If It Weren't For L.B...

...I'd love horses a lot less.

While the other horses skeptically keep their distance whenever I appear with my camera, L.B. moves closer. He senses I'm there for him, for no other reason but to enjoy and revel in his majestic beauty. Not to chase him into the barn (see Chasing in the Horses ). Or shoe him. Or worm him or saddle him or ride him or otherwise use him to accomplish some ranch-related objective.

I'm just there for him. And he knows it and rewards me by drawing nearer to me as his brothers shy away. He touches his velvet nose to my arm and smells my camera, then sniffs my hair. Then I start clicking. And L.B. poses for me, make no mistake about it.

For those few minutes, we're a pair: photographer/subject, artist/muse, human/horse, whatever.

If it weren't for L.B., I'd love horses a lot less.

Comments

[Moral Highground]

Great photo's.Great post.Great Blog.

[Jenni in KS]

So, does L.B. stand for Lyndon Baines?

[Ree]

TeeHee. Nope. Little Buddy.

[Mom]

Ree Ree, you are a photojournalist extraordinaire.....the LB closeup!!....and the writing!! Proud of you!

[emily]

Wow, he's just stunning.Great shots.

[CPA Mom]

You are the MOST amazing photographer I have ever seen. At the very least you need to enter one in the Parade Magazine weekly contest. At the most, you need your own show in NY! Way to go! I bow before your expertise.

[Brenda]

Just discovered you last week! You're on my blog feed now. Love your blog and your photos and your writing. And L.B. is a beautiful horse! I have yearnings now to go back to the country.

[Jenni in KS]

Little Buddy? (See, I just had to come back and check.) Well, I suppose it figures that an Okie wouldn't name her horse after a president from Texas:o)I don't know about Lyndon himself, but my mom was a waitress in an Austin restaurant that Lady Bird used to frequent. She had a very bad reputation with all of the restaurant staff. She ate her hamburgers with a knife and fork, never left tips, and was just all-around rude. But, hey, those wildflowers sure look pretty along all the highways:o)

[Anonymous]

And you say that MY photos are wonderful?? Yours trample mine in the dust, lady!! That first picture is just to die for!! What a fabulous shot. Truly amazing. ~Jo's Boyshttp://josboys.typepad.com

[James Cooper]

Neat-o. Seems pretty unusual for any sort of animal to not only actually desire being photographed but to pose for the shots too :-)

[KimbaLee]

gorgeous...as gorgeous as LB is, I found myself searching the backround of the picture...it's so gorgeous there! I am a city girl, but you make me want to be a country girl! :)

[Sea_creature]

Hi Ree! Thanks for stoppin' by my blog and saying hello! Awe, another artistic animal lover, fantastic! You will be added to my regular reads list, your blog looks beautiful. I have lots of reading to do!And yes, I must add...gorgeous shots! Read ya later...

[Pixiepurls]

that;s an amazing photo of the eye~~!

[Sandra]

Your photos certainly beat mine, by miles! Absolutely wonderful!

[islaygirl]

umm, ok, ree, when are you going to put some of those pics somewhere where we can BUY them? you know the naked-boy-on-tractor would make millions. as would this lovely one of l.b.

[Pass The Torch]

I LOVE the top photo! Nice blog, by the way.

[Chickie]

riThese photos make me a little less afraid of horses. Beautiful.

[Nan]

Just so you know, Missy. You are the reason that I want a better camera. (make, model and serial number please!) ;^P But seriously, what brand of camera do you have?You seriously, honestly, for real could easily print a great coffee table book about being a modern Pioneer Woman. All of your photos plus your hilariously REE commentary. I would buy it in a heartbeat.So do it. (And ahem... don't forget to give your little blogging buddy some credit for the idea [unless you already came up with this idea] so that she can have an inkling of a hope of one day being published also!) HA!Mr. RevGot says, "Thanks for the comment!" and I replied to your comment on his blog! LOL!

[Ree]

*FREE PLUG FOR NIKON ALERT*Nikon D70S. I love it. Pricey for an amateur like myself, but I didn't care. The D50 is a slightly "lesser" model, but I don't think it's missing much in the way of function. I use the 18-70 lens all the time. I did buy a telephoto lens but rarely use it.And thanks, Islay and Nan, for encouraging me to put things out there in the marketplace. At this point, I'm still wondering why anyone is remotely interested in reading my fear-of-farting and calf nut stories, so I may have to wait for that dust to settle before moving forward. :) Whenever I check my hit counter, I think, "Really? Why?"

[Nan]

Maybe that's why people like your writing so much. You're REAL and unabashed. You just put it all out there and even if we can't relate (ie. city girls, thanks to you now have a... let's just call it "appreciation" for bull nuts and castration) your humor is fresh and untainted by a drive to be published! LOL! (gee... I hear myself bashing myself! HA!)Nanwho wants you to read some of my manuscript to see how it hits you.;^)

[Lisa]

Hi Ree, love the blog. Would you mind if I linked to you?

[Needleroozer]

Pretty horse, great photos. ANd that horse has a great nickname, don'tcha know.Another LB, but mine doesn't stand for Little Buddy,lol.

[bekah]

That first pic is amazing. I'd love a print of it.

[Anonymous]

Ree,Great blog, luv the critters!Wendellhttp://wendell77.diaryland.com

[Lisa]

Guess that silence means "no". Great blog, though. Nice job.