In an instant, everything changed.
Life with horses can be unpredictable to say the least.
From a great ride and plans for an upcoming horse show to the phone call that every horse owner dreads.
Something is wrong.
And, even worse, it’s fatal.
This isn’t a Story
This isn’t just a story. This actually happened to a client of mine.
In fact, we had just been speaking the previous week about capturing images of her horse.
7 days later, her horse was gone. Forever.
Even worse, this isn’t the only one.
In the past 2 1/2 years, I have had 5 clients lose horses unexpectedly.
Our beloved animals aren’t guaranteed tomorrow.
Logically we know that horses won’t live as long as we do. But, when a life is cut tragically and unexpectedly short, our hearts all break.
I came across this lovely poem by Brenda Riley-Seymore that I always think of when I hear about another horse leaving us.
Don’t Cry for the Horses
“Don’t cry for the horses that life has set free
A million white horses forever to be
Don’t cry for the horses now in God’s hands
As they dance and they prance to a heavenly band
They were ours as a gift but never to keep
As they close their eyes forever to sleep
Their spirits unbound on silver wings, they fly
A million white horses against the blue sky
Look up into heaven you’ll see them above
The horses we lost the horses we loved
Manes and tails flowing they gallop through time
They were never yours they were never mine
Don’t cry for the horses they will be back someday
When our time has come they will show us the way.”
-Brenda Riley-Seymore
Life is Short
In an instant, everything changed. Life is short.
So take the ride. Rub the ears.
Thank your horse.
Kiss the muzzle. Enjoy the moments.
Capture the memories.
Love your horse each and every day.
Don’t wait.
Because in an instant everything can change.
Betsy Bird, Cr. Photog., CPP, of Ride the Sky Equine Photography spends her days doing insane things to make animals look at her. Clearly, she’s desperate for attention. Outside of acting like a total goofball, she invests in growing her business, mentoring photographers, dealing with her teenagers' angst, and hanging with Nitro, the best dog ever.
Betsy has earned her Photographic Craftsman degree from the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) which honors photographers who contribute to the photographic industry through speaking, mentoring, and publishing. Betsy is also a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) with PPA. The CPP designation is held by fewer than 2,500 photographers nationwide and is a hallmark of consistency, technical skill, artistry, and professionalism.
Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Professional Photographers of East Tennessee (PPETN) and the Tennessee Professional Photographers Association (TNPPA). She is also a professional member of the Equine Photographers Network (EPN).
Betsy's award-winning work has been featured in a variety of publications and is found throughout homes and stables in the United States. She is also the co-author of the book, Equine & Equestrian Photography Poses that Sell: The Ultimate Guide to Posing Horses & Humans. She has also been featured on Scenic Trend, the Profitable Photographer Podcast, The Business Animal Podcast, Chatter Magazine, Cowgirls with Cameras Podcast, the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the Chattanoogan, and the Focal Points Podcast to name a few.
Ride the Sky Equine Photography specializes in on-location photography for horses and their equestrians. Ride the Sky Equine Photography is based in Chattanooga, TN and works in Tennessee, North Georgia, and beyond.