Because I’m worth it: horses and ponies strike a pose in hilarious photo collection
Stunning stallions, majestic mares and gorgeous geldings have starred in a photographic project embracing the “beauty and magnificence” of horses.
German animal photographer Wiebke Haas‘ photo series Horse Style features horses and ponies tossing their silky manes for the camera.
Ms Hass told H&H he loves to photograph horses because of their “beauty and magnificent grace”.
“But there is another reason,” he said. “Horses can be hilarious and I love that too.”
She took the first image in the series, of Haflinger stallion Mozart, in 2011.
“During the photo session I recognised his whirling mane which I wanted to draw attention to,” Ms Haas said. “By tickling his ears he shook his head in this brilliant way.
“It’s my greatest passion to tease out nearly human expressions of my horse models.”
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Since then Ms Haas photographed nine more horses for the series.
“I searched for other horses with impressive manes for a photo series,” she said. “It was really fun to work with such different horsey characters.”
Black Andalusian Allaus also features in Horse Style. He learned to shake his head at a hand signal in just five minutes before the photo session.
Fellow model, Arabian stallion Hafid, enjoyed neighing proudly in the studio while his portrait was taken.
“The most difficult part was to keep the horses straight to the camera,” said Ms Hass. “Most of the time they wanted to move their head to the side or downward.
“I focused on [capturing] a great face and harmonic choreography of the hair.
“This year I had the chance to work with the fastest compact flash lights by German producer Hensel. Getting every single hair really sharp was no problem any more.”
For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.
In this week’s magazine, out on Thursday 19 April 2018, don’t miss our special report from the British Dressage Winter Championships, plus full analysis from the Grand National — including expert comment, pictures and more. Read our report from the dressage and showjumping World Cup finals, and in this week’s ‘vet clinic’ we discuss the facts about fitness.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.