molly wald

My journey back to horses came through photography – bless this strange trip of mine – when I really started concentrating on photographing the beautiful equine residents at Best Friends. Then I did an assignment on a mustang trainer (Sarah’s mom), and then one about a wild horse ranch, and that sealed it – I started really focusing on getting back to riding again. Two years down the road, and now I lease my very own horse, and feel more complete than ever.

But I do have to say that my horse photography has petered down a little bit since getting back into horses. A lot of my older shots – featuring horses galloping around pastures – usually require a bit of encouragement from the photographer, in the form of spooking or chasing the horses. Dramatic shots, sure, but…

See, here’s the thing. I just can’t bear to spook them anymore. I love them too much; I just want to give them all hugs and pet their soft noses and breathe in their familiar, intoxicating scent. Time alone with horses is like a beautiful meditation or a space where God dwells. I just want to be with them.

So when I saw that two of Best Friends’ horses, Chewy and Incitato, had some beautiful flowers in their pasture, I knew I had just a few days to get those guys in their blooming environs. Plus, I was going off on assignment and knew the flowers would be gone by the time I got back. I have photographed our horses in those tall yellow and purple “bee flowers” in years past, and it’s always stunning.

I didn’t really know what to expect, though. I just sorta rubbed on Chewy and followed Inci around as they grazed and enjoyed the evening light with me. The light was beautiful and so were the horses. But gee, wouldn’t it be great, I thought, if they were running around…

Now, I do believe that horses are spiritual beings like the rest of us, although it’s always important to never over-romanticize them, for practical and safety reasons! But there was a moment… where Incitato raised his head, fixed with me his defiant, bold eye, and just took off RUNNING.

I stood there, thunderstruck. Did he read my mind?

Everything got quiet in my head. And then I started whooping.

WOOOOOOOOOOO-EE!! I yelled joyously, laughing and running and yelling with them.

Inci, followed by Chewy of course, began galloping in circles around me. They raced up the hill, then back and down, then in another circle. There was really no doubt in my mind that this was an intentional, showing-off sort of thing.

I laughed and laughed and took tons of photos. It was an unreal moment and I’ve got to write about it and put these photos up before I forget about it.

God bless the horses, great light, and of course Angel Canyon.