Shooting Horses...

Its not something you can usually get away with, but shooting horses seems to be fair game in the New Forest - there are literally hundreds of them milling about just waiting to be shot by tourists from all over the world. And its not just the horses, at this time of year there are a number of cute donkey foals (is that what they're called???) sticking their noses into opened picnic hampers and scaring small children in most parts of the Forest too - and when you add in the Long Horn cattle that trample at will over the cricket grounds and village greens leaving particular evidence of their passing, it all adds up to a very rural feel indeed.

The New Forest is a wonderful place to spend some time, be it a family holiday or, in my case last week, a few days staying down there with friends and shooting the coast, the Forest and the horses, and trying to keep the tourists out of the picture. There should have been some early morning rises to get the best of the light - but the Friends and a very good Argentinian red put paid to that, so we settled for day time shoots that just seemed to feature the four legged natives. They're very trusting, and allow people up very close before they hoof off into the trees and once you've seen a gaggle(???) of them at speed through the forest you do remember to give them their space. I have to say, just for the record though, I still prefer motorbikes...

Cheers

Graham