Fantastic photos and unique animals. I'm enjoying with your photos.

A lovely tribute to such beautiful animals.
The wild horse in photo #21 is my favorite; the composition is fantastic.
Rosemary

Sadly, the only really happy-looking horse is the wild one.

Beautiful photojournalism.

I like the eye of the horse and the water drops, really nice pictures as always.

When I woke up this morning, I did not expect to see a lion riding a horse....

Thanks!

10 -- Holy crap, how in the world do you train the horse to allow this to happen? Wow.

Great Great Great! Love the pics! Keep up the good work!

Chasing down Gazelles on horse back is way more efficient than on foot. Any Lion knows that. (Crazy!)

Horse is maybe the only animal well designed to be ride.

Maybe we can save the earth from the global warming by returning to horse power.

#8 looks like pulled straight out of a dream... or some imaginary place! Wonderful!

this is realy beautiful, i love houses, they are great animals.

the horse in #10 does NOT look happy... Who comes up with these ideas?

Thank you Alan!

Excellent pictures of the most beautiful animal on Earth.I enjoyed watching them.Well done!

#10 - Great Picture. Idiotic care-takers. Poor animals.

There's not a single mention of the horse capital of the world, Lexington KY!

#10 - Lion Cavalry.

Now we're screwed!

:)

#10 - It sickens me. Only in China, I guess... and hope.

It seems the blog is moving away from current events. You always have great pictures but what really impressed me first about this blog was seeing the Togo King being crowned and the war in Georgia because i had read about these things and the pictures gave a new perspective. Ill come for the pictures but i wish it was steady in giving us current events.

Pic #8 is just about as beautiful a picture as there could be. (As far as the western cowboy type is concerned anyway);-)

I like no.10, A lion rides a horse in a circus show, very much. The lion seems to smile XD.

I love horses

@9
I am not sure on the particulars, but I have heard the farming required to produce food for large herds of horses as well as the CO2 they release is actually higher than one might think. I'm not saying your idea is bad, just that it might not be a perfect as it sounds.

It is not important how the horse in pic 10 was trained to carry a lion. It is more important to know how the lion was trained not to eat the damn horse!

Pics # 3, 4, and 15 of Hungarian racing horse, Overdose.
I wanted to write it was too bad you haven't informed the viewers of why Overdose had 3 pictures included, but then I figured, everyone will know His name in a couple of months. Just wait and see! ;-)

And thx!

Beautiful pictures of beautiful animals. But I can't help but think of the story in the Globe from 9/17 about the trainer from Suffolk Downs and wonder how many of them will be slaughtered for horse meat.

If this photos are amazing, imagine those have been choosen.

I love Horses. I love Butterstuff

Awesome. What a lovely set of pics. Thanks!!

Beautiful photography but that picture of the lion on the horse is horrible. Who comes up with such a twisted idea? Poor horse. Poor Lion. Just sickening.

brilliant photo's would love to know how the chinese trained the lion not to eat its natural prey.

These are simply gorgeous images with fine detail, drawing you into each one differently, mentally and emotionally! Entertainment is good, no doubt! I grew up with horses, all ages, all breeds and know all aspects of them. Horses are my world; as we all have special passions in life. However, some pics do concern me causing my imagination to wonder how some of those animals were handled-treated getting to those points in life. They can't speak even if you ask if they want to partake in that path you chose for them; fight or flight creatures, and once submissive to humans, it's a beautiful accomplishment, but then they rely on you for safety, love and care; they can only show signs of how they feel. We should put ourselves in the other one's place when making some decisions. I can only hope and pray for the best, safest care given to all humans & animals, everywhere! Enjoyed...Awesome photography!!! :o)

Lovely pics, most of them. The horse riding lion was sickening.

Many Thoroughbreds love to run, and many owners / trainers are ethical people who treat them well, including finding an appropriate home after racing.

Shame on those who don't, you are beginning to face public scrutiny.

