Recently I’ve been using Saturdays to take inventory of the site and revisit some of The Equinest’s archives.

Here is a list of educational posts designed to put equine terminology into layman’s terms. This is an ever-growing list, and I will add to it as I post more.

Glossary of basics | Bridle Terminology | Leg Equipment
Anatomy | Foot Anatomy | Hoof Anatomy
English Show Lingo | Dressage A-E | F-O | P-W
Western Show Terminology | Reining | Cutting | Roping

What Am I Missing?

I know I don’t have everything yet and this is a good chance to take inventory. Don’t be shy, leave me a comment and let me know what I’m missing.

These classes range from Grand Prix to show jumping for novice and experienced riders. The venue features seven competition ring with available spectator seating.

Shopping & Dining

Food and beverage options and a vender courtyard will feature equestrian equipment, apparel and jewelry.

Culpeper Circuit Dates

Commonwealth National April 21-25
Showday National July 7-11
Cavalier Classic July 14-18
Winston National Aug 18-22
Constitution Classic Aug 25-29
Culpeper Finals Sept 29 – Oct 3

Find Out More

Contact info for information prior to the start of the horse shows
HITS Horse Shows In The Sun
319 Main St.
Saugerties, NY 12477
(845) 246-8833
Show Grounds Map
Local Hotels

Location

HITS Commonwealth Park
13256 Commonwealth Parkway
Culpepper, VA 22701
(540) 825-7469

2009 Culpepper Results

Commonwealth National | Showday National | Cavalier Classic | Winston National | Constitution Classic | Finals

Be sure to visit the 2010 Equestrian Events Calendar and check back for results & info about the 2011 Culpepper Circuit.

As I delve into the world of public domain images and art I’m constantly surprised with the sheer amount of horses there are to be found. From the strokes of an artist’s brush to the focus of a photographer’s lens, it seems that the equine animal is never far away.

This is a collection of old black & white horse photography and where I could find dates & descriptions I’ve added them. Each one tells it’s own story (whether it is happy or sad), and the writer in me wants to elaborate on each one.

So Many Black & Whites

In the interest of saving your browser, I separated them into several parts – my collecting has a tendency to go overboard. Stay tuned for future pics.

Here are the lists I’ve developed in one place so they are easy to navigate & find. For each category there is a short description so you will know what to expect.

I’m sure there will be some crossover and some Twitterers will fit into several categories, however I’m trying to limit everyone to just one list for now.

Twitter Horse Lists

Theraputic Horse Using horses to heal people.

Equine Products From horse jewelry to tack to arena footing, if it’s for horses it’s here.

Horse Racing Everything from the world of racing, from tracks to trainers to reporters,

Equine Online Horse web designers, social sites, blogs & general websites.

Trainers Trainers of all types, breeds and disciplines.

Equine Magazines Print mags who are finding their way online.

Dressage Everything about the dressage discipline.

Horse Classifieds Classified sites for horses, tack & equipment.

Horse Charities Charities whose proceeds go to help our equine friends.

Equine Rescues For all of those lovely establishment who take the hurt make them healthy.

Horse Associations Associations for breeds, showing and other governing bodies.

Horse Video This one will grow, dedicated to equine video websites & videographers.

Horse Lovers Personal horse lovers who aren’t professionally involved in the industry.

Horse Businesses Devoted to those who provide business services to horse people.

Natural Horse Horse care the natural way, eco-friendly horse products & services.

Horse Health Making horse health their priority, vets, massage therapists & healers.

Horse Photographers For those who take pretty pictures of our equine friends.

Horse Artists For those who paint pretty pictures of our equine friends (I’ve added horse authors to this category – writing is an art too).

Equine Events Stay up to date on the biggest events of the horse world.

Stables Not just for stables, for breeding facilities, barns, ranches, essentially anyone who has a physical horse business.

Not Listed?

If I haven’t listed you yet, or if you are on one list and would prefer to be on another let me know. You can leave a comment below, send me a quick note or feel free to @ or DM me on Twitter.

A New Breed of Pony

Image from Belinda Hankins Miller

The American Shetland Pony is the result of those breeding practices, governed & overseen by the American Shetland Pony Club, established in 1888.

The original Shetland was a short, stocky animal built to withstand severe weather conditions, however over the years in the states the breed has changed in confirmation.

