Have you ever had the urge to try your hand at photographing your horse, but did not know where to start? I am going to give you some tips to get you started.

First, the basics. You will want to make sure your horse is clean and his tack is well put together. Be sure he is freshly groomed.

Lighting is very important. When your horse is running across the pasture and the sun is directly behind him, is one example of back lighting. You can use the hood on your camera lens to minimize the glare and white flash imaging that is often picked up when shooting into direct sunlight. The best time for this is early morning and late afternoon, because the sun is lowest in the sky at this time. This will create a darkening of the details of your horse. You can also create a glow around him in this way. The best way to achieve the effects you want is practice. Try different settings and adjusting the hood of your camera at these times of the day. Sunrises, sunsets, and silouettes can be achieved simply by practicing this way.

Use a natural setting. Catching a light moment when your horse is demonstrating his personality or running across the pasture can make for a great shot. You can capture a memory that will last a lifetime. A snapshot of your horse at his favorite watering hole or grazing in the pasture can be appealing.

Last of all, if you see something that looks interesting to you, for example, your horses eye, focus in on that. Walk around and examine him from all angles.

Capturing the different seasons could make a great calendar. There are many ideas you could do with your photographs if you only use your imagination. So go ahead and get out that camera you've been aching to use, and give it a shot.