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Frosty Feed Day: A frosty morning on the Haythorn Ranch, and Denley Norman heads back from the stack yard with his team of Belgians after another cold morning feeding. The thick hoar frost on the trees was a magical sight of artistry all it’s own. I was lucky to be there to capture the silent art show that morning.
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50% Chance: A fresh horse and storm clouds building on the horizon makes for a 50% chance of a good ride and a good rain. This photo collage was put together with images taken on the Haythorn Ranch in Nebraska.
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Crossin’ the Platte: The North Platte River was once a formidable task to cross for the wagon trains of the pioneers heading south. It’s wide meandering path and hidden quick sand made it a force to be reckoned with. In this image, a few Haythorn cowboys are crossing the river when the autumn leaves were in their splendor one year...a beautiful sight to behold.
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A Liquid Eye...: This collage is one that seems to capture the heart of anyone who loves horses. The swirling dust in the rope corral, and the bright, light filled eye of a faithful companion waiting for the orders of a day. I couldn’t resist putting them together.
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Love Isn’t Love...: This image is of my husband and our youngest daughter on their way home from the barn one night. The evening sun was setting, they’d just had some time together riding, and life doesn’t get any better in a little one’s world. The saying just underlined the feeling evoked by this image.
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Rollin’ the Remuda: This herd of Haythorn horses was running from one branding camp to the next one stormy spring afternoon. The subtle colors of the sandhills and the richness of the horses coats made for a beautiful symphony of sound and imagery.
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As Good As Gold: Any rancher would know that a proven horse is as good as gold on the ranch. This one was a favorite of Craig Haythorn’s. The collage with the rainbow seemed to finish the statement about what makes a good day even better...actually having something at the end of the rainbow!
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Thundering: This photo collage was designed with a powerful image of a stud on the chase while working mares on the Haythorn Ranch one summer, and a dramatic summer thunderstorm. I love the feeling of power evoked by both the horse and the impending storm on the horizon. |
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A Good Life: This photo composite profiles the tools of a working cowboy’s trade. All four of these images happen to profile a very capable hand, Larry Hengstler, while on the Haythorn Ranch in Nebraska. |
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A New Season: This collage was inspired by the idea of the changing season. The new colts dotting the landscape each spring are as colorful as the new buds on a tree each year. They both bring hope for new life and possibilities ahead. I never get tired of hearing these little hooves galloping over the grasses accompanied by the whinnies that bring mama along too. |
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First Frosty Load: A cold winter morning, and Craig Haythorn heads out of the hay yard loaded to feed with a beautiful matched team of Belgians. The Haythorn Ranch still uses horse power for as many facets of ranching as time and economy allow. |
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The Art of Flowers: I am often captivated by the unrivaled beauty and detail captured in nature. There is no way to reproduce on canvas or film the exquisite artistry of the Master’s hand. These 4 flowers were in the height of full bloom, and I’ve matched them in a beautiful 4 up collage. |
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Look Deeply: There's been much ado about "horse whispering" the last few years, but I don't think it even comes near what a horse's eye relays. The placement of their eyes on their head give them a wider perspective of their surroundings than we can picture as humans. There's a certain wisdom and beauty one feels when looking closely at these big, liquid "windows" to their mind. |
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Sundown Dust: I captured this image as the cowboy crew was heading back to the barn after a long day's ride. As they passed in front of my lens, the last rays of the setting sun filtered through the dust from the horses's hooves. A beautiful sight. |
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Reflecting: The fall colors along the scenic North Platte River are spectacular in August. The sandhills of Nebraska don't have many native trees as you travel through the rolling hills...so this sight of beautiful fall foliage reflected in the late afternoon river was a treat! |
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Peaceful Vista: This was a peaceful evening in late summer. The air was abuzz with the sounds of dusk on the North Platte River, and the water seemed almost still it was moving so quietly. This cowboy was just moving along the shoreline when I caught his image. |
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Sandhill Wave: My husband and I have worked on the historic Haythorn Ranch for the past 10 years. Many of my images chronicle the day to day activities on this beautiful ranch. Most of the cattle work throughout the year is still done horseback, which is becoming a dying tradition in today's world. This scene shows the spring branding. There's simply no way to explain the muffled sound of hundreds of hooves pounding into the ground as this spectacular wave of color, manes, tails and power comes rolling down the side of a hill. Truly breathtaking! |
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Pastel Evening: This scene is once again on the North Platte River...the sun just going over the horizon and turning all the landscape a rich pastel pink. |
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Headed for a New Camp: This image was captured during the spring branding on the Haythorn Ranch in western Nebraska. The cowboy crew heads for the hills for two weeks, along with the whole remuda, chuckwagon, bedwagon, etc. They'll spend the better part of each day gathering pastures, then branding bunches of calves. Not many ranches today continue this tradition, so it's an exceptional opportunity to still be a part of history on this ranch founded in 1884. |
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Feedin' Hay the Old Way: Here on the Haythorn Ranch, much of the hay is still put up with teams of draft horses, then fed out in the winter with teams as well. This picture shows a team of 6 Belgians, lined up in harness, pulling the haysled on the way out to pasture where it will be fed off by the Hydra Fork on the sled. |
