As an equine photographer, few things are as rewarding as capturing the special connections between horses and their owners. Recently, I had the pleasure of photographing Emily and her 16-year-old buckskin Quarter Horse, Mojo. Their session was a wonderful experience, highlighting the unique and heartwarming bond they share.

Emily first met Mojo during a forest ride with a friend, and it was love at first sight. Seeing Mojo, a stunning buckskin, brought back memories of her favourite childhood movie, Spirit. His cool and laid-back personality, coupled with his experience as a rodeo horse, made him the perfect horse Emily could only dream of owning.

Emily's first horse, Foxy, was a beautiful standardbred she received as a surprise on her 13th birthday. Foxy was her heart horse, but as he aged, it became clear he was nearing retirement. During this time, Emily was invited to her friend's house to help exercise Mojo. It was then that her dream came true – Mojo was for sale, and she had the opportunity to make him her own.

Over the past three years, Emily and Mojo have achieved many of her childhood dreams together, starting with the joy of owning a buckskin. Mojo has taught Emily a great deal about herself and different riding styles. They have dabbled in reining, ranch sorting, team penning, and barrel racing. Currently, they are focusing on barrel racing and have met amazing people along the way. Mojo's willingness to try anything continues to impress Emily.

Mojo has some funny quirks, like never putting his ears forward unless there's something scary around, looking grumpy even when he's having a good time, and always managing to step exactly where you don't want him to. Despite these quirks, one of the most meaningful moments for Emily was when Mojo let out the biggest whinny upon seeing her for the second time. This heartfelt greeting confirmed to Emily that she needed Mojo in her life and that he wanted her to be in his.

During their equine photography session, I was in awe of the bond between Emily and Mojo. Mojo's vibrant spirit and the deep connection he shares with Emily were palpable. The atmosphere during the session was relaxed and enjoyable, and it was clear how much Emily appreciated my approach to photographing Mojo. Emily mentioned, "Absolutely not! Anita smashed it out of the park! She captured the raw beauty of Mojo. She exceeded my expectations and brought my vision to life."

Emily's favourite part of the session was the atmosphere and the appreciation I showed for Mojo. She said, "I loved the atmosphere! From the amazing photoshoot to the quiet relaxing viewing session. Another thing was how appreciative Anita was of Mojo who is incredibly special to me."

Their most memorable achievement together was winning the Dave Waters Barrels for 22/23 in their first season of barrel racing. This win was a testament to their hard work and trust in each other. Emily even posted about it on Facebook, which she rarely does, to share her pride and joy in what they had accomplished.

The final photographs from Emily and Mojo's session perfectly captured the essence of their relationship. It was a privilege to witness and immortalise their bond in such a special way. If you too want to capture the unique connection you share with your horse, I invite you to experience the magic of an equine photography session. Together, we can create unforgettable memories, just like Emily and Mojo's.

“My experience with Anita was absolutely amazing and that is an understatement! Anita took her time and captured every detail that many would have over looked. We had a magical time in the setting sun surrounded by incredible forest that Anita picked out. This location brought out the rawness and this was captured in the special images. Anita and her assistant were awesome and made me (a girl who has never had photos taken of herself) extremely comfortable and felt like I was out with my longtime friends. It is a priceless experience and will be a forever cherished memory. The photo purchasing session was a dream and felt like a beautiful night I would have with some dear friends. Drinking wine and looking at horses…. My fav! The atmosphere in Anita’s office felt magical and made the experience just that bit more authentic. My absolute highlight of this whole session was the laughs we had together which puts a positive vibe on the special moments captured.”