The Finale is a photoshoot opportunity that I have created in memory of my dear forever horse Pilot (JC registered name Still Ours). Short story time…so bear with me. I met this beautiful big grey 3-year-old off the track thoroughbred back in 2012. I spent an hour loving on him and by the end I sat in his stall with him and didn’t imagine life with him…I imagined what life would be without him. I almost began crying. Taking it as a nudge from God he came home with me shortly after. I was a green rider taking in my first horse…and he was a green off the track thoroughbred! What could possibly go wrong?
Although it sounds a little like a catastrophe waiting to happen, it actually was fairly blissful. We had a lot of bumps in the beginning, and I soon recognized what was causing them. A change of pace, barn, and lifestyle and we were suddenly so impeccably in sync. I prided myself in the fact that most of his training was learned from/with me, and I worked hard on his manners and understanding him on the ground rather than just in the saddle. Everyone who met him marveled at his “dog-like” behavior…if any horse could be truly described as in-your-pocket, it was him. He even participated in a therapy program for recovering addicts and I was told he helped so many people and just always managed to know exactly what they needed. He displayed an emotional intelligence you don’t find often, and everyone would tell me “There’s something special about that horse.” Of course, I already knew that.
To this day I say he was more of an angel than a horse to me, as he got me through some of the hardest times of my life and always gave me a purpose to keep chugging on each day. He was my heart horse. I wanted to grow old with him. I wanted him in my wedding. I wanted to see him grow silver-white like his grandpa and father did.
I didn’t get that. It was ripped from me suddenly in 2015 to a bad colic. He was only 6 years old. He was my whole entire world for three years and then he was just…gone. We won shows together, played bareback at midnight, walked around the property with no lead rope for hours practicing groundwork and tricks, we stayed in and snuggled. And in a terrible and very long morning, it was all just gone. And I’ll be honest, it broke me. In fact, it shattered my heart and I’m still finding pieces to this day. All I had left? Photos. Lots of beautiful, wonderful memories captured forever, and I hold them so dear to this day.
This is why I started this particular photoshoot opportunity, and why it means so much to me to make sure you capture some of those “end of life” images that you can hold on to forever. Sometimes it happens too suddenly for us to do anything at all, but frequently we receive a daunting call that lets us know we still have time…but it’s quite limited. These shoots are offered free or at minimal cost to cover gas/travel. I do this because I believe no one should be denied high quality photo-memories just because they can’t pull funds together in time. I took pictures of Pilot the very day before he passed, not knowing it was my last session with him. Oh, how I would have lingered and pampered him if I had known.
Why Finale? I could have called this service anything else, end of life, memorial photoshoot, etc.…I like Finale because it’s a grand celebration, its often looked forward to in a sort of bittersweet way…the end of your favorite book, the final song in the concert, the list goes on. I want a chance to celebrate your horse and everything they’ve gone through, everything they’ve done, all of those wonderful memories. These can be horse and rider, liberty (walking around a pasture if too ill to run), a couple of black background, honestly whatever you want, lets discuss it. It's incredibly important to me that you have the chance to get memorialize your horse the way YOU want to. In addition, if you would like, I will add a few photos and anything you’d like to share about them below in on this memorial page.
(This service can also be extended to other animals, please just inquire and ask. I may have limited availability for these shoots but will accommodate as I am able)
Some beautiful souls I’ve had the honor to capture who are no longer by our side, but forever in our hearts:
Zeus - You felt like you were riding the gentlest cloud. Zeus was a giant but gentle soul. He was as smart as he was stunning and spoke to your soul. He was one of those special horses you can only dream to find again some day.
Pippy - 7 years ago I couldn’t see a day without her. I lost her last year and still seem to find myself looking down to make sure I don’t step on her. She was by my side for hundreds of lessons, years of camps, listened to all the stories working in therapy, and when it came to her best interest she spent her last 4 years with me retired as my assistant office manager at the firm.
She is the reason I wished upon many stars that my “pets” would never leave me. The day I left her home and the police called me after they found her on the serviced road, half way between the house and my job, did I realize that if it was HER choice, she would never leave me.
To anyone who knew Pippy or was moved by Pippy will understand, she was truly one of a kind.
Nova - Nova started her life emaciated and alone and ended it chubby and very well loved. She was a goofy dog that lived every day as if it were her best ever and loved rolling in fresh dewy grass!
Photographing this was such a sweet and sad moment. The love was so visible, and you could see just how loved and happy Nova was. She brought a huge smile to my face and…yes, I cried a little knowing it was going to be her last week on this earth.
Ricochet - A beautiful and well-loved Arabian gelding. He was 21 years old in these images! Not that you would ever know it! I wasn’t aware at the time of shooting that he would be leaving the world a few months later. I’m so glad to have gotten these photos in before he had to say goodbye.
Elle - She was such a bold, beautiful, sweet, high spirited, honest, and smart girl. She was Shannon’s best friend, heart horse, and her everything. She saved her in her darkest times and was just the best girl, the best teacher, the best horse. She loved standing for the farrier and would wait in line for her pedicure, she was even ridden into town to the local A&W and high school! She would be dressed up for holidays and one thing is for certain, Shannon took impeccable care of her and delved out all the love she could.
I had the honor to photograph Elle along with her favorite friend Luna. She was a sweet girl and even though getting around was a bit difficult for her, she still did everything she could to pose for my photos. And I think she did a marvelous job!
Belteshazzar - affectionately known as Belty, he was one of my childhood cats growing up. My mother had always wanted a Siamese and so he ended up in our lives! He was occasionally prissy but very loving and gave a lot of that love to our other cat Sugar. He mourned for months when she passed. He was sensitive and sweet. I knew he was getting quite old (18+) and I wanted to take some photos while he still had the energy to go outside and chase a blade of grass. I gifted the photographs to my mother at Christmas, with the below image as a wall print to hang up. He passed shortly after.
