Horses have always been an important and vital part of my life.  I was born and raised on a cattle and sheep ranch in southern California.  I was riding before I could walk.  Often sitting in front of my dad’s saddle as we rode out to check the cattle.

I was an only child until I was ten and my friends were all the animals.  If I wasn’t doing chores I was on my horse riding for hours with my dog by my side.  I even taught my dog to ride so sometimes I would pony a horse so that Chippy could ride – at least until she jumped down to flush out a rabbit for me to try to shoot with my BB gun. (I never hit them!) 

I started showing horses when I was 5 and barrel racing when I was 12.  I had a great barrel horse named Buster and we loved competing in junior rodeo.  In addition to the ranch work and showing my horses I started showing cattle and sheep in 4H at age nine and then went on to FFA in high school.  I enjoyed showing the livestock that we bred and raised. 

My interest in photography didn’t start until I was in my early 20’s.  I loved photographing the animals at the wild animal park.  Then as marriage and children came along my hobby was set aside.

As my children got a little older I took up barrel racing again with an awesome little horse called Aaron, spending sometimes 3 weekends a month at shows with my girls in tow.  A little later I re-invested in some camera equipment.   I was so excited to get back into photography.

I currently own 4 horses, 3 Lippitt Morgans and 1 wild horse called Maverick who came off of the Northern Nevada Range.  I also have 1 burro, Diego, who was adopted from the BLM, 3 big dogs (a Shiloh Shepard and 2 Labs) and 4 cats.  I love animals and if space and money would allow I’d have a lot more!

I started photographing wild horses in 2002 and haven’t looked back.  The first time I actually saw wild horses was in 1998 when I was riding in Anza Borrego.  They were so beautiful and I couldn’t believe we were just standing there looking at each other.  It was just amazing.  My sister, Wendy, lives in Washoe Nevada and in 2002 when I was up visiting she told me there were wild horses up in the Virginia City area.  We drove up and looked and looked and then I saw a band – I was so excited I couldn’t speak. (a group of wild horse is called a band)

Since that day I have been up to that area several times a year and have developed relationships with several bands and many wonderful people.  I go up for about a week at a time and go out in the backcountry with my 4-wheel drive truck and my cameras from dawn until I loose the light.  If I didn’t have to work for a living I’d be up there all the time!

Over the last 4 years I have been tracking the lives of the wild horses through my camera lense.  Watching the colts grow into bachelors and band stallions, fillies to mares with foals of their own, and observing the ever changing band dynamics.

When I am in the untamed open country among the wild horses my soul is at peace, my mind quiet and my spirit free.

I hope that I can share some of those feelings with you through my pictures.  Please view and enjoy my galleries.  Please e-mail me of you have any questions – talking about the wild horses is my favorite subject!

Warmly,

Laurel Monreal