Word-A-Week Challenge: Curves

“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”

Winston Churchill

SADDLEBACKS

I couldn’t resist posting this photo in response to Sue’s Word-A-Week Challenge “curves”. I captured the shot on our recent trip through Lexington, Kentucky where it’s truly all about the horses. Although I took many shots of the beautiful racehorses in their pastures, along with the incredible scenery, the curves in the backs of these guys made it to my top of my favorites of the trip. Here are some of the others for those who’d like a bit more!

PEACEFUL GRAZING

“Horses make a landscape look beautiful.” Alice Walker

THREE HORSES

“A horse is a beautiful animal, perhaps most remarkable because it moves as if it always hears music.”

Mark Helprin

FUTURE CHAMPION

“A horse who bears himself proudly is a thing of such beauty and astonishment that he attracts the eyes of all beholders.”

Xenophan

The final horse farm I shot was obviously a home for some mares who had seen better days. As I reached out to stroke this one’s lovely face, I was shocked (quite literally!) to find that the fence around the pasture was electrified. Fortunately, no harm done other than to my psyche!

FORMER CHAMPION ??

In closing, I offer a pastoral scene that conveys the peaceful beauty of the countryside all around.

TREE AND SKY

To see more of Sue’s “Curves” challenge, click here.

Tags: photography, weekly photo challenge, word-a-week challenge

68 thoughts on “Word-A-Week Challenge: Curves”

Dina on August 13, 2013 at 2:56 am said:

Wonderful, just wonderful, Tina. The first photo is a gem.♥

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- Tina Schell on August 13, 2013 at 7:47 am said:
  
  Thanks Dina! A personal favorite for me 🙂
  
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Lisa Gordon on August 6, 2013 at 8:08 am said:

They are such beautiful creatures, and how perfect for “curves!”

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- Tina Schell on August 6, 2013 at 11:43 am said:
  
  Thank you, they are so majestic. I loved the way they lined up for that first shot 🙂
  
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britul on August 3, 2013 at 1:41 am said:

Beautiful .. 🙂

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- Tina Schell on August 3, 2013 at 5:07 pm said:
  
  Thank you Britul – for your visits and compliments!
  
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Valentina on July 31, 2013 at 12:49 pm said:

Beautiful creatures and the saddlebacks are perfect for this theme.

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- Tina Schell on July 31, 2013 at 4:43 pm said:
  
  Thanks Valentina! They were beautiful in real life!
  
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Linda Mayhall on July 29, 2013 at 7:54 am said:

The simple curves on the backs of horses, how beautiful!

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- Tina Schell on July 29, 2013 at 8:03 am said:
  
  Thanks Linda! It happened just a moment before I left the spot. Not sure what made them gather like that but am happy they did!
  
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Uday Narayanan on July 27, 2013 at 12:07 am said:

Such beauties they are Tina! ‘Three horses’ is my personal favourite 🙂 Such an elegant picture it is! Your love for horses shows in these images.

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- Tina Schell on July 27, 2013 at 7:40 am said:
  
  Thanks Uday! They are such majestic creatures–could have used them in the Masterpiece challenge!!
  
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Bill on July 26, 2013 at 6:00 am said:

Alice Walker is right–horses do make landscapes look more beautiful. We have a grumpy old Thoroughbred on our place. Most days he is rather indifferent to us. But he is still a majestic looking creature, especially when he gallops around the pasture.

Love your photos. The one captioned “Peaceful Grazing” would make a great postcard or framed print.

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- Tina Schell on July 26, 2013 at 7:47 am said:
  
  Thanks so much for your lovely comment. I’m sure your horse isn’t really grumpy, probably has failing eyesight and arthritis like the rest of us 🙂
  
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princessdeloso on July 25, 2013 at 5:26 pm said:

Just caught this today. As with many others, your interpretation of “curves” is definitely my favorite.

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- Tina schell on July 25, 2013 at 8:12 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much your highness :-). A lovely compliment indeed
  
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frizztext on July 25, 2013 at 1:27 am said:

“A horse is a beautiful animal, perhaps most remarkable because it moves as if it always hears music.” Mark Helprin
yes! one of my unforgettable beautiful experiences in my life was galloping on a horse back over some empty autumn fields! what a speed! better than any rock’n roll!

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- Tina Schell on July 25, 2013 at 9:05 am said:
  
  I agree FT, they are so graceful and powerful! Thanks for stopping by
  
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David Williams on July 24, 2013 at 7:40 pm said:

Simply love the third (three horses) and fourth (future champion) images! Have to say future champion is my fav in this series!

