Some horses take a little time to trust their new people. Lea is one of them, and seeing how far she had come made this autumn horse + rider bond session one I still think about.
Meet Lea, a Sassy Trakehner Mare
Tanselea, known around the barn as Lea, is a Trakehner mare with plenty of personality. She was 20 at the time of our session. She is sweet, steady with noises and the unexpected, and still brings that classic mare attitude when she feels like it. Kiera has ridden for years and leased a number of horses along the way, but Lea was the first horse the family owned.
When Rachel and Kiera went to bring Lea home, her previous owners were emotional saying goodbye. They trusted this family to love her as much as they did. That kind of trust stays with you. Lea was shy at first, but she slowly came out of her shell, and by the time of our session the bond she and Kiera had built was easy to see. Kiera rides and jumps her, but some of their best time together is simply spent being around each other.
Autumn Horse + Rider Bond Session at Lakefield Farm
We photographed Kiera and Lea at Lakefield Farm in Grafton, Wisconsin, right at the start of autumn. The trees were just beginning to turn, with flashes of orange and red against the green, and the evening sun came through low and warm. It lit up Lea’s dark coat and turned her tail a deep copper. With her white star and white sock, she looked every bit the elegant mare she is.
We started with Kiera in a white eyelet dress and cowboy boots. Soft, romantic, and a lovely contrast against Lea’s dark coat. These images are quiet and timeless, with Kiera’s hands resting on Lea’s shoulder and both of them looking calmly towards the camera. Kiera was a natural in front of the lens. She took direction easily and held every pose beautifully.
Then we switched to a red top and jeans for something more relaxed. This is where the smiles came out. Kiera leaning into Lea, walking her across the field, Lea dropping her head close to her girl. These images feel like them on an ordinary evening at the barn, which is exactly what I hoped to capture.
A huge thank you to Rachel, who was a rock star all evening. Keeping a horse’s ears forward and attention in the right place takes real effort, and she made it look easy. Thank you also to Leanne Albers and Lakefield Farm for hosting us. The open fields and tree line made a beautiful setting.
Kiera and Lea, thank you for sharing your evening with me. It was a joy to photograph a partnership built on so much trust.
If you’d like portraits that capture the bond with your own horse, learn more about horse + rider bond sessions in Wisconsin.