Weekend Showcase: Cold Ruru

Today's guest post features another batch of gorgeous photos from European hobbyist and photographer, Cold Ruru. The focus this time is Appaloosas and castles, and let me tell you: It's pictures like these that have me counting the minutes until I leave for Europe. Four days, people. Four days!

Horses and Castles

by Cold Ruru

Horses and castles just go together, right? And good news, castles are not rare at all in France!

taken at Jarrie, France

No doubt, some find it strange when I photograph my appaloosa horses in front of castles, but historically, spotted horses always have been associated with royalty and castles!

taken at Vaux-le-Vicomte, France

Today we refer to spotted horses as Appaloosas, because of the emblematic breed. In historic times, the name was "tigre" (tigerhorse) which is funny, since we use "leopard" as the title for one of the coat patterns.

taken at Vaux-le-Vicomte, France

It's these tigerhorses that have a close tie with royalty, because it was obviously "in" to have one. I like to imagine noble people arguing with each other about "who got the spottier one." 

As both a spotted horse and history fan, I cannot deny my desire to copy the masters.

taken at Vaux-le-Victomte, France

I'm so passionate about the role of spotted horses in history, even in France, that I leased my  own spotted mare to an historic filming. I had the honor of riding her in front of a castle and having our picture taken.

Since it's not easy to bring the real horse to a castle every time, well...

I manage to play another way.

When choosing models for my photos, I try to stick to the type of horse that could have been found in the castle garden.

I use Spanish, Arab and Persian horses for ceremonials, parades and carousels,

taken at Versailles, France

English  steeds for the hunts...

taken at Versailles, France

and mostly Polish, Danish and Prussian types as Coach horses! They were probably lighter than this particular model, but well, we all love a chunk!

taken at Versailles, France

Royal horses at stud is a great subject, maybe my favorite.

taken at Vaux-le-Vicomte, France

taken at Passy, France

taken at Vaux-le-Vicomte, France

taken at Duden Park, Belgium

To finish with another personal touch, when I was a child, my mamy's house was like a castle. I'm featuring it here because it's a part of my castle obsession.

taken at Nivelles, Belgium

And if you go to France,  just open your eyes, 'cuz castles and castle-like places are everywhere!

taken in France

And I really really hope you wouldn't have preferred some sand castles at the sea!

taken at Presqu'île de Giens, France