The Golden Girl

I have been lucky twice so far in my photography career to have celebrities in front of my camera. Both incredible equine athletes, both outstanding in their field. Bailey TOF however, out of the two, was the most charismatic, and I think her images speak for themselves on the quality of this mare.

Does this face look familiar?

If so, you may have picked up a copy of Horse Illustrated before. Or visited the Kentucky Horse park and watched her perform at the breeds barn.

Bailey TOF (The TOF standing for Tudor Oaks Farm see more here on page 42) is a 20 year old haflinger mare, who was a broodmare at Deer Haven Farm, and now is a phenomenal dressage athlete and companion to Kim Phillips. She has done a little of everything in her life and proven over and over how versatile this breed is.

Photographing Bailey was really special to me, as I knew and rode one of her foals many years ago at Deer Haven, and later after she moved to Goose Creek. We were getting creative trying to get pricked ears after Bailey realized all of the prep and pampering wasn't leading to an off property show. Kim suggested trying foal sound videos after crunchy leaves, tossed grass, sugar cubes, and general bribing were no longer suiting her. Those ears went forward so quick and she instantly started calling and searching for the baby! All these years later and still full of sweet mothering instinct.

If you previously read my blog about Elizabeth and Moo, you may remember how I wrote about sometimes you have to prove a stereotype wrong. Kim has faced plenty of that with Bailey. Dressage is often a warmblood dominated sport, and sometimes it can be hard to find that group, that trainer, or even the judges that are willing to look outside of the box. But I know that when Kim and Bailey work together, its is simple to forget that she is a "chestnut pony mare" and see instead that she is an athlete and equally, if not more so capable.

I am lucky to know her, lucky to work with her, and luckier still to have had Kim trust me with capturing all her personality!