Novato California Horse and Rider Session

Growing up in San Francisco often meant we had to escape the summer fog by heading to places like Novato California for some sunshine. When I was able to shoot an equine photography session in Novato, it made me remember those summer escapes. I first met Maddie during preparation for the annual Cal Poly Equine Center Performance Horse Sale. During my time at Cal Poly, I participated in the project and truly loved the experience. Starting a Cal Poly bred quarter horse and taking him to Reno, NV for the Snaffle Bit Futurity Performance Horse Sale was such a capstone to my college experience. So when the opportunity to photograph the students and their colts arose, I was obviously thrilled at the chance to help support my alma mater.

Maddie was a student on the project and a very talented trainer to boot! Not only that but her love of horses was apparent and her wonderful personality shines right out of her via her dimples! I was able to photograph her senior portraits when she was close to graduation and even more thrilled when she called and said she would like a session with a very important horse in her life while I was in the Northern California area.

“33” is a mare that Maddie and her parents have owned for nearly three decades! So it’s obvious to say this mare is very important to the family and very well loved. Maddie learned to ride on “33” and even has a belt buckle that her original owner won on the mare the year Maddie was born. “33” carries foundation bloodlines from the cutting horse world and that royal blood shows in the mare’s longevity and correct and sturdy build. The bond between these two was apparent and while Maddie may have moved on from showing “33” and now rides other special horses, “33” will always hold a very special corner of Maddie’s heart. The funny thing is “33” got her name from the digits freeze branded onto her hip and while she is “getting up there” in years, she is actually 30 years old! Maddie’s mom was present at our session and mentioned that they plan on throwing “33” a birthday party when she actually hits the birthday milestone. I not-so-casually invited myself to this birthday party because I’m sure it will be a great time celebrating a wonderful mare and her girl.

I hope you enjoy some of the images from the Horse and Rider session with Maddie and “33”. Contact me here to book your session!