OUR 1ST BIRTHDAY MASSIVE $2,500 GIVEAWAY

May 9, 2023

I DIDN’T BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

What started as an ordinary day, turned into an extraordinary one and I’ll never forget the day – 24th January, 2023.

This was the day a gorgeous little Spanish PRE foal named Alondra FH chose me as her person in life. And a life-long dream finally came true.

I was off on my annual foal and mare photo shoot for Simone Hoskin of Five Hawks Stud in Manawatu. It’s the time of the year where I get to sit on my bum in a paddock with stunning mares and their babies. I’ve been doing this for quite a few years now and it’s interesting to see them progress through the years. Some of the Five Hawks Stud horses I’m photographing for the third time. I love watching them grow through my lens – the baby stage, going to school, finding their movement and growing into their wonderful personalities. Through working with Simone and tapping into her wealth of knowledge, I’ve gotten to know this utter delightful breed really well. It’s no secret that I’m quite possibly Spanish PRE’s biggest fan!

This year was no different than any other. I photographed Nina with her baby Serena, two of the most stunning black beauties I’ve ever seen. I quietly flicked through some of my shots as the team went off to bring in the next mum and foal. As I looked up, the most extraordinary ballerina came floating into the paddock. I remember thinking that she was stunning but far out of my league. At the end of the shoot there was a wave of silence and goosebumps as Alondra called out to me. Of course, I called back and we had quite the conversation. That moment left me speechless. Utterly indescribable.

That night I didn’t sleep a wink and anybody that knows me, knows I’m a good sleeper. But I just couldn’t get her off my mind. I went back the next day to see her again (unbeknownst to my long suffering husband). Weirdly, without my camera. A part of being a photographer is knowing when to NOT have the camera and just enjoy a moment or two. Plus ,it helps me to see better when I do have it in my hand.

I drove home in tears, not quite believing that my life-long dream of having a special horse from a foal had finally come true.

I was also crapping my pants at the thought of telling my long suffering husband that we now have ‘another’ horse…TO BE CONTINUED