Who doesn’t love a quality photo of a horse running through fresh snow?! Especially when they have the flowing manes and the attitudes of these beloved Gyspy Vanners, from Baircroft Farm in Ada, Michigan.

During one of the brief snowfalls we had this winter, I visited Baircroft Farm to photograph a handful of their Gyspy Vanners, playing at liberty in their outdoor arena. It was the last day the footing was solid, and safe enough, to ask these heavy horses to stretch and play. They happily did so too!

Each horse was photographed for twenty minutes, with several breaks for natural portraits and positive rewards. This allows the horse to catch their breath, and to avoid working up a sweat. Even though they are clipped, it is never worth risking the health or happiness of the horses for any photo, and when the temperatures here in Michigan are already bi-polar, I wanted to ensure each horse ended on a good note. Additionally, the standing portraits balance the action shots out, and allowed me to capture details and more subtle movement as well.

These horses were eager to run, play, and bounce around in the afternoon sunshine. It made my job super easy, and I am thrilled with the final results! These are a handful of photos from each horse that was photographed!