Highly acclaimed professional equestrian photographer, Maria Kooy, talks to Mahima Rides about her passion for equine photography and India. In particular, about her love for the Marwari horse.
Maria Kooy is a Dutch professional photographer who travels the world to photograph horses.
Describe your background as an equestrian photographer, Maria
When I was a young I was a real โhorsegirlโ, or paardenmeisje, as we say in The Netherlands. When I came back from school, the first thing I would do is get changed into my breeches/jodhpurs and went straight to the stables. Yes, I was privileged that my parents had some land and stables with about 7 horses and ponies. I did dressage competitions until I was 20 years old. Than I stopped riding because I moved to France for a couple of years. Some years ago I start to ride again as a co-rider.
I always have been interested in photography. In 2014 I have obtained my professional diploma of photography. Since 2016 I have specialised in equine photography. I do photoshoots with horses, but also I photograph equestrian sports. Since 2017 I am a professional photographer in the media team of CHIO Rotterdam and at FEI EC 2019 at Rotterdam (Jumping, Dressage and Para-dressage).
What do you love about the Marwari horses and India?
When Iโm in India, I feel myself so alive. There are always people on the streets, the sounds of the horns, music from the temples and everything is so colorful. The Marwari horse is a part of the culture. I went to several weddings and there are always colourfully decorated horses at the procession and ceremony, so beautiful.
Besides I photograph horses I love portrait and street photography. For me as photographer, India is one of the most photogenic places in the world.
How would you describe the Marwari horse?
I notice that the Marwariโs are fearless. Although they are often sensible for the emotions of the riders. I love the wide variety of colours in Marwari horses and the variety of the curled ears, it makes them so unique. Marwari horses are very alert and tough. They are not quickley tired, they like to work.
What advice would you give to equestrians who are keen to journey to India to ride the Marwari breed?
I certainly will advise equestrians to ride the Marwari breed. First of all it will be a unique experience seeing those curled ears in front of you.
The Marwari horses at safaris are trained and they are comfortable to ride, so it is safe. From the back of a horse you can see the countryside better. So you can see how the people work the land without machines, the women walking with water jugs on her head, the shepherds with their flock of goats and the colorful villages.
Describe Dundlod Fort and Stables
I just did a short visit to Dundlod to photograph the tent-pegging.
The horses I saw looked healthy and the stables were clean. The grooms performed very well at tent-pegging. The photoshoot of the tentpegging at Dundlod was an exciting experience. To have a good shot of the riders in action I lay down on the ground, when they passed by, I could feel the ground shaking and it gave me some adrenaline.
You’ve photographed endurance competitions in India, what are Marwari horses like at endurance?
The Marwari stay good in power till the end. During the walk the stayed calm, at the end they enough for the final gallop.
What are your best memories of photographing Marwari horses in India?
Some of the best memories I have is at the of the area around Narlai, I love the rocky hills. I took some great pictures with those rocks in the back.
The photoshoot at a village is one of my favourite, where the people of the village were models for my photos. They smiled all the time.
I did a sunset photoshoot just outside a village, the horse was rearing and I was laying on the ground and focused. Than I heard more and more sound and when I turned around, I saw that the whole village was watching me photographing the rearing horse.
On my last trip I visit the Pushkar Fair, I enjoyed photographing the people, camels and the Marwari horses. Meeting the Marwari people. A great experience.
What parts of Rajasthan have you been to, and have you journeyed to other parts of India to photograph horses?
I stayed at several places in Shekhawati, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Narlai. I also went to Ahmedabad and Rajkot in Gujarat, where I photographed Marwari and Kathiawari horses.
You can pin this article on Pinterest using the pins below.
