Night Ryder

An Unexpected Detour in the Sunshine State

A couple of weeks ago, I found myself in Florida working on a photo and video project for a group of high-end horses headed to a premier sale. While the creative side of my work keeps me busy, I always have my eye out for a good horse—because let’s be honest, you never really turn that part of your brain off.

The project I was on didn’t start until noon, so I had a little time to spare that morning. As luck would have it, Julian Harris lives in the area and had previously posted a horse that caught my attention. On a whim, I gave him a call to see if the horse was still available. To my surprise, he said yes.

And here’s where I became every trainer’s worst nightmare—I asked if I could come see the horse right that second. No warning, no plan, just pure horse-shopping impulse. Luckily, he was gracious enough to say yes, and I was on my way!

Sometimes the best opportunities come from those spontaneous moments—which leads me to our 1AM “Night Ryde.”

Julian is not only a talented horse trainer, but also one of the most creative minds I’ve had the chance to work with. His passion for both horses and art is unmatched, and the way he lives—full throttle, no regrets—is something to admire. When he said, “I have an idea,” I already knew I was in.

That late-night ride turned into something pretty unforgettable!

As a photographer, I got to take his vision and add my own spin. I experimented with shutter drag to stretch out the lights and create a more abstract, artistic feel to the images—something a little dreamy, a little wild, and totally in the spirit of the moment.

Oh—and here’s the kicker. The horse at the center of it all? His name is Night Ryder. I mean, come on. You can’t make this stuff up. The 1AM shoot, the dreamy lights, the whole vibe—it was practically written in the stars.

And yes, the horse girl in me has to mention: he’s for sale. Have we said how great-minded he is? Because truly—he took the whole thing in stride like a total pro.