Madison Mounted Police

First it's a trip into the Attorney Generals Office and now it's the Madison Mounted Police. Why why why are the law enforcement agencies always gravitating towards me.

I had a furlough day yesterday (as opposed to a vacation day today . . or is it the other way around . .whatever) and I was south of Madison in a little town of Brooklyn (which I never saw) and was taking photos of the Madison Mounted Police and their horses at The Horse First Farm which is an amazing place. Horses are there to live, free of walls and in the woods, O'natural.

I got this gig because the new person that sits in the cube next to me (I'm not a free range office worker) is not completely whacko like the last 4 people that have worked there . . seriously . . there has been a string of odd, scary and just abnormal people in that cube . . .maybe they were normal and it's "I" that is odd, scary,abnormal . . whatever.

Although she is what I would called a German Horse Whisperer (and Oxen whisperer) so I guess she is not your normal default penned in computer programmer which is a good thing. It's nice to have someone I'm not afraid of next to me.

BODYWORK FOR HORSES

So I drove down for a class the MMP were having and she was teaching a rider-training clinic.

I have only been on a horse once and it was a bad experience (I was like 7 or something, more on that in a bit) but I love horses. I've even read a book written by a horse. Traveller by Richard Adams (Watership Down) the American Civil War as told to you by General Robert E. Lee's horse. It's a really good book with a non-sad ending.

Before I forget - FLASHBACK - my family was on a vacation to the Rocky Mountains and we were at some place with a bunch of horses and you could ride them. I was lifted up onto an Appaloosa and handed the reins and we just followed all the other horses around. However, at one point while the other horses went one way my horse went another way. Well, since I did not really know how to steer a horse because and the only steering I had ever seen was either my dad steering a car or The Lone Ranger (insert echo) steering his horse, so my life (as I thought when I was 7) was now in the horses hands and I wanted to get off this 30 foot high beast before we went into the mountains and I never got to see my family again.

FLASH FORWARD - I'm at The Horse First Farm and it's a huge place with a riding stable (reminded me of one the the final scenes on Patton when he is riding his horse).

Stefanie and the reporter arrive and things get going and I take a number of portraits.
I learn a few things like, there are NO drug sniffing horses. Damn it - why didn't I know that 30 years ago. They are only curious. Also - if you go to the Madison halloween party on State Street and are going to cause havoc, do not dress up as a large green ball or you will be kicked just for practice.

So with formal photos out of the way I was cast off like a used carrot to wander around the very poopy woods and fields where the horses make their home.

My goal was to capture horses frolicking and "horsing around" and as I approached the area I saw that IN REAL LIFE, horses stand around eating, pooping and doing all sorts of very non-exciting things like staring off in the distance.

hmmmmmmmm There goes the horses crossing the stream on a cattle drive shot I was hoping to get. Or two horses standing on hind legs howling at the sun (it was a cloudy day - more bad luck) or even the horses playing poker photos I had envisioned. So I had to switch gears and go for some other shots.

Here are two of the seven (??) good ones I captured.

click to view larger/better

This nameless guy (or girl, I could not bring myself to look) was very curious of me and we talked for a while and I rubbed his nose and he sniffed my camera. I showed him the photos I took of him but I'm not sure he (or she) understood. All I know was he/she was not camera shy and loved posing for me.

Another one was a little more shy but was not angry that I was taking photos. I told him to just stand there and he followed my instructions (yea - they seem to understand instructions like "stay".)

And then I went home. I hope I'll get back to the Horse First Farm this summer for more photos. I'll be posting may more photos next week.

Have a great weekend and play in the slush - don't forget to add windshield wiper fluid AND AND wipe off you front headlights as they will get all dirty and shine MUCH dimmer.

Peace Out
rod