Made For Show

The American Shetland has a more refined look, due to the influence of Hackney pony, Arabian & Thoroughbred blood. From a tough island pony, to a slender, showy cart & riding mount, this breed is an entirely different animal than those originally imported from the Shetland Islands.

Learn More

American Shetland Pony Club
American Shetland Pony

Website & places you can find my work online
www.imagineitsold.ca

Where I am
Based in Edmonton Alberta – Canada

Tell us a little about you, what is your background & where do you come from?
My name is Linda Finstad and I was born in England. I grew up in small rural community where it was normal for kids to learn to ride a horse before they rode a 2 wheel bicycle and I got my first pony for my fourth birthday.

My childhood revolved around horse shows and pony club – what I took for granted back then, in hindsight was obviously a very privileged upbringing.

As my mother bought me very nice show ponies and hunters that were fit to win at county level.

Horses were my life and it only seemed natural to work in the industry so I studied at Wrae Green Equestrian Centre for my BHSAI – once qualified I taught riding there for a couple of years before moving on to open a saddlery store. And once again I was back at the shows with a trade stand.

I came to Canada about 14 years ago and for a while felt quite lost I didn’t know where the shows were held or how to get involved in the horse industry.

So in an attempt to re-invent myself I went back to school to learn photography this was a very challenging but rewarding process but it was only when the teacher asked the class “What do you really want to take pictures of?” that it struck me Horses and Dogs of course. With all my experience not only in the show ring but also as a trainer I have an extremely good eye when it comes horses. This coupled with my formal photography training makes capturing fabulous shots so much easier.

I feel I have come full circle and feel extremely privileged to be the official photographer at many horse shows and dog agility events in Alberta.

I really do have the best job in the world as I get to photograph some amazing animals and very talented handlers, horsemen and women.

I am currently working on probably the biggest commission of my entire career.

The “Equine Heritage Exhibit” a photographic study of all the breeds of horses that make up the equine population of Alberta. Once this two year project is completed it will be housed in the Provincial Archive museum.

Providing a snapshot in time of what “All” the breeds not only look like but also what they are used for. A fabulous resource for future generations.

I am truly blessed to spend my days capturing the beauty of Horses.

When did you take your first picture?
I had a little point and shoot when I was a teenager but I took pictures just for fun. It was only after taking some classes that I really began to “See the light” and start taking pictures worth keeping

You were recently commissioned by the Archive Museum in Edmonton to document & photograph the equine breeds. How did you become involved in the project?
It took several meetings and lots of discussion before the project was given the green light.

Have a favorite breed so far?
It is very hard to pick a favorite, I really liked the shires, and I spent a very enjoyable afternoon with the paso finos — the youngsters were so much fun and posed so beautifully for me, I went to a very very nice equine establishment in Wainright and photographed spanish horses, a young who had been classically trained at the Spanish Riding school rode the stallions for me and executed high school dressage movements as I clicked my shutter. Which has to be a highlight of my summer. But the mules and donkeys were fun and the miniature horses – despite their small stature were proud and hauty. I love them all.

You photograph far more than just horses, are they your favorite subject or just a recent obsession?
Yes horses are and always have been my first love, with dogs coming a close second.

However I do photograph all kinds of subjects from runway models to show homes for an interior design magazine.

What kind of camera do you use?
I shoot with canon equipment – my main equine camera is a 1D coupled with a 70 – 200 lens and I have a 5D as back up and for commercial work along with a variety of lenses depending on the subject.

Who are your main influences?
I dont really have any influences – I am at that age when I only do what I want to do. I find if you really want to do something you do it so much better.

Where were you the most inspired, but without a camera?
I was visiting my mother in England and we went to Appleby fair ( a traditional gypsy gathering) and they were bathing the horses in the river ready for the sale, it was a beautiful sight but alas I didn’t have my camera with me.

What effect do you think the Internet will have on photography?
The Internet is very visual and screams for good images, to sell goods and services. It also allows a photographer to show his images to potential customers – as a show photographer I really don’t know how I could possibly operate my business without the Internet.

I do 90% of my business on line – the other 10% is commercial work where my clients want all their images on a disc.

Has it had an effect on yours?
I never knew life without it.

