Well, I just had to share this stunning photograph with you...
It was taken two weeks ago at Yarrowford near Peebles in the Scottish Borders region by a man who has nailed a huge volume of super pictures in that area.
His name is Walter Baxter. I have blogged about him before and Shirley and I met him back in 2013. Walter and I communicate by e-mail from time to time.
The image is of course of a farrier shoeing a horse. In that time-honoured process, there will often be steamy, smoky moments like this one. However, after searching through Google images, I doubt that any other photographer has ever captured the traditional equine scene as well as Walter has done.
If you would like to see more images from his oeuvre, go here and explore.
Amazing. My mother told me that my father tried his hand at being a farrier for awhile but after completely screwing up a few thoroughbred horses's hooves in Tennessee, he had to give it up. My father had his problems.
ReplyDeleteFarriers must get kicked from time to time. Sounds like your father's career as a farrier was kicked into touch before it got started.
DeleteWow, that's incredible and a world unknown to me. Does the farrier wear face or eye protection? I hope so. He probably has the skin of a 30-year-old.
ReplyDeleteBreathing that stuff in regularly cannot be good for him.
DeleteIt's an excellent photo but I bet it smelled awful.
ReplyDelete"Hoof de Cheval" could become a new perfume brand for stylish ladies... yourself included of course Nurse Lily!
DeleteIt's a wonderful photo! I have recently become quite fascinated by watching videos of farriers at work so the timing of you posting this now is interesting
ReplyDeleteWhat a spooky co-incidence!
DeleteAn amazing photo, that I didn't understand until I read the post, which made it all the more interesting.
ReplyDeletePleased that it grabbed you Bob.
DeleteWhat a fabulous photo! I love it. The dense clouds of steam almost look like long hair, long beard and thick eyebrows.
ReplyDeleteWhat a vivid imagination you have River!
DeleteThat really is a stunning picture!
ReplyDeleteGlad you agree
DeleteStunning. I used to have a horse, in my youth. I loved riding him to the Thwaites stables to get him reshod. It was a chance to see the beautiful shire horses that pulled the dreys. All long gone now but the building are still there behind Eanam Wharf.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that this post stirred up some happy memories Christina.
DeleteI was thinking that the little Yorkshire Terrier was standing a bit close to the action - then realized it was the horse's other hind foot.
ReplyDeleteStop me if I'm repeating myself..
ReplyDeleteI thought that the little Yorkshire Terrier was standing a bit too close to the action - then saw it was the horse's hind leg.
Should have gone to "Specsavers" Potty!
DeleteThat photo compels you to look at it more than once. It is hard to make out the farrier amongst all that white ghostliness. (I think I may have made up that word?).
ReplyDeleteNo you didn't JayCee.... "the quality of being pale and transparent in a way that does not seem real, like a ghost:"
DeleteQuite an incredible photograph.
ReplyDeleteGlad you agree Carol.
DeleteIt's like the pyrotechnics at a Prog Rock concert. Incredible.
ReplyDeleteHe might be playing air guitar.
DeleteWell like others it brings back memories of the sharp smell of burnt hoof and the tap of the nails as the horseshoe is tapped into place. I used to go and get my pony shod at the Co-op stables in Wolverhampton, those long ago times when horses used to pull the milk carts.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what your pony was called? I'm thinking Dobbin.
DeleteThat IS a fantastic picture.
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you agree - given your photo talents.
DeleteGreat photo, thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure.
DeleteStunning is a very apt description!
ReplyDeleteOf me as well as the photo my friend.
DeleteWhat an exhausting job that is! I have never seen it shown with so much smoke like that!
ReplyDeleteAt first I didn't know what I was looking at.
DeleteWhat a photo! And I went to explore some more. Thank you for the link, Neil.
ReplyDeleteAs for ferriers. We had one in the village. For footballers who had a bad day, a common recommendation was: "Go to Gustav Stichnothe, get your hooves fixed."