The Chronicle is lucky to work with talented photographers from across the country and across the globe. There are a group of artists, however, who we turn to more than most for coverage of horse shows, dressage and eventing. We asked those photographers to share with us their favorite captures from the past year, and why those images stuck out from among the millions (literally) of frames they shoot in those 12 months. Here’s what they had to say:
Amy Dragoo
When Germany’s Michael Jung won his record fifth Defender Kentucky CCI5* aboard FischerChipmunk FRH in May, Amy Dragoo was there to capture the elation shared by the rider and fans alike during his victory gallop. She had trouble deciding between two frames, taken moments apart, one of which focuses on the rider and the other of which focuses on the fans’ arms reaching out to him.
Above and below: AK Dragoo Photography Photos
“Even months later I can’t decide which of these images, taken seconds apart, I like more,” she wrote. “One tells the story of the event, the other tells the story of the experience of being a fan. On one hand—no pun intended—the arms direct the eye to Micheal Jung and FischerChipmunk FRH in their victory lap around Rolex Stadium after winning the Defender Kentucky CCI5*. On the other, the extreme reach of the many hands demonstrate the hope of making contact with a legend of the sport.”
Andrew Ryback
This image captures Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair competing in the Longines League of Nations Ocala at the World Equestrian Center—Ocala (Florida), where she helped Germany earn second place behind the United States.
Andrew Ryback Photography Photo
“What I like about this shot is the preparation that went into making it,” Ryback said. “Typically, we walk a course prior to the start and choose our shots based on the course—but this shot was planned before the pond was even completed.
“I worked with both course designers, Alan Wade and Bobby Murphy, as well as the ground crew to perfectly place our camera and make sure we got this incredible shot. Obviously it’s not something that I can shoot with the camera in hand, so I had to set up a remote camera and constantly adjust the settings as the sun set over the ring. I’m most proud of all the teamwork that went into this shot, from the course designer, to the ring crew, to the athletes jumping the water element (clear!) and our team for making sure the shot was captured.”
Susan Stickle
Dressage photographer Sue Stickle is always where the action is, whether that’s a CDI5* during the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (Florida), the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions (Illinois) or U.S. Dressage Finals, or a local dressage show. Her favorite images of the year weren’t about the most prestigious wins, but the human stories behind the sandbox smiles.
SusanJ.Stickle.com Photo
Texan Brooklyn Loff competed Havana CCW in the junior/Young Rider first level championship at U.S. Dressage Finals in Wilmington, Ohio, with a Texas-sized posse cheering her on, including from left: Brooklyn’s grandma Shirley, her grandma Cherie, her father Jason Loff, her mom Holly Loff and her trainer, Andrea Adkins of Cadence Ranch in Hutto, Texas.
“It’s wonderful to see the camaraderie and support from family and friends,” Stickle wrote of this image.
Shannon Brinkmann
Laura Kraut and 9-year-old Emeraldo rose to the occasion to jump a winning round the Prize of StädteRegion Aachen 1.50m CSIO5* at CHIO Aachen (Germany)—“in the wildest, windiest weather I have ever witnessed for a jumping contest,” Brinkman recalled
Shannon Brinkman Photography Photo
“The class was on hold due to bad weather, so I barely had time to run out as they sent Laura into the huge stadium—then booming wind and rain increased its power as Laura and Emeraldo tackled each fence with fantastic style,” she said. “Everyone was wildly cheering upon conclusion, including me!”
Lindsey Long
California-based photographer Lindsey Long shot her favorite image at one of the venues she visits regularly, the Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, California, shot in March during the $100,000 WCHR West Coast Hunter Spectacular and featuring Normandy, an 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Blackjack Farms and ridden by professional Jamie Sailor.
Lindsey Long Photography Photo
“Her expression and presence are always striking, and I usually want to zoom in on her as tight as possible,” Long said. “But for this one I took the opportunity to include more of the atmosphere of the grand prix ring. The flags and palm trees with mountains in the distance are defining features of the venue, and the lavishly decorated jumps made the foreground equally beautiful. I felt that the resulting photograph appropriately conveyed the scale and ‘spectacular’ quality of the sport, the venue, and the horse in this moment.
Tina Fitch
West Coast-based photographer Tina Fitch traveled cross-country to help colleague Shannon Brinkman cover the Mars Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill in October. When she was walking the cross-country course and saw a pair of giant brush, keyhole corners, artfully made into extravagant topiary animals, set up at Fence 7ABC, the Chesapeake Beasts and Bay Bridge, she saw an opportunity for a truly unusual shot.
Where spectators saw this fantastical beast, photographer Tina Fitch saw something more. Photo Courtesy Of CrossCountryApp
Executing her vision required the help of multiple people, including buy-in from officials and the assistance of Mars Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill Photo Manager Charlie Mann.
“It’s amazing what can go into making your vision come to life,” Fitch said. “This year, the back of the crowd-pleasing owls was open, and I saw a great opportunity. I never imagined I would get permission to place a remote camera in the jump, but Charlie Mann, an amazing photographer himself and the photo manager for the Maryland CCI5*, went above and beyond to help me accomplish this. In addition to his and my team’s help, my mother happened to have the lens I needed to make this shot a reality. I’m so grateful to my photography community!”
Australia’s Sophia Hill and her Thoroughbred Humble Glory jump through the keyhole corner at Fence 7A, officially the first of the “Chesapeake Beasts,” en route to finishing sixth at this year’s Mars Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill. Tina Fitch for Shannon Brinkman Photo