Where is the edge? - the preview tour

Like last year, my september month came with a visit from my Canadian friend, Mégann.

 

It was punctuated with Amira departure from the stable we've been for a few years, to a new place.

But... mostly it was about exploring the surroundings... and then... take pictures because I've got so many I need to share and I cannot help to do some more :)
Here's a few stories about this trip photography session!

A misadventure (that doesn't involve modelhorses) at "les Clue de Barles" -place pictured with me bragging with my beachtowel- learned me it wasn't the best place to do pictures... too much flow. But I still wanted Daylight in such a rocky river.

Second place, "le pré de Mme Carle" -pictured with me risking my life over a stream for a photo- was perfect. I'm really glad I managed to get this picture ;)

This place is really incredible, it's not the first time I go but still...

How to resist?

"Le pré de Mme Carle" is in the heart of the Ecrin National Park.

The place got it's name from a local story about Mrs Carle that incured some jealousy and especially from her husband. He decided to thirst her mule for a few days (yes the story mention a mule, not a horse). Then when Mrs Carle got with her husband, riding, the poor thisty mule pounced in the stream and Mrs Carles dismounted and drown into it.

Sorry for the mule, that sculpt depict a horse but well... you can get into it and that's pretty cool.

I really need to come back with a mule now that I know the story behind the name of the place ;)

Talked about a stream? Showed you that stream? here's an additional cascade (at the same place)!

Hopefully, nobody drown, despite the fact that we encounted water SO MANY times.

-Serre-Ponçon Lake (if you follow this blog a bit, you start to know this lake, it's the biggest artificial lake of France)

 

 -Gorges du Verdon

 

 

Actually I did a past shooting in thoses two places. This time we didn't go with tiny horses.

Aaand you can add to the list, the famous Hot Water Sources... my absolute favorite shooting wonderland! I just cannot go there without a figure...

Also showed to Mégann one of my favorite mountain spot, the Devoluy. It wasn't a great shooting day, wadn't in the mood... but I enjoyed to get back there.

Really.

How not to love thoses dry mountains?

 

 

So now, it's up to me to show you the complete set of pictures... hopefully before I die?

Right now, I'm too busy taking care of the big beast... and working... wish me luck!

 

All pictures of me & without modelhorse landscape done by @chez.chunille on our 2023 tour.

From all the things I need to write...

From ALL the things I need to write on this blog, there's the meeting I got in 2022 with Mégann!

I met Mégann on our french breyer forum, but in fact she lives in Canada (how far from me? very much!). From the first time we started to talk to the years that followed, it became very clear that we were friends. More than just "internet" friends.
We got the delight to be able to see each other once, a few years ago. And it happened again in september 2022.

I was soooo excited, because you know, when a friend is coming from that far, that's rare and even more precious than any other meeting!
This time, she wanted to see more of our mountains... so that's what we did!

She also discovered my pony in real...

We did a trail on horseback together, it was great, just a bit sad that this time Amira couldn't come with us. (Yes, Mégann is a huge fan of Amira).

 The best way to discover our mountains!

Even if the weather can be capricious :')

It didn't even stopped us to do more pictures...

 

 

We got the best picture ever with Amira! That's not a gloomy weather that will stop us...

 

 

 

Next day, I showed her some things a little more farer... hopefully it was sunny (all landscape pictures were taken by Mégann)

She discovered roads...

The Serre-Ponçon lake...

Embrun's Rainbow Lane...

The hot water sources, 

A place that I've photographied SO MANY time, without even try this...

Now it's done. Mégann had to encourage me but it's done.

And we finished at Mt Dauphin, to enjoy the fantastic view.

They are many beautiful places, but this one always do the job!

Also, I showed her some of our geological curiosities...

And it was already the end of our fantastic trip...

Mégann also, didn't came with empty hand, as she saddly stopped collecting, I asked her if I could buy a very special set she's got...

 

Because I have plan for a carriage set for years, but this will be another story!
I am now the lucky owner of this mare and her cart, and I hope I could gave them the pictures and attention they need.

I'm really glad about thoses few days we got together and I look forward to more, wich is planned!!

And I cannot wait...

Friends at home, the final recap.

So this summer, three of my hobby friends came at home!
I've spoken about the Live Show we did before, I posted some of the shootings we did together and I started to talk about our pony rides with my latest post about Excalibur...

So what else didn't I have mentionned? the fact they have met Amira, because she's the real star!

Amira who was perfectly fine, as always. She shared a field with an old retired lipizzaner mare (as my actual stable is one that breed lipizzans) this summer.

The fact that we took a galop in the fields with Excalibur, even if I wasn't comfortable with that idea because the pony buck a lot. But he was kinda stellar, despite a few tentatives.

Maybe I am a bit too worryied but my friends were happy...

 

 

Should I even say appy?

 

That morning ride was followed by a trail together in the afternoon, wich was also an exercice for me as Excalibur is difficult to handle with other horses. He feel like he's competing against them and try to take the lead on me... wich is really not somethin' I appreciate and need to be worked.
Most of the trails I've done with other horses have been a nightmare.

He surprisingly behaved well, I felt he was electrised but he was listenning to me. I was a bit relieved to be honest. Maybe our gallops in the field on the morning helped.

With other horses around, cows were more easy to handle. Good point on the group therapy :')

Because there's a lot of cows everywhere in the mountains...

After a long ride, we started the return. A water spot is always welcome, Excalibur loves it and always splashe and splashe and... he never stop, I had to get him out of it.

When we started to gallop, he immediatly started by a jump and a buck and I had to stop him. It's really difficult to gallop him with other horses, he instaneously take the bit to the theeths and jump in the air/bucks. That attitude cracks my nerves to be honest.
I had to get first to properly gallop him, and let the others enjoy a soft ride.

You can enjoy the smooth gallop too...

Once back, we asked for extra pictures as that's not everyday that you can do this with your hobby friends ;) - Great memories!

In the end I'm very glad about this week, a great way to motivate both in the hobby and in my riding!

Thank you girls!

Pony vs Mare