Popular equine photographer Barbara D. Livingston talks about her latest book, More Old Friends

Barbara D. Livingston has won two Eclipse Awards (horse racing’s highest honor) for her photography. Her romantic style and ability to capture the essence of the moment have made her a regular contributor to many publications, including The Blood-Horse. Her work also has appeared in Sports Illustrated, Newsweek, People, Cigar Aficionado, and GQ, and on the cover of TV Guide. Livingston also is the author of Old Friends: Visits with My Favorite Thoroughbreds, Barbara Livingston's Saratoga, and Four Seasons of Racing. A native of upstate New York, Livingston is a graduate of Syracuse University with a degree in fine arts. She lives in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

What motivated you to write the first Old Friends?

I’ve always loved horses, but when I saw the great Nashua in 1977 -- he was 25 and I was 16 -- his powerful presence taught me that older Thoroughbreds were overwhelmingly beautiful. In addition, it was evident that his caregiver, Clem Brooks, loved his charge very much -- adding to the magic. I still remember looking into Nashua’s proud eyes.

I didn’t realize others felt similar admiration toward these older horses, too, until I wrote the forward to my first book. I described time spent with 31-year-old T.V. Commercial, soon before his passing, and countless people mentioned how the story touched them.
That inspired me to begin writing about other senior horses, sharing their stories so people would understand how beloved, beautiful, and valuable they are -- especially in this age of increased awareness of our responsibilities toward them.

What did you learn from doing the first book that helped you with More Old Friends?

The most important thing I learned, I believe, is that there are so many others out there who feel as I do about these horses. Knowing people really wanted to learn about the horses’ personality traits -- and stories -- inspired me to dig deeper to uncover their unique tales.

In addition, quite a few people mentioned enjoying meeting "new" old friends -- horses they’d never heard of. I think I picked out a few even more unusual "old friends" for this book than in the first one. 

For example, Mary’s Fantasy tied the American record for being the oldest mare to produce a stakes winner: She was 26 when her final foal, stakes winner Perfect Fantasy, was born. Gem Twist, a registered Thoroughbred, is one of the greatest show jumpers in history. Urigo, a dear "backyard stallion," boasts average earnings per starter that tower above the nation’s best stallions.

What was one of your favorite memorable moments from shooting More Old Friends?

Each horse provided some special moment -- some memory that I’ll cherish -- during its shoot, so it’s difficult to choose favorites. But, in looking through the photos, a few stand out -- perhaps none more so than Puchilingui’s. 

It was absolutely surreal for me to meet Puchilingui, a 23-year-old stallion who I’d seen in stallion registers years ago. "Puchi" is paint-colored, considered by many the first (and most important) foundation sire for paint-colored Thoroughbreds. 

I visited him in Michigan in January 2007. While the winter had been unseasonably mild, the town where Puchilingui lived had a delightful fresh coating of snow -- seemingly the only measurable snow between that town and the Detroit airport, several hours away.  When Puchilingui’s owner brought him outside, the magnificent spotted horse -- brown and black and white -- reared proudly and scattered the snow. It was surreal.

What was the toughest part about doing More Old Friends?

Whittling down the number of subjects. There were so many others I wanted to include, so many aged Thoroughbreds with wonderful stories. I simply ran out of room for some incredible horses that I’d already photographed.

Do you have a favorite equine friend or two from this book that you can share with your readers?

Ah, a tough call! Of course, every subject is dear to me somehow. Three stand out, however. Sugar and Spice, an old Calumet mare, was forgotten and in terrible health when a friend took her in (she bought her for $1). Sugar was put back on a regular diet, her coat blossomed, she regained that spark in her eye, and she was dearly loved in her final months. When she passed away, Sugar was buried at her old home, Calumet Farm, where she lies near her siblings (Alydar and Our Mims) and descendants.

Highland Bud’s story is one of love. Betsy Wells rode, and helped tend to, Bud for years -- including through two Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase scores. While they went their separate ways in the early 1990s, Betsy and Bud were reunited in 2005 when Betsy received a bleak cancer prognosis. They spent happy days together, and Betsy even rode her friend again. Betsy has since passed on but her beloved Bud remains, tended to by Betsy’s dear friends. I wish, so much, Betsy had lived long enough to see the book.

Do you think there will be a call for Old Friends 3?

I hope so!  Just in case, I’m starting to collect possible subjects already. That way, either way, I’ll at least have the chance to photograph more remarkable "old friends."

When you shoot this special group of retirees, what kind of a different approach do you take as opposed to shooting at the track or anywhere else?

Fortunately, many farms understood the project I was working on. They often allowed me extra time either to set horses up in unusual settings, or at special angles, or at unusual times of day, to best reflect their personalities. 

People really wanted their beloved "old friends" recorded in their best light. It also felt extra important to photograph these older horses with the respect they deserve. As older horses, for instance, some had noticeable health issues. In a few cases, the owners asked that their horses’ bodies not be included in the portraits; and a few subjects had melanomas, or unusually crooked legs, that seemed best not portrayed in the photographs.

I didn’t sugarcoat their stories, by any means, but wanted them to maintain their hard-earned pride and respect. They each deserved it.

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