12 Oaks Stables

Wow, what an afternoon! I spent a large part of it hovering over the charger waiting for the battery to charge so that I could take my camera out to play. I decided to take a break from people and just get away to one of my all time favorite places. Though it is not my home, 12 Oaks Stables feels more like home some days than the house that I live in. I boarded my horse there for two years, and for three years after I sold him I volunteered there, feeding and grooming the horses and mucking out stalls. I got to know each of them, learning their personalities and peculiar habits. They are all so beautiful and different, and I used the time I had this afternoon as an opportunity to celebrate them.

The lighting in the stable was very harsh and I couldn't take them out into the open, so I used the dramatic lighting in the stalls to accent some of the details of the horse's face and body. This is Motown, a Tennessee Walking Horse stallion who spent most of his life training and performing in shows. He was nationally ranked when he was showing, but the stable's owner decided that the summer of 2006 would be her last season showing, so all of her horses are now enjoying a leisurely retirement.



I headed outside to take advantage of the bright, beautiful afternoon sunlight. All of the horses crowded around the gate when I got to it, and this guy refused to let me photograph anyone else but him. He kept stepping into the frame and trying to chew on my lens. He was such a goof.





While he was curious about the camera, most of the others were very weary of it and would jerk away when they heard the lens focusing. This one, however, stood as still as could be. I love the way the light defines his eye and brings out the rich color of the stable walls.



While I love 12 Oaks, I am aware that in time everything changes. The fact is that it is difficult to make money taking care of horses because they require so much money, and the area the barn is in is developing very quickly. In five or ten years it won't be there any more, so I am glad to have these images to keep the memory of the place alive. I hope you've enjoyed exploring another of my great loves with me!