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- Tina Schell on July 24, 2013 at 7:43 pm said:
  
  Thanks David! Future Champion was one of my favs also – loved the way the colt nestled the mare. Have several of her nursing but liked this one even better. Appreciate our comment!
  
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carolinawandering2 on July 24, 2013 at 5:21 pm said:

Love the saddleback curves….nice capture!!

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- Tina Schell on July 24, 2013 at 5:33 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much! The horses were very co-operative 🙂
  
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Lee Kaye on July 24, 2013 at 2:58 pm said:

Very clever the way you captured curves as you say! I found it quite beautiful thanks lee

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- Tina Schell on July 24, 2013 at 5:09 pm said:
  
  Many thinks Miss Leatrice 🙂 Wasn’t it nice of them to line up like that for my shot ? LOL
  
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bentehaarstad on July 24, 2013 at 10:45 am said:

I would like to see all these beautiful hores, and thanks to you, I could.

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- Tina Schell on July 24, 2013 at 10:51 am said:
  
  Thanks so much Bente! Happy to share 🙂
  
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april kanew on July 24, 2013 at 8:56 am said:

Wonderful work…love the saddlebacks!! Tree & sky also speaks to me….so perfect ….like the horses! They are so gentle however I could never get beyond their size…was always afraid of them…weird!!

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- Tina Schell on July 24, 2013 at 9:09 am said:
  
  Not so weird April, lots of people fear them due to their size! I always loved them for some reason but as always, different strokes! Thanks for commenting!
  
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Jean on July 24, 2013 at 7:54 am said:

Beautiful photos. I like the first one, the former champion and the last one best. Of those three, I couldn’t tell you which is my favorite. Maybe the first, because it is so unusual. Who would have thought to photograph just the backs. Yet, there is no mistaking the subject matter. Beautiful creatures.

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- Tina Schell on July 24, 2013 at 9:24 am said:
  
  Thanks very much Jean! I felt the same way about the saddlebacks, unmistakably horses but more about the shapes. It was nice of them to line up like that for me, wasn’t it?! When I first arrived they were scattered around. I spent 15 or 20 minutes shooting them and then just before I left they all gathered like that in a small bit of shade near the barn. Serendipity!
  
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viveka on July 23, 2013 at 6:11 pm said:

Beautiful … photos, beautiful animals … are you a horse girl. Looking at your photo, I think you’re and the way you have taken the photos. Stunning – beautiful curves and the look expensive too.
I’m a little afraid of horses; they are so big when you come close to them. *smile … The foal is more my type of horse. Wonderful post.

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- Tina Schell on July 23, 2013 at 9:31 pm said:
  
  Thank you Vivek! I used to ride quite a bit when I was young but haven’t in years. I do tho, LOVE horses – always have. I had 4 brothers growing up and they were all terribly mad that I got to ride and they didn’t 🙂 Thanks for your lovely comment!
  
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  - viveka on July 25, 2013 at 5:06 am said:
    
    I think it’s such beautiful animals … where my friend lives outside Stockholm – is there stud farm – where all the famous horses in the world comes for a bit of love life or just to relax. Some of them are so valuable – that they are body guards (2 legged) when outdoors. Amazing.
  - Tina Schell on July 25, 2013 at 9:04 am said:
    
    Sounds like a horse vacation! Who knew?! Thanks for your comment Viveka!
Pat on July 23, 2013 at 5:49 pm said:

Your first photo is a perfect 10 for this challenge. Great take!

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- Tina Schell on July 23, 2013 at 9:35 pm said:
  
  Ooooh, a TEN?! I like that 🙂 Thanks Pat!
  
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Mary Lynn on July 23, 2013 at 5:18 pm said:

Soooooo beautiful – the curve of their backs! Catherine had a horse who
I called “Sinkhole” for very obvious reasons. But amazingly I now miss seeing her ride and do beautiful things working the horse and telling him what to do and how to do it!

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- Tina Schell on July 23, 2013 at 9:37 pm said:
  
  Only YOU would come up with Sinkhole ML!! Thanks so much for your lovely compliment – they are such beautiful, graceful (and expensive) creatures, aren’t they?!
  
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Linda Wyatt on July 23, 2013 at 1:10 pm said:

I love this post.. Mary Radford grew up LOVING horses.. Started riding at 2… I could not relate… But I always loved their beauty and the majesty of their strides, Beautiful curves!

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- Tina Schell on July 23, 2013 at 9:37 pm said:
  
  Me too Miss Linda – loved riding as a kid. too expensive as a grown-up LOL. Yes, majestic is the right word for them for sure!
  