Which one is your personal favorite image?
Oh my goodness – I have taken over 1,000,000 images I usually have a favorite from each shoot however I went on a little adventure last May and shot some amazing wildlife pictures – because they are so different from my usual subjects I would probably pick one of a mountain lion or a grizzly bear.

What else are you passionate about?
I am passionate about Jesus and thank Him every day for the opportunity to see and capture his wonderful creation, Horses are truly a gift from God and we are so blessed they desire a relationship with us. I wonder how far man would have progressed without the help of a horse. Even in our technically advanced society he is still a great teacher and companion.

More to Come

Thanks to Linda for answering the interview and sharing her work. Be sure to check out her photography site periodically for updates about her latest works.

Also stay tuned for more interviews with horse artists and photographers.
Are you a horse artist or do you know an equine artist you’d like to see featured? Add your name and website in the comments below or drop me a note to get involved.

Set in a beautiful atmosphere in the English countryside, this is a trial competition attended by some of the finest eventing riders in the world.

An event fun for the whole family.

When

March 30 – 31

Find Out More

Somerly Trials
Visitor Info
Local Hotels
Trade Stands & Exhibitors
2009 Results
2009 Photo Gallery

Location

The Elèda Stables
Somerley, Ringwood
Hampshire BH24 3PL
01425 461744
07785 251720

Be sure to visit the 2010 Equestrian Events Calendar and check back for info about the 2011 Somerley Park International Horse Trials.

I’ve become quite the horse mythology buff recently and have been on the hunt for as many of these strange creatures as I can find. Hippocampus comes from both Phoenician and Greek mythology, although their name is purely Greek.

The creature was said to have the head and front legs of a horse and the tail & hindquarter of a serpent or a fish, a curious creature indeed.

Poseidon’s Mounts

These proud looking animals were used in the service of Poseidon, who is not only the God of the sea, but the God of horses as well. Different myths spur different imagery where Poseidon and his mounts are concerned, sometimes he rides them and in others they draw his sea-chariot.

Image from Don Van Dyke

Although there haven’t been many actual sightings of these animals, their likeness can be found on the walls of temples, Roman baths, in fountains, & even decorating tomb walls.

Hippocampus Today

These days the term is used to refer to the seahorse, which is a very literal translation of the name.

Not quite the majestic beast we imaging pulling Poseidon’s chariot, but a graceful, mysterious animal nonetheless.

It is easy to see where the myths came from, the seahorse of today looks strikingly similar to our terrestrial equines. Perhaps seahorses used to grow very, very large and that is where the story of Poseidon’s trusty Hippocampus came from.

Not Always on the Good Side

Although we think of the horse as a noble and good creatures, (like pegasus) not all horses of mythology are friendly ones. There are a few that everyone should keep an eye out for, like the Tikbalang & the Kelpie. Both of which are horse-like creatures and not to be trusted.

The HDR technique is a fantastic one and periodically I go looking for more photographers using it on their equine images. Almost every time I go looking I wind up wandering through non-horse related images too, blown away by the colors & shadows.

So I started collecting a few of my favorites and figured I’d share them with my readers. They aren’t of an equine nature, but they are all worthy of a glance.

Here you have them, 9 more reasons I love HDR

For More Inspiration

HDR is a simple process in theory, however there was nothing simple about creating the striking images above. If you like these, you’ll probably love HDR Horses | Pt. 2 | Pt. 3 & barns in HDR.

All of it made possible through the planning & dedication of the Iowa Horse Council.

The event has gotten larger every year, but the purpose remains the same, to educate, support and entertain the horse lovers of Iowa.

The fair is planned organized and produced almost entirely by volunteers who donate time to this worthy cause.

Features

• Educational seminars
• Breed Demonstrations & Parade
• Stallion Avenue
• Largest equine trade show in Iowa
• Iowa Horse Council Awards & Scolarships
• Queens & Youth Ambassador Promotions
• Cowboy Poetry & Music
• Drill Teams

When

April 9 – 11

Find Out More

Iowa Horse Council
Iowa Horse Fair
1387 180th St.
Waverly, IA 50677
(515) 232-1611
(641) 342-4436
Features & Exhibits
Local Hotels
2009 Fair Photos

Location

Iowa State Fairgrounds
E 30th & E University
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 201-5526

Be sure to visit the 2010 Equestrian Events Calendar and check back for info about the 2011 Iowa Horse Fair.