See a Man About a Horse

What's the first rule of photography? ALWAYS have your camera with you, because you never know what you'll see.

I first saw Ricky Hall, his horse actually, while waiting in the McDonald's drive-thru. Despite the distraction of my three screaming girls, the Paint parked by the Play-Land caught my eye and sparked my curiousity. It's not everyday you see a horse hitched to a parking spot. But the rider was inside and my daughter was not willing to wait any longer for her chicken nuggets, so I drove away from this prime photo opportunity. Not that my circumstances mattered, because where was my camera? It was in my camera bag, securely locked in my studio.

Imagine my surprise when I spotted the same spotted horse outside Wal-Mart a few weeks later. This time I had no kids and my camera was in my trunk since I'd just finished a shoot. The rider exited the store and began loading merchandise into his saddlebags.

I was a little apprehensive approaching the man in the wide-brimmed cowboy hat. Tall men with dark glasses and moustaches have a mysterious aura. But Ricky Hall greeted me with a smile, as if he'd known me forever.

(I love the oil change advertisement. I think Oreo's just fine with grass!)

Ricky and I got to talking as I snapped a few photos. I told him how refreshing it was for me to see someone utilizing their horse for daily travel. Ricky explained that he rides out of necessity because he is legally blind and unable to pass the eye exam for a driver's license.

(Oreo is Ricky's eyes on the road.)

Ricky explained that he has more of a right-of-way on the roads than drivers in vehicles. Because of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Ricky is allowed to use his horses as seeing-eye horses. Ricky trains them from early ages not to spook at sudden movements or loud sounds found on the road. Honking horns and revving engines shouldn't phase Oreo.

Although Oreo is trained to handle sudden situations on the road, Ricky said it's still upsetting to see people purposefully try to spook his horses or run them off the road. So the next time you see someone riding their horse, take a moment to do the right thing - yield. It just might be Ricky & Oreo.

Comments

[B. J. Walters]

I enjoyed seeing the pics and reading your recap of Oreo and Ricky Sarah. Great job!