Little Wonder Horse Farm

Little Wonder Horse Farm is located in Topping, VA and is the home to 85 miniature horses. Now if you are asking where Topping, VA is, according to Google Maps it's an hour and a half from Richmond, VA. That is of course if you have directions to the farm itself. Then you will be lost for at least another half an hour to forty-five minutes.

The owners of the farm were kind enough to open it up to our photography group for pictures. Since I missed meeting up with the group, my wife and I ventured on our own to Topping, VA. For the most part it is an enjoyable drive, unless you hit I64 beach traffic and it can come to a screaming halt. Like I stated, Google states it's an hour and a half drive, but if you don't have an address it can take longer. Gratefully there is a Feed Store on the highway in Topping, that I figured if anybody was going to know where this farm was, they would. I was right! Gave me perfect directions. As we arrived, the group I was to be with, were packing their gear, cars, and leaving. Oh well so much for a group outing.

As I mentioned the owners were nice enough to open it up to the group, and to the late comers. Walking around the farm you encounter many miniature horses, from baby miniatures, to full grown. The tallest adult reaching thirty six inches. What I found interesting was the fact that during the day the horses were laying down, flat on their sides. Sound a sleep. I was under the impression that if a horse or cow was laying flat they were in need of medical treatment. In the case of the miniatures I learned some history of their breed. Miniature horses ran wild here in Virginia, and of course being smaller then most animals they were prey for some of the others. So, the miniatures would stay alert at night, and sleep during the day. This way they avoided becoming another wild animal late nite snack.

All the miniatures are people friendly, and not camera shy at all. I guess you would call a miniature horse baby, a colt. Not sure if that's a correct term. But they were interesting and fun to watch. It was enjoyable day and if you are ever in Topping, VA check them out.

You can see some more of the miniatures at my website http://www.photsbyrb.zenfolio.com/

Richmond's Dragon Boat Races

It's just been so hot here in Virginia, that to get the energy to go out and shoot some pictures took an act of Congress. I had no desire to go and shoot pictures in 105 degree heat. Nor did I think any of the subjects would have been warranted good enough to do so.

This weekend was a different story as I ventured out to see the Richmond's first Dragon Boat Races. Held on the James River at Rocketts Landing, it was interesting to see the boats and the teams all work together to win the events. Japeneese Boat Racing is held throughout the United States, with different teams from the area. Teams from Washington DC and the area came to participate in the races of Richmond this weekend. The teams consisted of employees of corporations, and the motivation is to build your team efforts both in boat races, but also in your work place.

The teams put forth great efforts to make the grade.

There were also culture exibitions such as Martial Atrs, Japaneese Traditionl Dancing. They were all very interesting and fun to watch. The colors were just outstanding.

This girl was so fast with the blades, it was really hard to get focused on her.

If you would like to look at some of the other photographs I took at this event, please visit http://www.photosbyrb.zenfolio.com/

Amazing! There has to be something greater then us.

There has to be something bigger then all of us to be able to create such an effect in the sky. I know it, and even if you do not believe in your heart of hearts, you know it too. An effect like this can not come from someone or something that has not given so much for us.

The above picture was taken after a huge electrical storm passed through our area. Right outside my house.

The sky has been always an interesting subject for me. The amazing colors that it can bring, whites, blues, grays, orange, red... all the colors. I could spend a whole day just shooting clouds and the sky. I have even caught myself day dreaming, as I did when I was a kid looking into the sky. Just thinking and wondering, what's up there....who's up there...