I have had many amazing horses throughout my life, from the youthful to the wise and all that is in between. They have each held such a special place in my heart. It was our very own senior pony Max, that led me to finally making the announcement (which had been on my to-do list for some time) that we needed to document  these very special horses in a way that captured who they are – their Legacy. Then one crisp May morning in 2020, I decided to do a spontaneous Live on social media, showcasing to my viewers just how beautiful the light was dancing through the valley and trees of our property; and I knew then there was no better moment to announce my most important project to date; The Senior Horse Project-Capturing a Legacy.  

I am passionate about capturing the unique essence of each horse I photograph as I endeavor to bring them to life in the form of Art that can be treasured forever. Given my supreme appreciation for the Senior Horse, it seemed only fitting that I capture them through my lens in a way that grasps their true essence and tells their story. A final nod to them for their trusted service and a treasured memory for us. 

One of my most memorable senior horse sessions was with a strapping grey stallion named Dinamico XII, a well-known PRE stallion of the Manolo Mendez Dressage Stables.

Manolo was thrilled to have some beautiful photographs of his most beautiful horses saying “Rachel is very passionate, kind; and made the entire experience a pleasure. She appreciates and honours each individual horse’s beauty and spirit.  I definitely recommend a photoshoot experience with Rachel.”

“They [photographs] are very important. When we reflect on our past and what we have done they help enrich our memories.”

Unfortunately Dinamico XII [above & below] has passed onto greener pastures over the rainbow bridge and his legacy remains in those precious photographs.

I think we all have that one special horse (perhaps more), who we feel a particular and often difficult to articulate relationship with. A recent client of mine, Sky Royal, [above] really brought this to life for me when she said “I don’t really know how to put into words how much Swish means to me. He has taught me kindness, humility and courage. He has been a constant presence in my life, even through times that felt empty. It was a match thrown out of heaven when 10-year-old, headstrong me, met the equally headstrong Swish and navigated the world together. It has been one hell of adventure, from the high country to the coast, through laughter, tears and tantrums. How blessed am I that this little pony has so faithfully carried my heart through the last 20 years and became my soulmate.”

“I have so many circumstances I wished there was a camera for, mainly the hard times – the training in grass paddocks, the 2am walking horses who are sick or all the late-night drives to and from rodeos where it’s just you, your horse and the road.  Those are the things I wish I had more recollection of, the times where you feel like you have nothing but your horses and you just go and ride to clear your mind or compete to feel something.

When I won the 2016 titles I was in a very dim place.  I didn’t feel like I had much at all apart from my horse, Cool.  I was lost and barrel racing was the only thing I felt I had.  Winning those titles did so much more for me than just another title.  It gave me hope and let me trust in the process just enough to keep pursuing a career in the equine industry.”  Shianne said.