Guess Who Is Getting Married?!

I am very pleased to announce that my very special friend, Rachel Hyde, shown here with her best friend, Seven Card Stud, "Dylan") announced her engagement and wedding to her other best friend, Jeremy. I am proud and flattered to have been chosen to photograph Rachel and Jeremy's wedding, and we're hoping that Dylan will play an integral part in the ceremony.

The wedding setting will be a farm (how appropriate!) in June and we look forward to sharing this special event with you as it progresses. Personally, I'm looking forward to practicing photographing Rachel riding Dylan in a big puffy dress!

Join the Hunt! - History of the Hounds

One of the most exciting aspects I found about the fox hunt was the interaction between the riders (specificially the Master of the Hounds and Whippers-in "Whips") and the hunt itself. Commonwealth Fox Hounds maintains a pack of Crossbred hounds, and have recently revitalized their breeding program and by infusing some additional PennmaryDel bloodlines into the pack.

Breeding a pack of hounds that measures up to the Association standards is no easy task. The MFHA Foxhound Kennel Stud Book has been in existence since 1907 and keeps track of all hounds bred by member hunts in the United States and Canada. There are three hound classifications: English, American and Crossbred. The English hound is a hound whose ancestors are in the English Foxhound Studbook. American and English hounds must have less than one sixteenth outcross blood in their pedigree to be considered pure. Some of the best known varieties of American hounds are the Bywater hound, the Walker hound and the July hound. Crossbred hounds are a cross between English and American hounds. Crossbred hounds are the most popular in the United States. (from MFSA)

Join the Hunt!

Are you ready for the excitement of tradition, riding the great outdoors with family and friends, and building a relationship with your pony, horse, hounds and exceptional riders? If you are, then foxhunting is for you.

My first experience with foxhunting was photographing the Hunter Pace at Woodpecker Farm in October 2006. Sponsored by Commonwealth Foxhounds (based in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area) the Hunter Pace is a low-key event judged upon (but not limited to) Best-Turned-Out Pair, Best-Turned-Out Individual, Fast Time Over Fences, Fast Time On the Flat, Optimum Time On the Flat, Junior and Senior, Optimum Time Sr./Jr.Silver Fox, Handy Hunter Course and Junior and Senior Pairs Class.

My first adventure photographing an actual hunt was the Blessing of the Hounds and the Opening Hunt at Ingleside Winery in November 2007 (also sponsored by CFH), and was more than I could have expected. What CFH and my friends didn't expect was that I wasn't content following the hunt by car, and followed the hunt on foot. It was for me, without a doubt, the epitome of shooting equestrian sport.


Coming soon: Foxhunting...The Hounds! In the meantime, please visit http://www.commonwealthfoxhounds.org/ for more information

"In the Spotlight!" - Featuring Kayleigh Burke!

I am so pleased to present Kayleigh Burke (and LOTS of friends)as our first "In the Spotlight" at "It's Time to Ride!". This is such a great place to move these features and I am especially proud to feature Kayleigh first.

Now, from Kayleigh:

"I’m Kayleigh Burke. My bio a little long because I ride/own four horses. I have had a few problems with my knee. I have an overuse kind of injury; basically my ligaments and tendons can’t hold my knee in place, which is why I wear my knee brace. Also last summer I missed house mountain because I took Lucy on a trail ride with Hazelwild in Lake Anna and she tripped on a tree root or something and I was told she flipped over. Unfortunately I can’t tell you exactly what happened because I lost consciousness and can’t remember what happened before or after. So this past year has been quite an experience. I don't know what I would do without Teresa Seay my trainer. She took care of me after my concussion and still takes care of me (and the only head problem I have is being clumsy =]) (note from Susan…don’t feel badly Kayleigh…I think we’re all a little clumsy!)She helps us keep everything in order with our horses because my mother and I can’t because of our health issues. Teresa also takes me to my "A" shows!

App-solutely ("Lucy")- is a 9-year-old App/TB, and was my first show horse. When I showed her we were Top Horse of 2006. Last year, Rebecca"Becca" Graham leased her and they ended the year 1st in Student Eq. and placed 8th in V.H.S.A. Finals. Currently Meagan Meyers rides her in the Student Eq. and Low hunter. They are doing amazing!

Keep A Secret ("Mersea" shown with Kayleigh left) is 14 and is a Dartmor/cross. He can be a handful but he is my first "A" show pony. The first year I had him I barely ever got to ride him. Then Brittany Spivey leased him out for a year. They did great. Last year I rode him again and we did an amazing job. We ended BHSA Reserve Champion of Pony Hunter and 4th VHSA. Also in Finals we got a Reserve Champion and won the stakes class! We placed in every class. Currently Alex Meyers in showing him in the Student Eq.

I don't know what I would do without the Meyers. I would be so overwhelmed with all the horses!


Little Misty Tears ("Misty") my first show pony. She is 13-years-old (14 in April) American Quarter Horse. When I bought her we had to teach her how to jump lead changes almost everything. Now she is in the Hazelwild Therapeutic and Community Riding lessons teaching kids how to ride. Also my sister, Anna, rides her in the Short Stirrup and Pleasure Pony (Anna, shown here at left)


Shirley You Jest ("Shirley") and is the newest member of my equine family. I have had her just over a year. She is my "A" show horse. We ended last year with Reserve Champion working hunter and 2nd in children's equitation, 1st children's hunter and 3rd low hunter. Then in VHSA finals she was amazing!! we got a 3rd in the hack. We won the Stakes class.-in the children's hunter. We got two 8th places and a 6th in the working hunter. She was great!

Basically they are my life."

Equestrian Photography - Tip #4 - A Different View!

The beauty of digital photography (and two 2-gig cards) is that you have so many more opportunities to "mix it up" when shooting equestrian; your photo o/f doesn't always have to be from a typical horizontal view. For example, I've photographed a hundred times (!) one of my favorite riders, Paige Ganger (shown here with Hannah). Because I've taken many photos of her, full body to include all of Paige and all of Hannah or Skye, I decided to shoot her straight on, cropped the photo vertically, and zoomed in on the upper parts of both Paige and Hannah which turned this into an "outside the box" photograph. I took the same approach with another beautiful rider, Jill Wilson, shown below with Vidor. While Vidor's ears are not forward and I didn't catch Jill in one of her perfect o/f executions, this is still one of my favorite photographs (and which was taken with an Olympus 4-megapixel camera...more on choosing the right camera to follow!)

Of Note: Books! "Complete Book of Horses and Riding"

Again, it was a wonderful surprise to receive this book from Aunt Ellen for Christmas 2003. She writes "...I know that riding has brought you much joy and I hope this book brings you the same as well as an appreciation of what you have accomplished and what fun you will have in the future".
This book (all 499 pages) is fabulous and includes full color photos on almost every page. Topics include "Breeds of the World", "Horse and Pony Care", "Learning to Ride" and other great information on competition, saddlery and equipment. For anyone who loves horses and/or plans to add one to the family, this book is perfect for you!