| Everyone does it. Taking pictures of your horse is just | | | | handler will not be pulling at your horse's mouth and |
| as common as taking pictures of your kids. With | | | | irritating him. |
| Facebook and My Space and dozens of other photo | | | | Step back far enough to comfortably fit your horse in |
| sites and social networks online, people are taking | | | | the viewfinder. Instead of standing, squat down to bring |
| pictures of their horses and posting them everywhere. | | | | your camera level with your horse. If you take a photo |
| But what makes a good horse photo? So many of | | | | from a standing position it will be angled downwards, |
| the photos online are terrible pictures. If you are looking | | | | distorting the photo and making the horse's legs look |
| to sell your horse, or even if all you want to do is show | | | | short and stubby. |
| him off, it is important to take a good quality photo. | | | | The horse should be standing square to the camera. |
| It may sound obvious, but it's amazing how many | | | | Angling too much towards the quarters makes them |
| people forget. Before you take a picture of your horse, | | | | look too large, while angling towards the front will make |
| groom him! Scrub the dirt out of his coat, or give him a | | | | our horse's head and neck look too large. |
| bath if you can. Nothing improves a horse's | | | | If your horse is loose, it is even more important to |
| appearance more than a good grooming or bath. Finish | | | | catch him in a good position. It is harder when the |
| your grooming job by putting a clean, undamaged | | | | horse is moving around, so be ready to take |
| halter or bridle on him for the photos. | | | | advantage of that large memory card in your digital |
| Once your horse is groomed, you will need to choose | | | | camera. Grazing photos may be cute, but they |
| a good background. Find somewhere that is appealing | | | | generally distort the horse and don't show off his |
| to the eye, but not so busy as to distract the viewer | | | | conformation. Use your whip to get your horse moving. |
| from your horse. Beware vertical distractions such as | | | | The best shots happen when something distracts your |
| trees or posts that could wind up sticking straight up | | | | horse from outside the ring. He will perk up and stare |
| out of your horse's back or head in the photo. | | | | into the distance at whatever caught his attention. If |
| Get someone to help you if you can. If not, try turning | | | | you can catch it, this type of photo nearly always |
| your horse out in a small paddock or ring and bring a | | | | shows your horse at his best. |
| whip to get him to move away from you as you | | | | Practice by taking lots of photos. Take advantage of |
| photograph. | | | | your digital camera, and practice as often as you can. |
| Your helper should stand your horse up so that his | | | | Look through your photos and weed out the ones that |
| legs are reasonably even. He should not be standing | | | | are no good. Then take the best ones and get some |
| under, or trailing his legs out behind him. His head and | | | | friends to look over them and critique them. Do your |
| neck should be up and alert. Ideally, your helper should | | | | best to learn from your mistakes, and soon you will |
| stand back from your horse so that you can keep her | | | | find that more and more of your photos will be |
| out of your picture. By keeping a loop in the line your | | | | useable. |