Bucky Barnes is a 34-year-old Welsh QH Gelding that I photographed as a part of my 30 over 30 projects. He lives at Celeste’s Family farm, Rosehill Farm, in Cypress, TX.
In 2020 I set out to photograph 30 horses over the age of 30. My own horse turned 30 in 2020, and I wanted to celebrate the senior ponies in our lives that have been through extraordinary things and walked through life beside us. Our 30 over 30 Project was derailed a bit by the chaos that 2020 brought, however, I am still accepting applications for my 30 over 30 project, if you own a horse that is over the age of 30, you can apply here to be a part of the project.
“Where in the world do I begin? This pony has a heart of gold and the stamina of a herd of mustangs. All in a cute bay with white stockings and a blaze package. At the ripe age of 33, Bucky was still teaching kids as young as 5 how to ride. He has a bit of an engine but has the natural ability to understand who is on his back. He didn’t choose to retire himself, we decided that he deserved to oversee his pasture of young Welsh ponies. Though if it were up to him, he would love to be back with the kids getting groomed every day. He will patiently hang with the youngest pony in his herd and take her under his wing, in fact, she’s the only one that can share his feed bucket. In a way, I feel as though Bucky is passing on his wisdom to these young ponies but I know he’s a once-in-a-lifetime pony. We could be so lucky to have another Bucky. Bucky has done eventing, dressage, hunters, jumpers, play days, anything you ask him to do, he’s game. As kids, we used to turn him out in the ring after a bath and watch him play around and jump himself. I was at a show about a year ago and a parent overheard I was Bucky’s owner and they were ecstatic. He has been a local celebrity at many learning barns.” -Celeste
Celeste has owned Bucky for 20 years! “My mom found him from a former Pony Clubber in Louisiana when I was 7. She was very much the cool older teenager to me and got him out in a field and jumped him over two blue barrels. I had stars in my eyes. At that point, my mom thought he might be too much for me. Fast forward two years and we had the opportunity to trade him for a young thoroughbred my mom owned. It was an instant connection. Bucky took care of me but challenged me. Boy did he challenge me. We had our ups and downs and even though my teenager phase, other interests phase, and college phase, Bucky was still there. It’s difficult to think about a time when I won’t drive down our driveway and see my pony looking at my car as I pass by. Everything I know about horse care, riding, and loyalty, I owe to him.”
“Keeping him at my grandparent’s house and being able to run to the pasture to kiss him on the nose. It’s a simple memory but he’s really represented an unwavering love in my life. I’ve dealt with a lot of mental issues and depression growing up and he offered a big relief to a lot of that.”
Of course, I couldn’t resist stopping in the field with all of Celeste’s ponies and grabbing a portrait with all of the babies! Aren’t they just adorable?!
