Story Behind the Photo: Borcan in Egypt

January 11 2019

Yes. That view #BetweenTheEars of my mount, the magnificent blustery white stallion Borcan, is in Egypt - the Step Pyramid in Saqqara. He was the puffiest beautifulest blowhardiest windbag, whose biggest worry was to look magnificent for the fillies who weren't looking at him.

Those ride in the desert among Pyramids on my equine companions were simply magical. I've had the pleasure of visiting Maryanne in Egypt twice.

I'll have a book coming out later this year on one of those trips.

Story Behind the Photo: Rabbit Brush

January 6 2019

This is my horse Stormy, The Most Beautiful Horse on the Planet, hanging out in blooming rabbit brush in the Sierra Nevadas in California. 

A Thoroughbred former racehorse, he’s now 27 years old. I was his groom on the racetrack in Washington where he earned his keep: six wins in 42 lifetime starts, $45,000 in earnings. My housemate kept saying I was going to own him one day. No, no, no, I said; though I loved Stormy, I had no money and no place for a horse. 

But things that are meant to be eventually happen. He’s given me joy now for almost 20 years. Stormy is profiled in my book, Soul Deep In Horses.

Note: this photo was taken around the year 2000, when Stormy was a young buck!

Beautiful at Any Angle

Friday July 24 2015

As he ages, he stands a little bent over at the knees; his withers get sharper as his belly sags a little further downward. He's getting gray hairs. He'll often stroll in after the herd runs back down from the canyon, although if he puts his mind to it, he can still turn on the afterburners and lead the charge. He seems to know he's getting to be an old man; he and the other old man Krusty hang out together a lot.

But none of that matters, because Stormy is beautiful at any angle, any light, any distance, any pose.

Cover Girl

Tuesday November 1 2011

That's my photo on the cover of this month's Endurance News magazine, of my friend Nance and her horse Jasbo (LJ Jasuur Haraka) during a vet check at our May Owyhee Fandango 100 miler.

Nance has over 8000 endurance miles, Jasbo has over 4200 miles (and he was bred by crick neighbors Rick and Carol of Lost Juniper Ranch!), and they have two Tevis buckles together. I rode Jasbo on his very first 50-mile endurance ride in Death Valley in 2005. I also remember him dumping me once while riding him around here when he was 4 or 5. I'm not sure if he's ever gotten Nance off, but he can still be a stinker! But a lovable one. And a tough one!

I thought it made a great picture, Jasbo eating contentedly while Nance took a little doze in the sunshine.

The Wild West

Friday January 29 2010

We'll look at more original Owyhee Wild West trails and stories, but this time, think the Wild West Bakery and Espresso in downtown Eagle.

Endurance rider Naomi Preston has reopened Eagle's first espresso cafe that she started in 1994 and operated until 2006. She now owns it again, and kindly created a room for my The Equestrian Vagabond photography! She refers to it as the EMMMA - the 'Eagle Metropolitan Museum of Merri's Art.'

We are happy to be participating in the First Friday Art in Eagle - a gallery walk in downtown Eagle on Friday February 5 from 4:30 - 8:30 PM, featuring my photography and barbed wire art (original rascally Owyhee barbed wire!), Naomi and Michelle (her manager)'s home baked goods and espresso, and wine tasting by local Woodriver Cellars.

The party doesn't end there: the next Friday, February 12, we're having a Horsemen and Women's Open House, from 6-9 PM. Wine tasting again by Woodriver Cellars, featuring "Gold Buckle Champion" ICHA wines.

If you have horses, ride horses, love horses, or want horses, stop by to see us and tell us a tall horse tale of your own, if you can get Naomi and me to shut up. If you don't love horses, stop by anyway, and we will try to persuade you that you should.

The address is:
83 East State Street
Eagle, Idaho
208.939.5677

We hope to see you there!

Note: The Raven will be present at both special openings - I don't think he's signing autographs, but he will be available for photos!

Dream Bath I

Tuesday December 1 2009

Your photo today:

A cold early morning on the racetrack, a warm bath for a hot horse after a workout.

1 Day and Counting Down

Friday October 9 2009

A few more photos to preview The Equestrian Vagabond's photo show at Judeen's Art Studio and Gallery in Paducah, Kentucky.

Mane Frame II - yearlings in Belgium


Reflections II - weanlings in Washington


Regret I - in the sunset in Ridgecrest, California


Snow Princess - snowy day in Oreana, Idaho


Stormy Water I - that's Stormy (The Most Beautiful Horse On The Planet, of course), in Ridgecrest, California



Up top:
Web II - South Island, New Zealand


That's 14 hours, 50 minutes and 45 seconds left to go - time to hop on the plane!

4 Days and Counting

Tuesday October 6 2009

Where did the time go!?

It's only 4 days until The Equestrian Vagabond's show at Judeen's Art Studio and Gallery in Paducah, Kentucky, on October 10th, after which I head to Lexington to cover the Kentucky Cup & North American Team Endurance Challenge - i.e. the 2010 WEG pre-ride - for Endurance.net.

Here are a few more of my pictures to sample:

CHIARO - a play with excessive light - Oreana, Idaho


SOAP SUDS I - a morning bath at Keeneland Racetrack, Kentucky


JOSHUA TREE II - in the Mojave Desert - California


JUST A KISS - Diego loves to kiss - Oreana, Idaho


TWINS - entwined weanlings in Enumclaw, Washington


LOFTY - another play with excessive light - Oreana, Idaho


up top - RED BARN I - Wells, Nevada


Must get packing!

13 Days and Counting

Sunday September 27 2009

With 13 days left until my Special Appearance at Judeen's Art Studio and Gallery in Paducah, Kentucky, on October 10th, here is today's sampling of The Equestrian Vagabond photos.



Sunset on Downpatrick racecourse in Northern Ireland. These horses were training on the track after the day's races.


Nothing better than a good roll in soft sand - Oreana, Idaho


Sun - Oreana, Idaho


Snow - Oreana, Idaho


Sun and snow - Bridgeport, California


Do Not Try This At Home - Oreana, Idaho


Stormy in the sunset - Bridgeport, California


That's 292 hours, 60 minutes, 17 seconds left...

No time to pack yet, because it's time to get ready for our 5-day Owyhee Canyonlands endurance ride!