Kate & Claus | Stevens Point Wisconsin | Horse & Rider Photos
Kate & Claus Horse and Rider Photoshoot
Heartland Equestrian Center | Custer, WI
Nostalgia is a powerful thing. It tugs at your heartstrings and reminds you of memories past, special moments shared with loved ones in places that feel like home. Every now and then, I get whiffs of nostalgia during my sessions with clients. As I snap pictures of the bond between a horse and its rider, I am reminded of the horses I grew up alongside. Or, when walking through a stunning barn lined with white fences, I think of the farm where I was raised. I was overwhelmed by reminiscence when I met with Kate and Claus for their session as I felt an instant connection to their story, in more ways than one.
Claus may be in his twenties, but you would never guess this experienced gelding to be a senior. Claus and his owner Kate were a delight to spend time with, and I instantly knew this would be a session I would cherish. Senior horses will always hold a special place in my heart, and I wanted to do Kate and Claus justice in showcasing their relationship.
The session took place at the Heartland Equestrian Center in Custer, Wisconsin, where Claus resides. Here was where the nostalgia really kicked in—I grew up spending my weekends at this equestrian center, watching my cousin barrel race. It was comforting to see how little had changed, from the same posters hanging on the wall to the little café where I would get my regular order of hot chocolate.
Claus has had an incredible journey getting to where he is now. He was a Grand Prix showjumper, initially owned by Angela Moore of Ohio, followed by Mark McKone. Claus eventually sustained an injury, which ultimately led to him being owned by Kate. With Kate, Claus is living his best life, enjoying his life at Heartland while also taking up dressage. Owning Claus has been a great source of joy for Kate, and it was essential to her that the pictures showed just how much Claus means to her.
Claus was on his best behavior, completely hamming it up for the camera. He loves to show off for the ladies and his buddies at the center, and Kate was delighted when she saw the resulting images. She loved the detail shots I was able to capture—his little gray hairs at his temple, his eye wrinkle, and all of his expressions—in Kate’s words, I captured his wide range of emotion, from goofiness to game on.
Joining me behind the scenes was Angela of Angela Marie Makeup Artistry for hair and makeup, in addition to Kate’s mom. The latter helped me hold up my toy horse/ear attention grabber that I have nicknamed “Copper”, which was an incredible help. Fellow boarders Jessie and Jamie also provided great assistance to me, and Jamie brought her gelding to keep Claus feeling safe and comfortable. Jaime’s gelding and Claus are best buddies—isn’t a supportive barn family just the best?
Nostalgia reminds us of the past and nudges us to the future, hopeful and excited as we welcome each new memory. Embrace your memories with a customized session designed with the sole purpose of producing keepsake snapshots for you and your family to cherish forever. I know how valuable memory is, and I want to help yours last as long as they can outside the confines of your mind. Just like I have a story, I know you do, too—and I can’t wait to hear it.
