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How to Prepare your Horse for your Equestrian Session

Now that you have booked your equestrian session, picked out your outfits and gotten yourself prepared, it is time to get your horse ready! Here are some quick tips to follow to make sure your horse is looking as good as you do for your photo session!

 

1. Bathe your horse.

Bathe your horse the night before or the day of your session. This will ensure a shiny, clean coat ready for photos! If you bathe the day of, make sure your horse will have plenty of time to dry before the start of your session. Keep a soft brush or rag on hand to quickly remove any dust before we start.

 

2. Details, details.

If you like the look of a pulled mane, polished hooves and clipped ears/muzzle, make sure all of these tasks are done ahead of time so you aren’t getting little hairs all over you right before we start. You can even opt to have your horse’s mane and/or tail braided. On the other hand, if you prefer a more natural look you can skip this tip. *Don’t use black face polish on your horse, it will transfer to your clothing!*

 

3. Feed before your session.

If your session is scheduled during normal feeding times, go ahead and feed your horse before we start the session in order to keep everyone happy!

 

4. Work down your horse.

If your horse is typically hot, longeing may be a good idea to take the edge off so your session is more enjoyable for both of you. If you plan to do this, don’t over do it to the point where you end up with a sweaty horse right before we start the session. Another option is to ride your horse earlier on the day of the session or make sure he has had plenty of turnout time so he will be nice and relaxed for his photo shoot. If you have a very laid back horse this most likely isn’t necessary, but you know your horse better than anyone so you make the call.

 

5. Clean any tack you plan on using.

First of all, I recommend using a nice bridle or leather halter on your horse during the session. Stay away from colored nylon halters, they will be a distraction in the photo and take away from the beauty of you and your horse. Polish up that bridle or halter! By making sure any tack you want to have on your horse is clean it will add the finishing touch to your photos.

 

6. Bring a friend.

I will have a horse friendly assistant with me, but if you want an extra hand in keeping you both looking your best, feel free to bring a friend along for some fun!

 

7. Clean the barn aisle.

This doesn’t pertain to your horse, but it is something to keep in mind if you would like pictures with a black background. Make sure the end of the barn aisle is clean and free of distractions like blankets and halters hanging on stall doors, shavings on the floor, etc. This will save time during the session and keep your photos looking flawless.

 

8. Think about accessories.

This definitely isn’t a normal thing to think about when you’re planning pictures with your horse, but adding accessories can make your photos unique. One of my favorites to use is a flower garland, but the possibilities are endless so get creative!

 

Don’t hesitate to ask me any other questions you may have that I didn’t already cover here about preparing your horse for your equestrian photography session! I can’t wait to meet you and your horse!

View FAQs about Equestrian Sessions here.

See other horse related blog posts here.

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