I first met Katie at a tack sale earlier in the year. I had some of my fine art pieces on display, and she told me she wished she could wear a dress like one of the women in my portraits. I asked her why she couldn’t, and she gestured at her body. When I asked again, she told me she just didn’t feel confident enough.
I told her that she should embrace everything about herself, and that she would look absolutely stunning in a dress. Later that year, we planned her session together, and on a perfect October afternoon at her farm in Cato, Wisconsin, she wore one.
A Horse of a Lifetime
Melosa was a 23 year old Andalusian PRE (Pura Raza Española) mare, and Katie’s soulmate. Katie rescued her in 2018, when her previous owners no longer wanted her once she could not have foals. Katie opened her heart to her, and Melosa dove right in. She was leery of strangers at first, but their bond grew every single day, and it was obvious how much she trusted Katie.
Katie’s favourite memory is the moment she first met her. As she put it, Melosa took her breath away. In later years, the two of them traded dressage for trail riding, and Katie simply loved and adored her.
Black Background Portraits in the Barn
It is very apparent how much love Katie and her husband have put into their barn and property. It is a beautiful oasis for them and all of their wonderful animals.
We started in the barn with black background portraits of Melosa. She was a beautiful Iberian mare with a very big sway back, and at first, Katie wasn’t sure about photographing her that way. She wanted to hide it.
The more we talked, the more we came back to what these portraits are really about: capturing the authenticity in every horse and every person. Katie decided to photograph Melosa exactly as she was, and I am so glad she did. Those portraits show every bit of her history, her strength, and her powerful soul.
Golden Hour in the Fields
From the barn, we moved out to the fields at the back of Katie’s property, where trail riding paths are cut through the tall grasses. The grasses were glowing in the golden evening light, and it was the perfect backdrop for Katie in her stunning red dress, and later in a beautiful blouse and breeches.
David Schulte came along to film the entire session, both on the ground and with a drone, and Katie’s husband was there every step of the way on ear duty, making sure Katie knew how beautiful she looked at every turn.
A Memory to Cherish
Updated October 2026, on the three-year anniversary of this session.
Melosa passed away on August 9, 2024, less than a year after our session. These portraits are now a beautiful memory and memorial to the incredible bond Katie and Melosa shared, and to the day Katie stepped into that red dress and let herself be seen.
It is still one of my favourite portrait sessions to date. Katie, thank you for trusting me with your story, and with Melosa’s.
If you have a horse who means the world to you, don’t wait to capture your bond. Learn more about horse + rider bond sessions, or fine art portraits of your horse.