Prepping your horse for a photography session
Prepping your horse for a photography portrait session - Tips from Imogen Moon
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Preparing your horse for a portrait session doesn’t need to be complicated, the aim is for you both to look and feel relaxed on the day. A few simple steps will make sure your horse is looking their very best and help everything run smoothly.
The golden rule
Keep your horse’s routine as normal as possible. A big change can leave them unsettled, which you want to avoid. For sharper or more energetic types, a few hours turned out, or a ride/lunge beforehand can help them relax. Make sure you leave enough time for sweat to dry and for grooming or bathing before you start.
Bathing or hot clothing
A bath the day before your portrait session is always a good idea, especially for greys or horses with white socks. Nobody wants stains or dusty patches in their portraits.
If bathing isn’t practical (e.g. in winter), hot clothing is a great alternative. Just add a small drop of horse shampoo to a bucket of warm water. Dip in a cloth, wring it out well, and rub in circular motions across the coat. This lifts grease, dirt, and stains without the need for a full bath.
On the day itself, bring your horse in a few hours early to deal with any new stains, and allow plenty of drying time, wet patches really do show up in final images.
Clipping, plaiting and trimming
If your horse is clipped, try to do it no later than a week before the session. This gives time for any lines to soften while still looking neat and fresh.
Any trimming is best done a couple of days in advance, the less you have to do on the day, the calmer and more enjoyable it will be. If you’re planning to plait, do it the night before or a couple hours before the session, depending on how well your horse keeps plaits in.
Tack cleaning
Clean tack makes all the difference. Clean any pieces you’d like to use as if you were heading to a show. A smart leather headcollar or bridle always looks beautiful. If you have a black, brown, or navy lead rope, perfect.
Finishing touches
- Hoof oil - apply just before the start to avoid dust, straw, or shavings sticking to hooves
- Treats/balancer - Bring your horse’s favourite reward to tempt those ears forward, but use them sparingly to aid longevity
- Practical extras - Fly spray in summer, sun cream and water if it’s hot, or a fleece rug if your horse is clipped and it’s a chilly day
- For you - If it’s cold, bring a warm overcoat to pop on between outfit changes or locations so you can stay comfortable
With these simple steps, your horse will be looking their best, and you’ll both be relaxed and ready to enjoy your portrait session.
If you'd like the prep taken care of, you can always ask a professional show groom to help on your shoot day. This can help maximise shoot time and create a more stress free set up.
Find out more about Imogen's Photography here - https://www.lunarphoto.co.uk/