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Amy on July 23, 2013 at 12:58 pm said:

These horses are handsome and so dignified!

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- Tina Schell on July 23, 2013 at 9:49 pm said:
  
  Thanks Amy – they were so graceful yet powerful!
  
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Ese' s Voice on July 23, 2013 at 12:02 pm said:

Fabulous, Tina – i love your take on the theme! Superb photos, majestic animals and wonderful quotes. I think my favourite is “Three horses” – they say all good things come in 3, don’t they… 🙂

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- Tina Schell on July 23, 2013 at 9:51 pm said:
  
  So they say Ese, so they say! Thanks for your lovely compliment – I had been waiting for the right time to use these shots and “curves” just seemed to work!
  
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SimplySage on July 23, 2013 at 11:39 am said:

Oh Tina, this is all so beautiful. Most excellent. I live in horse country and they do make the countryside so beautiful. I love all your quotes, too. I guess I’ve gotta get the camera going on these farms around me. Great job!

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- Tina Schell on July 23, 2013 at 9:53 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Alexandra – isn’t it funny how we tend NOT to photograph the loveliness all around us, but when we travel the camera is with us at all times?! Now get out there and shoot those farms!! Thanks for your lovely comment 🙂
  
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Heyjude on July 23, 2013 at 11:36 am said:

Lovely composition on the ‘Saddlebacks’

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- Tina Schell on July 23, 2013 at 9:55 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Jude – I must admit I was partial to that one myself 🙂
  
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Jane Lurie on July 23, 2013 at 11:17 am said:

Beautiful. Interesting take on curves. The pony is cute.

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- Tina Schell on July 23, 2013 at 9:56 pm said:
  
  Thanks Jane – I did like the curve of the horsebacks, must admit!
  
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desfischersauge on July 23, 2013 at 11:00 am said:

A great post, thanks for that. I really like the picture with the tree and the clouds at best. It has a wonderful effect. And I like the color green in the image, because it is in art for all warm-hearted and calming.

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- Tina Schell on July 23, 2013 at 10:19 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Fischers – I love your comments about the warm-hearted calming effect!
  
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Sonel on July 23, 2013 at 10:18 am said:

Oh, I just LOVE horses Tina and these are such stunning shots of these beauties! Love the quote of Winston and he was so right too. 😀 Thanks for sharing hon! 😀 *hugs*

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- Tina Schell on July 23, 2013 at 10:28 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Sonel – I love them too, they are so majestic, arent they? I’ve seen Budweiser Clydesdales and the famous Lipizzaner stallions in person. Magnificent. And then there are the racehorses – incredible every one of them.
  
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Pam Kaspers on July 23, 2013 at 10:16 am said:

Very beautiful. I love the curve photo of the horses backs.

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- Tina Schell on July 23, 2013 at 10:28 pm said:
  
  Thanks Pam – me too 🙂
  
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Jane on July 23, 2013 at 9:58 am said:

You captured the elegance of these creatures. Agree with Sharon about saddlebacks.

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- Tina Schell on July 23, 2013 at 10:28 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Jane – elegant is a great word for them!
  
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norasphotos4u on July 23, 2013 at 9:55 am said:

Absolutely gorgeous

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- Tina Schell on July 23, 2013 at 10:30 pm said:
  
  Thank you Nora – it was a visual feast for me for sure!
  
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Tish Farrell on July 23, 2013 at 9:30 am said:

glorious, Tina. It’s interesting to ponder what life might have been when all was driven by horsepower.

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- Tina Schell on July 23, 2013 at 10:41 pm said:
  
  Thanks Tish – yes you’re right. Actually I suppose we’d find the horses a bit less romantic if we had to depend on them to get to work in the morning!! Last week I was in Mackinac Island and they don’t have their horses wear those poo-catchers like Charleston and NYC. I think there were more sweepers than horses!! Thanks for your comment!
  
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fgassette on July 23, 2013 at 9:28 am said:

My favorite curve is the saddleback photo.

BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!

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- Tina Schell on July 23, 2013 at 10:46 pm said:
  
  Hey Francine! Mine too :0)
  
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Jayde-Ashe on July 23, 2013 at 9:24 am said:

Lovely, what a great interpretation of ‘curves’!

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- Tina Schell on July 23, 2013 at 10:56 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Jayde! The “curves” challenge was a natural for this one, which has become a personal favorite – appreciate your comment.
  
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Sharon Buehler on July 23, 2013 at 9:09 am said:

Lovely to look at. I especially like Saddlebacks.

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- Tina Schell on July 23, 2013 at 10:56 pm said:
  
  Thanks Sharon!! So happy to see the response to it.
  
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