Monday, April 12, 2010

Getting into the fray of things

As a photographer taking pictures of horses, I understand sometimes the longest telephoto lens is not enough. You have to get in the fray of things, stand amongst a herd of stampeding, farting, bucking horses.

Unless this particular day they are being totally placid instead of galloping around like a bunch of buffoons.

C'mon, trot, canter, buck, rear, gallop!! Something other than walk and forage. Please?

Sebastian and Indigo making peace for once.

I probably have a million pictures of horses eating.

So I sat down on a big rock and waited. If you wait long enough they just might do something. Waiting and waiting, more waiting and then waiting some more. Make sure your schedule is clear for the day.

I think Indigo was the only one who noticed me sitting out there. Every once and a wile she would come over to see what I was doing then wander away.

Then Stormy noticed I was sitting there.
She spotted me and the curiosity got the best of her. She was so intrigued at what on earth this silly human was doing sitting down in the paddock and how did she miss seeing it come over? She has never seen a person sitting that she could go investigate. She made a beeline right for me, leaving the herd way across the paddock to see what I was all about.

Notice her ears, flared nostrils, craned neck and quick pace towards me. Horse body language is so interesting. What she is doing when displaying that body language is adjusting her head so her eyes can see me better. Horses eyes do not focus the same as ours so they must move their heads to see far or close up. Her ears ate pointed on the source of any sound I might make. They can also only pinpoint a sound within 25 degrees where we can pinpoint a sound within a degree, hence their radial ears.

Why hullo thur.

Boy was she curious. Almost a little started at why I was there and not moving.

She moved in for the kill. Note the lowered head, that is how shes focusing on me as she gets closer.

and...

Mauled my head and camera with curiosity.

OOF! Too close Stormy! Too close!

She respectfully sniffed me all over, smelling my hair, lipping my ponytail and sweatshirt.
She hung out for about 10 minutes with me, smelling me all over and even tried to swipe my lens cap a few times that dangles from my camera strap.

Then a flock of birds flew out of the tree behind me and she was off, just realizing how far she really was from the rest of the herd.

Can you spot the three birds that she nearly trampled?

Buh bye.

10 comments:

Mellimaus said...

LOL...great photos. I at some point cleaned Daisy's pasture with treats in my pocket, and hasn't forgot it since...she always follows me around in the beginning, too. :)

Beth said...

It is nice to just sit out with the horses and watch them. See how they interact with each other and just observe. We can learn so much by just sitting and watching. I have not done that since I was a kid. I think I might do that sometime this week.

Nice story along with the pictures. I particularly like the 7th picture with her head cocked a bit.

~from my front porch in the mountains~ said...

One of my favorite things to do is watch our guys interact with one another. They have so much to teach us, don't they?!

misha

Crystal said...

i love doing something they totally dont expect, it sure makes them curious about what us crazy humans are gonna do next!

Jessie said...

I have soooo many pictures of horses' foreheads, noses, etc.... They love to see how close they can get. Silly kids :)

Unknown said...

It's funny how the ones who have repeatedly inspected you rarely come back. We must be boring.

The Wife said...

Love her initial pictures. Those are great. So intrigued by you.

Jamethiel said...

Sometimes I wish I had lighter horses around that I could watch. Draft horses that work all day have the energy to eat, not spook at birds, and they already know what I smell like...them! Although Lady did plop down after plowing today & roll all the way over...major effort for a draft! Love the pictures!

Grey Horse Matters said...

Love the pictorial. It seems all I have is a bunch of pictures of horses grazing or eating from hay nets too. They will not be disturbed from their food. I rarely get a good action shot.

Stormy is beautiful and curious. Glad you got some action shots of her and happy she didn't kill the little birdies.

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

lol! I bet you were giggling as she ran off bucking and farting.
I would have! :D

~Lisa

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