Wonderful pictures, especially the one taken on Cumberland, Is. The ferrel horses there were wonderful to see when our family visited our Linda as she served as a Park Ranger there. The little church where John Kennedy was married was one where I put a Bible as they didn't have one and getting to know Lucy Carnegie a little in her old age was quite a blessing. She loved all animals.Thanks for posting these pictures. Everyone have a good day. Sincerely, Rosalie Myers(Mom of Willie)

The Hungarian horses are world famous horses....Overdose is fantastic too. Nice photos, thank you!

@monkeydogcatlizard, I'm pretty sure the 2008 Breeders' Cup IS a current event. Great photos as always.

Lion? On horseback? Kinda Sad. Hope he didn't hurt any one!!! I love the other pics tho! AMAZING...

In photo 19 they are not just riding the horse in the surf, but it is a way to train a horse to accept a rider...looks like great fun.

Re: Photo 10---I bet the Chinese trainers pulled that poor lion's teeth. The horse does NOT look happy either. Whoever thought up this stunt should NEVER be allowed around animals ever again!
Gorgeous photos, though. Especially loved the one where the horse is reflected in dew drops from a leaf.

Phone #10 - The lion's front claws have been removed and also probably his teeth. This is beyond digust. I feel sorry for the poor horse and poor lion.

When I woke up this morning, the very first thing I asked myself is..."what would it look like if a lion rode a horse?" Well thanks to #10, now I know!!! Way to go, China.

I am so glad to see that many of you who posted were concerned about the horse's welfare - especially #10 - I completely agree, poor horse, poor lion. I was trampled by a horse when I was riding and was put on life support and almost died, but I never stopped loving horses and I began riding again this year. I think once you fall in love with these amazing animals, it never, ever disappears...

truly an eye - full of magnificance, these horses. I especially like the photo of the environment surrounding the wild One, the lighting is majestic. thank you

#17 SMB
Yes I feel sorry watching the poor animal in picture #10 too.
But you totally disgusted me with your malicious comment towards China.
If you think improper treatment on animal only happen in China, I'm sorry for your ignorance. Maybe you don't read much.
People like you who takes every chance to attack China make me sick!

Very agree with Duan, i come here to enjoy pictures but when I see the #10 pic, I know some stupid gonna post something about China in the comment. I agree, people who take chance to attack China make me sick too...

I train horses for a living. Not race horses put pleasure, show and trail. I always am amuzed by uneducated people judging others when the see a photo. Keep in mind a photo is about 1/125th of a second of the subjects life. To say that the animal, person or situation was sad, bad of indifferent only leads me to believe that the animals are much more educated than the readers. I can only assume that this lack of knowledge comes for the liberal universities propagating this behavior. Maybe if you folks went and sat on a horse you could tell when one is sad, mad or indifferent.

Absolutely wonderful, inspirational images. As an amateur equestrian photographer but professional equestrian artist, I really appreciate how much an unusual angle or composition can make all the difference. All of the photographers here deserve every accolade. As for all the usual daft anthropomophic ideas in some of the comments here, I can only re-iterate what ponyboy says above. Don't make value judgements until you have all the facts (and personal experience) at your fingertips. Having said that, I can't deny that the primary purpose of photojournalism is to provoke a reaction. These photos certainly do the job in spades...

The horse is one of our most noble animals and should NOT be used as a crowd pleaser. I have no grope with the Chinese whatsoever, but to see the clear discomfort of the horse AND the lion (pic 10), is obscene. For pure gratification, picture 21 beats any other.

"
#10 - Lion Cavalry.

Now we're screwed!

:)"
AWESOME

just beautiful

Adorei as Fotos Principalmente a Foto do Leão com o Cavalo!!!

Na foto do cavalo na agua é ramadã ñ ramadão como ta na foto!!!

Wow, the pic with the lion gives you a better perception of how large a full grown male lion really is.

I wish people would educate themselves before making comments!
There are some really uninformed comments here about animals being scared, etc.

I'd say these people are ignorant as defined as "uneducated but I am sure they would probably find that to be offensive.

I think it is offensive that these people reach adulthood thinking they know everything. (Their parents told them so for 18 years).

