(Working Title)

Throughout my life I have surrounded myself with animals of all kinds. Many can attest to the purity of these bonds whether it be love or necessity. Separate from this bond, horses have an intense and sensitive aurora surrounding them that can most dramatically be felt in person. I began this project in hopes of bringing this connection to the printed page. Additionally, I found myself curious about our long standing history of using horses for labor and therapy. The subject of this project is Mariah and her five horses. What drew me to explore this narrative through Mariah and her horses was the overwhelming comfort, understanding, and freedom I personally felt when around them. In turn, I learned of her passion for horses she has raised which resonated as both visceral and innate to her being almost as if she was born to do this. Mariah has built a silent language of her own to connect and communicate with her horses. The harmony of life, which boils down to the breath between them, flows into a silent symphony of exhales and inhales. It is all so much more than riding, training, and owning a horse. It’s that connection to nature and ourselves; them and us.