I met Alisa’s family a year before I met Alisa or her horse Qatar. I was told stories of an amazing young Arabian off a back road in Ravenna, but as the busy season took hold, I was never able to make it out to the farm. In the fall, her mother booked a family photoshoot and as I arrived to photograph 9 horses, 3 dogs & 5 people, I was finally able to meet Alisa and her Arabian, Qatar.
Alisa and Qatar’s story of how they found each other was something out of a dream. Qatar’s sire is Farhoud Al Shaqab, a champion sire out of Egypt. The Sheiks major breeding farm was in Egypt, but had several horses stateside. As our government began to tighten it’s hold on our boarders, the prized horses were returned to Egypt and those that were left were either sold or in this case, given away.
Alisa, among thousands of others in a nationwide competition, had to write an essay about what kind of relationship and goals you would have with a young Arabian and how they would fit into your lives. It’s the kind of competition you enter, thinking “well, someone has to win,” but you never expect it to be you. Alisa won! She journeyed down to the luscious fields of Kentucky to meet the newest member of her herd. He was almost all bay and had a bit of spice to his personality.
Now, after almost 3 years, this boy of ever changing colors, has become Alisa’s best friend, and I can honestly say, there is no better home for Qatar then with Alisa.
It was day three of the snowstorm, the roads were questionable, and the temperatures threatened sharp pains if you didn’t keep your mittens on, but Qatar didn’t mind the weather at all. My goal was to photograph him at Liberty in the softly falling snow, capturing his beauty and boyish charm. His silliness got the better of me, and as he created his own games, I sat just outside the fence, photographing the little horse play.
He quickly realized out of the three of us, he was the only one running around. Alisa encouraged him to play, but he wanted someone to play with. So Alisa took off running through the snow and he happily followed, trotting circles around her before taking off down the pasture in a spurt of energy.
As the whip with a crunchy bag didn’t seem to phase him, it was left stuck in the snow. After carful investigations, he decided it was his turn to shake the bag and get Alisa to run again! She shook her coat at him in return, and off he went!
After 20 minutes of play, we all settled down, quietly watching the snowflakes collect along Qatar’s back, nestle into his mane, and perch on his eyelashes. The detail shots turned into connection shots as Alisa sat down in the snow and Qatar came to snuggle her.
These are all moments we have with our horses. We sit, vulnerable to these big creatures, welcoming a nuzzle, having your hair or hat played with, and the chance to love the horse who loves us unconditionally every single day.
These are the moments I live to photograph. Raw, authentic, and memories I know Alisa and Qatar will treasure forever.
I always have a plan for my photoshoots, but sometimes something more wonderful unfolds. I could have sat and photographed strong bond Qatar has with Alisa all day long. It was as if their hearts were one. I am excited for the opportunity to photograph Qatar as he matures, and I have a feeling you will be seeing lots of photos of these two in the future!
Equine Photography, Ravenna Michigan, Arabian Horses, Michigan Photographer
