Austin Equine Photographer | River the American Paint

River, Docs Magnolia River, is an American Paint Horse Filly. River has some outstanding Quarter Horse Cutting bloodlines and Halter Horse bloodlines including Sonitas Last, Peppy San, Son Ofa Doc. She is by Dare Tobe Dilute out of Docs Minnie Joe.

River is the most adorable yearling Buckskin Tobiano Paint. River lives with her owner Adele’s family ranch in Spicewood,TX. Adele is the owner and trainer at The Willing Equine.

River is incredibly full of personality and has some very unique traits. They joke that she is just a very large dog. She likes to mouth everything, and follows Adele everywhere. She is even learning to fetch! She is very sassy and that will serve her will as a competition horse, but will require lots of patient, consistent, and considerate handling as she grows up.

River will one day be a western dressage, ranch riding, and cutting horse for Adele.

Adele shares the story of how the pair first met, “I actually first fell in love with her older half sister, that wasn’t actually for sale, but I sure did try and buy her! The sister’s owner ended up telling me about this younger nearly weaned filly that the breeder had available and I just couldn’t resist going to visit her. I really wasn’t looking to buy another horse, but the timing seemed so perfect and the opportunity just right that I couldn’t resist taking her home.”

This free-spirited Filly loves baby carrots.

Adele started riding at a summer camp when she was eight years old, from there it grew into a never ending obsession with horses. I’m sure this is something that her parents probably kept hoping she would grow out of.

“I started taking lessons at a hunter/jumper barn right down the street from my house for 7 or 8 years. Showing, training, and doing absolutely anything and everything horse related. From there I got into dressage for many years, competing and showing with some of the best. But my true passion was really working with retraining “problem” horses. I started working with trainer just out of the city that specialized in rehabilitation cases and difficult horses. I learned so much from her and still continue to do so. Fast forward many years I somehow find myself venturing into the world of western riding, but of course I have to drag my love of dressage with me. One day I do hope to explore eventing and other disciplines as well, but my focus will primarily be on the mental and physical development of all kinds of horses in all different disciplines and stages of life. Seeking humane and alternative methods of training to better the lives of our equine partners. “

“My favorite memory so far with River is the first time she let me cuddle with her as she was laying down in the pasture. I’ve never had a horse that trusted me enough to be comfortable with being approached and then sat with while resting lay down, but she didn’t seem to mind at all! It was a very special moment for me as she had come to me basically feral and unhandled and now was comfortable with humans enough to let them approach her in such a vulnerable position. Ever since then it’s been a regular moment we spend together, and I cherish every moment.”

Make sure go follow The Willing Equine on Instagram, she is constantly posting great tips and tricks for training and pictures of her gorgeous horses.

Interested in being a part of 365 Days of Horses? I am still accepting applications and will travel worldwide. Apply on my website today!

Karinda K Equine Photography is an Austin equine photographer located in Montgomery, TX. Karinda creates timeless portraits of you with your beloved horses, and other farm animals. Serving locally Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin, Texas communities. KEP also serves Wellington and Ocala, Florida, Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky, Aiken, South Carolina, Tryon, North Carolina, and Norco and Woodside, California and their surrounding communities.