Mashuga's photostream  

These two young Amish boys rode atop this draft horse team into the auction ring.
Taken at an Amish/Mennonite draft horse auction held at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

These two photos were taken at an Amish-Mennonite horse auction held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania recently. A fifty-yard long runway was roped off and covered with mulch so horses could be run along this lane prior to entering the auction ring. One horse after another came running up and back down this lane led by the owner who would run along leading the horse or horse team. Buyers lined the rope outside of the run to get a close up look at the horses in action and to see how well they moved and their overall confirmation. I was positioned at the far end photographing some of the action, when I noticed this group of Amish men standing along the rope. I was drawn to the overall look of the group because to me it had an abstract sculptural composition I liked. I took the first shot and then just after I took the first shot some of the group moved. One man looked up directly at me, and another stretched and yawned and the boy played on the rope. I didn’t even think about it, and automatically took the second shot and then went back to photographing the running horses. When I looked at the two pictures side by side later at home on my computer screen and I saw just what was there, I just loved it. The expressions and poses are priceless, and so natural, that they make me smile every time I look at them. I thought they needed to be seen together as a before and after shot. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

This is part of the crowd of spectators at an Amish/Mennonite horse auction held at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania yesterday. It is a huge event held over a two-day period. I went yesterday and had the pleasure of taking two Mennonite farmer friends with me. A third farmer friend had to cancel due to illness. It was a long day, but a truly wonderful experience. There were three large arenas used all day long for three concurrent auctions. The building is gigantic and had large spaces for exhibits and many pens used to house horses before and after auction. The event was overwhelming in it sheer size so I moved around all day with my camera trying to see everything and photograph everything. (Impossible) Needless to say I shot a large number of photographs and it’s going to take a while to sort them all out. This shot is of a section of the crowd in one of the three arenas. Much more to come.

Jason returning to the farm after a road session with this young horse. The horse is being trained to pull a buggy. He told me he uses this two-wheeled buggy because if the horse gets out of control it is harder to turn over than a four-wheeler.

The team waits patiently while the hay baler is worked on. I thought I’d tell you now about an adventure that is planned for next Wednesday. I am driving four of the Martin brothers (Mennonite farmers) to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to attend an Amish-Mennonite horse auction. One of the brothers is interested in purchasing a pair of draft horses and another brother has a horse for sale there. (No I’m not driving a horse trailer, not yet anyway.) The truth is though; I’m really looking forward to spending the day with all of them, and really hoping as well for some great photo opportunities at the auction. I’m told is a very large event. I can’t wait.