Bob, I agree with you completely. Comments like, "Sadly, the only really happy-looking horse is the wild one", only betray the poster's ignorance. Anyone who's ever spent any serious time riding horses, for any purpose, knows that it's always a team effort and that in general the horse wants to be part of that team. It's in their nature as social creatures. Sure, there are plenty of examples of people treating horses badly, but that's not the point. There are plenty of examples of people treating dogs badly as well, but nobody says, "Sadly, the only really happy-looking dog is the wild one", because they already understand the pack-like nature of the relationship between human and dog. The relationship between human and horse is pretty much the same so folks, before you look at a racehorse and dismiss it as cruel and OMG look at the poor horsey being forced by the evil human to run around the track, step back and recognize that you lack the necessary knowledge and experience to fully understand the dynamics of that relationship.

#10 is just sheer abuse of both the horse and the lion and the owners should be imprisoned.

these pictures are cool!!!

As usual, incredible photos. Thank you, very much!

the picture with the eye of the horse is beautiful

I think your out of order having a lion on a horese poor thing.

good

Yeah the horse + lion pic is great (as a photograph).

The subject matter though is sort of a bummer. Horses are some of the most majestic, fastest animals on planet Earth. They are built for speed and endurance. Lions are one of the fiercest animals on Earth with their switchblade claws and their razor teeth. A tamed lion that begs for treats riding on a horse is just- I dunno... cheap. It's like they are knockoffs of the real thing and it's sorta sad to watch. Kind of like elephant rides at fares.

I love the ones taken on Overdose!!! Very artistic pix on a very special horse! I hope that our winged hero will make it very far! Go, go Dózi!:)

Totally amazing and incredible photo genius and skill! much enjoyed, thank you!

Pic # 12 is too good. Gr8 job done.

my family raises wild horses to release them and they are beautifulllllllll.........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lets see what would happen if we put the owner in the cage and let the lion ride him then we will be fine i mean come on! Who in their right mind would hurt poor animals ugh!-.-

Good God what was that trainer thinking!! i would not dare to put my horse in there! Thank You marisa

water drops hanging from a leaf on a tree reflecting a horse is wild

The lion riding the horse looks like he is haphazerdly going along for the ride where as the horse is alert, anxious, and wondering how things are going to unfold.

What a variety of beautiful candid photos of my favorite animal, the horse!

The lion on the horse didn't look so good. The horse looked freaked! Poor things...Too bad people still see horse racing as a good thing. It's not.

the horse in 10 looks terrified!

i own my horses.i guess u can do what ever u want with them, but that doesn't mean people have to like it.the one in the water i thought looked the most scared.

number 14 is so cute he should be in a cute show thanks Ryanna

Horses are truly one of God's greatest creations. I dreamed all of my life of having one of my own. Now I have 5 majestic Paso Pinos and breeding 3 of my mares to two of the finest and most winning Pasos in the world. My girls are all loved and well cared for. They are more than pets they are part of the family and you can tell they are so happy here. If they get out of their stall at night, you will find them in the morning standing at the back door to greet me and follow me back to the barn and go right in their stall. It is all in the way they are treated. Check out Windhorse sancuary.com. This is a friend of mine that runs a sanctuary for all animals and only on donations. There are some truly sad stories about her animals.

why not one person commented about the lipizzaner????Women now allowed to ride them after over 400 years and not one comment???They are the most beautiful horses ever and a beautiful woman should be on top of them!!!

#10 = horse abuse! All the pictures a good way to see diferent cultures and how they "use" horses....I guess. Beautiful pictures. Also #9 sure was a brave photographer!

when i saw the riding school in spain (vienna) i just knew i wanted to come here i feel ever so luck to be here and hope you might try and come too its amazing i always loved horses but here i discovered how much !

NICE

i love horses.

las militares en caballo las mas guarras

i ride horses it is so awesome i want to try down at the beach sometime

hi all your horses are great {COOL}

Ugh number 10 is a horrible picture, neither animal looks happy.
and what a sick idea to put a lion on a horse.

the pic are very cool em love you

those horses are cut i love them

i love it the pics r so beautiful lovin it