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Heart Horse Feature: Maria + Hsani | Indianapolis IN Portrait Photographer
- Bethany Quinn
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Heart Horse is a horse and rider portrait series that features 40 horse women and their heart horses, where they share their history together. At the end of the portrait series, there will be a gala to feature stories like this, their one portrait from their session, and to raise money for Epona Healing with Horses. The date is TBD as this project is still ongoing. If you’d like to participate with your heart horse, you can go here to learn more and sign up.
Hsani is a 20 year old AQHA chestnut gelding. He and his owner, Maria reside outside of Terre Haute, Indiana. Maria rides because she enjoys it and it’s her peace. But she takes lessons with Kasey Thiel, who owns Ranger Point Ranch Horses.
When talking about her favorite memory with Hsani she shares, “My most memorable ride is when I was trail riding and he wouldn’t cross a large mud puddle. To his defense it was big and deep but he’s done it before.
Anyway, after trying to get him to cross for at least 20+ minutes we were stopped and standing on the short side of the puddle and he decided to jump the puddle without any warning. It was a shock to say the least. Amazingly enough we landed safely on the other side and somehow I stayed in the saddle and landed perfectly centered.”
When I asked Maria how she met Hsani, she shared, “He was an impulse internet purchase. I loved him when I saw his video and knew I wanted him. They said he can be sour at times and they weren’t kidding. The first night I had him he bit my breast without warning. That was the first time in my life I had ever been bitten by a horse.”
Hsani was bred in Texas and his sire is Mitey Jody, who raced on the quarter horse circuit from what I could find out. His dame is a granddaughter of Three Bars.
Maria said, “Hsani’s nickname at the barn is Big Angry because he always has his ears laid back but the second you grab his halter he’s pretty perfect. He hates to be brushed and loved on, but doesn’t move away from it and completely relaxes, but has his ears back at the same time. I have very few photos of him with his ears forward.
He LOVES frozen cokes from Burger King, and sweet tea from McDonald’s.”
Prior to Maria owning him, he competed in ACTHA (The American Competitive Trail Horse Association) , but she hasn’t shown with him other than participating in clinics.
Maria goes on to tell her history with horses. “My mom had horses when she was young and continued throughout adulthood. So I was on a horse before I could walk. I had horses until after my freshman year of college, when I didn’t have the time and my mom’s horse had passed away. Then in 2013 my mom bought another horse and well we don’t share well so I bought one too. It’s been the best thing I could have done for myself. As expensive and frustrating as horses can be (he’s had more massages than I have) it’s so rewarding when you hear him nicker because he hears my voice. We’ve come a long way as a team because he has buttons I’m not used to and the pride and accomplishment when he does exactly what I want and the feel of him moving the way I want when I want is something only other horse people understand.”
Heart Horse is an ongoing project where 40 horsewomen share their stories and adventures with their heart horse(s). If you’d like to participate, or know a fellow horsewoman, please visit the Heart Horse page and fill out an application.
Bethany Quinn is the photographer behind Bethany Quinn Studios where she helps modern women feel more confident in their own skin through boudoir and equine photography sessions. We encourage you to grab a glass of wine or sparkling cider, hang out for awhile, and check out more that the blog has to offer!
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