Anna is straight up one of my favorite people ever, as well as one of the best horsewomen I know. she travels around the country doing seasonal work in places like California, Montana, & most importantly Wyoming. I met her last year working at Brush Creek, & I swear she has taught me something every single day since. she's such a cool person & has so much wisdom to share. she also has two really cute children: Dandy & Maggie. I love them as if they were my own.
Anna has been asking me to take some pictures of her little nontraditional family & I was so excited to be able to make that happen for her. we had a pretty quiet day at work so we grabbed our lunches to go. snagged Mags out of the stall she'd been waiting in, pulled Dandy in from the pasture, & got them all spiffied up!
Dandy & Maggie, even though they’re sisters, don’t spend a whole lot of time together beyond the occasional trail ride - Mags is always with Anna or home in the trailer, & Dandy spends her free time lounging in the mares’ pasture listening to the wind blow through the willows. they weren’t super sure of each other at first, but after a few minutes they figured out what was going on & started to enjoy running around in the pasture together.
we also wanted to get some nice Christmas card photos with all three gals. it took a little bit of maneuvering to find a rock for Mags to stand on & get Dandy close enough to the rock that everyone looked comfortable in photos, but eventually we got it! Anna was bound & determined to get a picture of Maggie with her up on Dandy, & Maggie was bound & determined to not be a participant in that.
obviously we also had to get some individual pictures of Anna with each of her girls! they've both played very integral but mostly separate parts in her story, & it felt really special to get to honor the incredible bond she has with each of them.
also peep the super cool family heirloom saddle! Anna really wanted to get some pictures of it to send to her grandma, whose father was the original owner of the saddle. it was super fun to figure out ways to get Anna in the pictures but not sitting on the saddle, so you can see the incredible details. & I think they turned out so so cool!
a little note from Anna about why she lives a nontraditional lifestyle: "the freedom that comes from independence is something that you can't put a price on. the ability to make your own decisions & create the life that you want is so desirable to me. I usually go without running water for about six months out of the year, I am constantly saying goodbye to people that have become very dear to me, & I am lucky if I shower once a week! I live non-traditionally because I don't believe in conformity. I believe in doing what will set your soul free & help you pursue a life of happiness, joy, & be filled with passion. my life is not always the most glamorous, but it is all mine. I travel with the two best gals around & I always joke that my animals are gonna see cooler things than most people do! I love my life & the environment that I've created. create what you want & don't be afraid to do what sets your soul free."
Anna is truly such a special soul who shines so much light into my life & is always there for me with advice & a shoulder to lean on. I am so honored to have been able to capture her little family, & can't wait to watch her continue her journey down the road to happiness.
xo, Caroline
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