Horses from Above

A look at our equine partners from a completely different perspective.

Photographer Shelley Paulson’s drone series offers a look at our equine partners from a completely different perspective.

It seems you can’t watch a TV show or movie these days without seeing scenes filmed with a drone. This unique perspective is able to spark our imagination and give us a view of the world normally reserved for birds and frequent flyers.

Aerial photography from a drone can be extra challenging because you are not only taking photos, but you are also flying a small aircraft. Getting the right exposure, accurate focus and an interesting composition while trying not to crash your drone is harder than it looks! I will admit, my drone has gotten cozy at the top of a tall pine tree and on the side of a hill and lived to tell the tale with photos that have made my efforts pay off.LEFT: I’ve always wanted to photograph show jumping from a drone and capture the shadow of the horse going over a jump. Eventing trainer Liz Lund of Minnesota helped me out with a morning training session in her outdoor arena. The rider looks like a set of wings in the shadow, giving the impression of a Pegasus.

cover Photo: criollo horse; Photo by christiane slawik

Riders at Legacy Equestrian in Minnesota casting shadows in the snow for a birds-eye photo.

My dressage trainer, Becky Siezert, photographed from my drone this summer in Minnesota. I had a feeling that a drone photo of a reining horse doing a sliding stop would make a great shadow photo. I think I was right!

Montana horse trainer Zeph Shulz demonstrating how to sort cows.

Becky Stezert performs dressage moves in an open field.

Not only was this photo fun for Alissa Erickson of California to see, it provided her with feedback on her barrel racing pattern.

During a winter photoshoot for the Ames Percheron Farm, I photographed an eighthorse hitch from above.

The Noe family enjoying a late afternoon trail ride on their ranch in Colorado.