Horses, of course!
Mornin’ all!
Hope it’s a lovely sushiney day wherever you may be (and if not, that you needed the rain anyway!).
Well… the time has come, I’m afraid. The big one is here. The mother of all polls. To choose the equine images for the 2011 Bush Babe calendar. Cause you know how HOPELESS I am at making decisions with my photos. Well, when it comes to horses… I suck worse than ever. To make it a teesy bit ‘easier’ on you (I am all about making your lives easy… you know, aside from all the work I expect you to do when you visit here) I will divide the Horse Photos into two sections.
Action and Other. I am a master/mistress of organisation like that. (You should see my office!) You will notice a lot of campdraft images. This is because I go to a LOT of campdrafts. But you may have noticed that already?
The rules are:
First poll you can choose TWO images – there are a lot to choose from, so I figure this will make it a little less traumatic.
Second poll, just choose ONE image. (Hey, it can’t ALL be beer and skittles people!)
And don’t forget, comments are entries in a giveaway. Which I am about to make a little bigger. But more on that later. Work first!
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SECTION 1. ACTION
Taken earlier this year of my friend W – who is teeny tiny and can get amazing angles in her leg contact with the horse – ride her horse to the gate for a full course. I love the muscles in the horse’s rump, it’s ears (one ‘watching’ the steer, one ‘watching’ Wendy). Also love the cattle grazing peacefully in the background.
bay and steer
This is a shot of a very young, lanky local rider who has enormous talent, riding his bay horse hard towards the second peg. Managed to capture the flying clods of dirt as both animals thunder towards the camera.
at the angle
Another headless horseman (the animals are more important, anyway, aren’t they?) and the husband of my friend W – riding flat strap between first and second pegs. Love, love the angle and the skin creases on the heifer. (I think it’s a girl, hard to tell from this angle!).
brown pair
It’s the action and the colours that do it for me in this photo. I pink puffy heart this one. Maybe cause it’s simple (a little like the person who took it)??
flying legs
This is an old favourite I rediscovered in my recent trawls, hunting down my fave equine shots. I realise there is no cow in the campdraft shot. It’s in the details for this one – horse shoes, dust and flying leather.
Dust and ready’
Last one. I know – TOO darned many to look at. This one is not TECHNICALLY brilliant, but I love the eerie colour and clouds of dust as horse and rider put in their first turn in the cut-out yard, before the action really begins.
Which ACTION horse photo did you like the best for the 2011 calendar?
- Dust and Ready (31%, 23 Votes)
- At the Angle (25%, 19 Votes)
- Brown Pair (21%, 16 Votes)
- Flying Legs (15%, 11 Votes)
- White Horse Gate (4%, 3 Votes)
- Bay and Steer (4%, 3 Votes)
Total Voters: 42
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SECTION 2. OTHER
I have SUCH a way with words, no? ‘Other’. Quite the filing system BB!
Okay – second and LAST poll. Promise.
polocrosse chest
Another oldie but I adore it. The veins of the horse, as steed and rider wait for a throw-in from the sideline, the leather stitching, the scuffed boots. Scrumptious.
Taken hours after he was born, the foal that would be called General (still is, actually) and his mother Jill. Look at those long little legs!
Mum and son 2
A few months later, General proved he is still quite the Mummy’s boy as he nudges close to her while I take photos. Sweet and fuzzy. (And nothing like he is now!)
Mates
I am WAY too close to this photo. Emotionally I mean. I adore the relationship between these two – Trooper and my husband have an amazing bond. And I think this shot shows it better than most – Trooper is the bossiest thing once his bridle is off, but switches to adoring subject whenever my husband has him in hand. He is content when they are close. And when you realise that Mr Incredible is a man who rarely shows public affection, that quick cheek rub caught here mean all the more.
Rob Roy
He might be the naughtiest pony on the face of the earth, but gads this boy is cute. All plaited up by Violet, it’s Rob Roy looking demure. If only we could keep him this way!
Which OTHER horse photo would you like to see in the 2011 calendar?
- Mates (49%, 21 Votes)
- Mum and Son 2 (23%, 10 Votes)
- Mum and Son 1 (14%, 6 Votes)
- Polocrosse Chest (7%, 3 Votes)
- Rob Roy (7%, 3 Votes)
Total Voters: 43
Loading ...That’s it. Over. Time to reward all your hard work with a coffee. Or chardonnay. Depending on your timezones. (Yes, even I have rules about these things!).
Thanks for taking time and taking part.
Polls stay open until Wednesday night GG time.
Then, let the counting begin!
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Don’t forget, you can check out the voting on ALL polls (and vote on the ones you missed earlier) HERE. (link at top right of banner).
17 Comments
TLee
i really liked mates too, but picked the close up mum and son 2.
my other fave up top was dust and ready
TLee´s last blog post ..Two For Tuesday 2
Leenie
All amazing photographs that show off those handsome animals in the very best way. I’m all squishy heart inside just looking at ALL of them. You need to do a calendar of just horses. Please!
Leenie´s last blog post ..THE CHICKENS OF MADISON COUNTY
Bush Babe
Thanks for the vote of confidence Leenie – I think THIS calendar is going to give me enough heartburn on its own though…
🙂
BB
debby
Squishy heart? Oh, Leenie. I’m not sure that’s a good thing.
I loved ‘Mates’.
debby´s last blog post ..The Rest of the Story
Nancy in Iowa
Another really hard choice, darn you! I bounced back and forth, but finally settled on Mates. That one fed my heart.
Kelly
Okay…I went with At the Angle and Brown Pair in the first poll. Can’t say why, they just appealed.
In the last poll I voted for Mum and Son 1, but love both of the Mum and Son photos. I was surprised one of them wasn’t already at the top of the poll. Now who can resist baby animals??!
Kelly´s last blog post ..Are you curious
Teri
Do you sell prints?
Bush Babe
Yes – thanks for asking Terri!! Click the ‘Shop’ link at the top of the page, or just email me the details of the print you like and I can send through some prices and estimated postage. 🙂
BB
sara perkins
I went with Bay and Steer cause their legs look in the same position. Mates stole my heart… Missing my old appy..
🙁 Have a good night.(day)
Sally
Oh I love horses, they are beautiful.
I chose At an Angle and Dust and Ready.
The second poll was even tougher, I finally decided on Mum and Son 1 because it’s such a sweet photo.
Pam Hunter
OH that last one was hard!!!
I love the polocross chest one!!
But I am a sucker for a cute foal face!!
Pencil Writer
Just so you know, I love Mum and Son 1. TOO! And I’ve broken out in a sweat working this one . . . I’ve had to drink about a gallon of water to replace the fluids I’ve lost and I need to find a towel, and then a shower and another clean towel . . .
Oh, you are such a slave driver! IF you didn’t take suck awesome photos, well, it would all be moot, wouldn’t it? ;}
Sal
Last poll – the toughest job i’ve had ALL weekend. Voted mates, but gee only ended up there because of my “soppy mums emotions” as the others are gorgeous photos too. Rob Roy…awww how can you resist… a tough work decision, but hey it was worth it! Awesome stuff!
LeeNJ
You do make it tough! And I see I’m at odds with the others 2 out of 3 times! Oh well.
Lydia
Oh you make it hard. Well, I’m going to have another cup of coffee after all that hard work.
Hippomanic Jen
Okay, scrap one of the action shots and put BOTH Mother and son 2 and Mates in instead. Action shots are spectacular, but for a calendar I prefer the “other”s.
Patches
Oh, such difficult decisions! I totally deserve my coffee after that so early in the morning! lol