Ever wonder how your friends get those great holiday pictures with their horses on their social media feeds and Christmas cards? Taking great photos of your horse can be tough. After all, you are dealing with a 1000-pound animal with a mind of its own. Here are some quick tips to ensure that your horse comes out of the experience looking amazing.

Accessorize: Choose holiday themed accessories, including accessories made specifically for horses. Craft stores, thrift stores, and online equine merchants have so many options available to ensure your horse is dressed festively this season. Look for colorful ribbons, holiday garlands, and ready-made horse holiday apparel such as Santa hats, sleigh bells, and reindeer antlers. These all make fantastic props to place on your horse or in your horse’s environment.

Practice: One of the best things you can do to ensure a good holiday image is to practice. Spend time desensitizing your horse to your new holiday themed props. Hang out with your horse in the location that you hope to take the pictures so they will feel at ease spending time there.

Prepare your Horse: Plan to give your horse a bath on the day you will photograph them. Horses with lots of dirt under their coats will appear lusterless in photographs. Clean horses often have a beautiful healthy shine on camera. Depending on how you like your horse to look, consider trimming, body clipping, braiding manes and tails, or applying hoof polish.

Find a Helper: Grab a horse knowledgeable friend to assist with holding your horse or helping you create a calm and interested expression on your horse's face. Don’t forget to get those ears up!

Look for the Light: Some of the best photographs are taken during the early morning or late afternoon hours when the light is soft and positioned just above the horizon. If you find yourself having to shoot in the middle of the day, stand with the sun behind you and directed at your horse. Taking a few practice shots is a great way to make sure you are happy with the angle of the shadows. Don't be afraid to move around your horse to find better lighting options.

Unclutter the Background: Find a location to photograph your horse that is free of distracting elements. Muck buckets, wheel barrels and discarded tractor equipment in the background of your image can take the focus away from your main subject... your horse! Driveways, open pastures, the side of a barn all can be great locations. Choose a background that complements your horse's color. For example, a dark colored horse can disappear against a dark background.

Hire a Professional: Everybody has a cell phone in their pocket. However, professional equine photography requires skill, extensive practice, knowledge of both photography and horse behavior, and an understanding of equine conformation. A great equine photographer can anticipate moments and capture them quickly. Additionally, professional photographers can often take an image from good to stunning with the use of editing programs, delivering you a beautiful final image that is ready for print. Equine photography done well can become more than just a snapshot. It can become a piece of art to cherish for a lifetime.

TIPS FOR CREATING EPIC HOLIDAY PICTURES OF YOUR HORSE THIS SEASON