Soleil & Horses
I love and respect all animals. I love to be around horses and dogs and work with them, take care of them, and photograph them. In return, they trust and respect me back. Problematic horses allow me to approach them. At the ranch where Lucky and I met, there was a horse called, Robelde, "Rebel" in English. He didn't allow any man to get close to him, not even the vet. He didn't trust men in general, and his owner Nancy warned me about him on the first day at the ranch. I knew that I could gain Robelde's trust and become friends with him in time.
For the first few days, I just fed him from behind the fence and talked to him with a very soft, gentle voice. I always called him by his name; he knew that I was trying to connect with him. He kept his distance behind the fence, but his body language, his ears and eyes, were making it clear that he was paying attention to me and trying to figure out whom I was and why I was talking to him. Two weeks passed and I was still outside of the fence. However, I noticed that he was getting closer to the fence, and to me. He knew exactly what time I would be there and that I had apples and carrots for him.
Lucky was always by my side and she added a playful element to our interactions. One day when I got there and called his name, he ran towards the fence and was whinnying. He was happy to see Lucky and me. He came closer to the fence - close enough that I could reach my arm in and touch his face. I was very excited (and careful)! I kept talking to him and he kept whinnying, happily. Before you knew it, I was grooming him, working with him and even riding him around the ranch. His owner Nancy couldn't believe it. It was an amazing experience for Lucky, Robelde and me.
