Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

dlanter · **Any advise shooting kids & horses? -** 02-15-2009, 08:19 AM

I've been asked to shoot a therapeutic riding event in a few weeks (physically & mentally handicapped kids with horses) and am going over in my mind how I want to do it. This will be strictly a volunteer gig for them to use the shots on their website or for fund raising. Any advise or suggestions?

I think the majority of the shots will basically be candids in more or less of a PJ style, but I am envisioning some close portraits of the kids with the horses and instructors. My perfect shot would be a close up of a kid on horse back leaning over onto the horses neck. Because I don't want to risk spooking the horses with a strobe, I will probably try to use a reflector for fill held by my wife or a friend. I know I won't be able to keep the kids or horses attention for very long, so I'm sure I will have to work fast.

I have had some personal experiences with a similar organization in West TX and they do amazing work with special needs children. There is not much I can do to help them, so when I was asked to help with the photography I jumped on the opportunity.

susieo · 02-15-2009, 09:02 AM

My horses will spook from anything that they have never seen before. (i.e. reflector, flash, tripod, etc.) I would first take some pictures of just the horses and see if there is any reaction to your equipment, then if they don't spook you can mount the child.

Most therapy horses have been thoroughly desensitized but I would still avoid any sudden movements or loud noises around them. Make a kissing noise to get the horse to perk up his ears,

Jaydandy · **No sudden movements -** 02-15-2009, 09:38 AM

I have a few photos here you can take a look at.
http://picturetime.smugmug.com/. Horses will be calmer after the have been rode most of the time.

Goose · 02-15-2009, 10:23 AM

Will you have a chance at maybe going to the place before hand and get familiar with the horses? I live just a few seconds from one here in the Houston area and that is what I would do. Most of those horses are so bomb proof that not too many things would spook them BUT I would not risk it without more info. Talk to the handlers and the organizers.

dlanter · 02-15-2009, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goose

Will you have a chance at maybe going to the place before hand and get familiar with the horses? I live just a few seconds from one here in the Houston area and that is what I would do. Most of those horses are so bomb proof that not too many things would spook them BUT I would not risk it without more info. Talk to the handlers and the organizers.

Yeah, I had already thought about that. I live & work just a few minutes from the ranch that this held at and I'm sure if I go talk to the owner / handler I could get some test shots of the horses themselves.

hotshot38 · 02-15-2009, 10:48 AM

Make sure the kids are on top of the horses, and not the other way around :)

Lana · 02-15-2009, 12:28 PM

Dan,

This is a good thing you are doing. My daughter started this back in Sept. and she loves it. We can already see the benefits of her being able to go. These places rely heavily on volunteers, so thank you for your time.

dlanter · 02-15-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lana

Dan,

This is a good thing you are doing. My daughter started this back in Sept. and she loves it. We can already see the benefits of her being able to go. These places rely heavily on volunteers, so thank you for your time.

Thank you Lana,

There isn't much that I can do that would be useful to groups like this and I can't afford much financially to help them, so if my time with the camera would benefit the kids in anyway, I am more than happy to help.

My ex-wife's youngest daughter has Cerebral Palsy and while we were still together she started going to therapeutic riding with an organization near San Angelo. It was amazing the improvements both physically & emotionally in a very short time with the horses & instructors. I've always wanted to give back in some way, but didn't know what I could do to help.

RIDDLER STUDIOS · 02-15-2009, 01:26 PM

Don't let the horse eat the kids:

Just kidding, I think it's a very worthy cause - best of luck!!

DISCLAIMER: No animals or children were harmed in the production of this photo. :-) It's my niece and her horse "Prince".

Riddler

www.flickr.com/riddlerstudios
www.riddlerstudios.com

sporkthedork · 02-15-2009, 09:02 PM

Kudos, Dan.

Make sure to post some of your results when you have the opportunity.

Casey

humminboid · 02-15-2009, 10:33 PM

Dan; It sounds as if you have a real opportunity. Most kids, if they haven't been around horses, are hesitant to downright fearful the first time they are exposed to those large, menacing critters.

There will be at least one that will, at least mentally, be asking ... "But...do they BITE?" Pixes of that stage will be useful. Nose to nose, comparing size, expressions, etc.

Talk with the counselors, they will know who is the most likely suspect, and it they know who you are, and what you are doing, it will definitely be helpful.

Then, when they learn that horses are sort of fun people, photos of them having fun with the horses. Get one with the kid facing the rear. I always liked that...not so much stuff to block the view!

Kid's eye view, Get down! Let your imagination run wild. after all, it's digital, and you can't waste electrons.

"Course, you have probably already thought about the above, and much more. So post some pixes.

Now, one suggestion: Like was said, if it can be done accustom the horses to the flash. Buy a cheap bottle of alcohol at your local pharmacy, (the smaller one that is sort of square shaped) dump the alky, cut the bottom off, and make it fit your flash head. Light diffuser and reducer, about 1 1/2 stops, softens the cast shadow, perhaps less startling to the horses, and nicer fill flash. Or use a StoFen, if you have one. Very handy gadget.

Watch the pre flash. Kids, horses, dogs, cats and my daughter in law react to it amazingly fast! Closed eyes. Oh yeah!

Cdubya · 03-01-2009, 05:31 PM

Hope this makes it in time for ya, Dan. I agree that these horses are are probably 'bomb-proof', but better safe than sorry. The kids should have a smile on their faces while on the horses. This is a suggestion for helping the horses look their best. Again, talk with the trainers first, but if possible, I will straighten out a metal coathanger, and tie a plastic shopping bag on the end. You will need another hand to start the bag on the ground, and when you're ready to shoot, just raise the bag. The horse's attention will focus on that moving bag, and you'll have a shot with the ears pointed up and at you. Good luck. You'll do great.

zerovision · 03-09-2009, 03:29 PM

Not sure if this gets to you before the shoot, but I have been around these horses before. My wife used to volunteer. Trainers and assistants are the best source of information not just about the horses, but kids riding them. Most of the horses will have one person walking on each side of the horse. This is required by law as a safety precaution. Some kids will have someone riding with them to steady them on the back of the horse. I would get some head shots of the two riders expressions as they interact while riding.

The purpose of the riding is to loosen up the special needs kids. The riding seems to help relax muscle and joints restrictions the children have with their special needs.

The horses are, as stated above, "bomb-proof". They have to be before they can be used for therapy riding. It will be difficult to get the horses attention so they raise their ears and look at you. My best suggestion is to get one of the volunteers to help you with that. Anyone that knows the horses well can give you a little history about the horses and the riders and may be able to give you an idea which kids display the most interaction with the horses.

The volunteers and trainers for therapeutic riding clinics are very special people as well, so I highly recommend including them in your pictures.

Good luck and have fun.

dlanter · 03-09-2009, 08:10 PM

Thanks Bill & Kyle for the advise.

I am really looking forward to this shoot, but right now I'm not sure when it will be. When I was originally asked to do the shoot it was supposed to be the middle of March which would be this coming weekend. But the last I spoke to my contact she said it may have to wait until the end of Mar or first of Apr.

I have been trying to get in touch with the owner or trainer of the horses to try to do a test shoot, but so far my messages have gone unanswered.

Tom · 03-10-2009, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Any advise shooting kids & horses?

Yeah, don't lead the kids as much as the horses. [/old joke]