and sired many babies. Tico was gelded and Tim worked with Tico extensively. Tico was truly afraid and wanted nothing to do with people. Tim understood fear and was ok with Tico taking his time.

In September 2005 Tim and Tico started working with Mark Rashid. The two men became fast friends and maintain a close relationship to this day. Tim and Tico went to Florida the following winter in February to work further with Mark. Tim signed up for a series of three different, three-day clinics.

Image courtesy of Tim Harvey

Rashid’s book “A Life with Horses: The Spirit of the Work” recounts the first time he met Tico and some of the progress Tim and Tico made together. Tim and Tico continued to work together for co-existence. Tim took Tico trail riding on a regular basis. Tico was even in a hometown parade on the fourth of July.

Image courtesy of Tim Harvey

“Tico’s training advanced nicely” Tim states, “when suddenly Tico starting having blow-ups.” Tico just never quite settled into his domestic life style in spite of the bond he shared with Tim. Tim shared with me that he felt Tico’s spirit was fading, he could see it in Tico’s eyes and made the decision to let Tico go.

Image courtesy of Tim Harvey

On May 5th 2010 Tico came to the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Tico has been returned to the wild to live out his days, protected and free from any possibility of being rounded up again. Harvey serves as a humane advisor for the BLM.

Saying goodbye

Image courtesy of Tim Harvey

On August 10th 2010 Mark Rashid stopped by the sanctuary to see Tico. I took Mark up to Tico's pasture. Mark said Tico looked like a completely different horse, so relaxed rather than muscles tensed, with his head held high and eyes wide. He was happy to see Tico looking so good.

Mark has completed his first novel “Out of the Wild” in which Tico is the fictional character. Mark also shared with me that he has another book in the works that will have a chapter about Tim and Tico.

Tico has a beautiful herd of 14 Spanish mares. There is a new baby from a mare that came in pregnant. On the morning this image was taken I witnessed Tico gently nudging the new baby colt along with the rest of his mares. It was so amazing and beautiful. Tico has taken on the role of proud papa so naturally and yet he has never had a baby in a herd setting before.

Mark Rashid books available at www.markrashid.com/forsale_books.html

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Equine Photographers Network Horses in Need Mission Statement

The mission of this project is to shine a light on the condition of horses in need in the world, and the work that individuals, rescues and other organizations are doing to save them from uncertain futures. While shooting for this project and gathering information think of the end use to be an article spotlighting the person(s), horse(s) or group that you are documenting. Make contact on the local level with people working to save horses in need.
Equine Photographers Network