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Spirit Horses
The power, grace, and freedom of horses had always resonated deeply with Stromberg. Through his photographs of these magnificent beasts, he sees a way to bridge what he calls “modern life’s disturbing separation between people and nature.” The result is Spirit Horses, showcasing 140 of Stromberg’s extraordinary color portraits of these animals, along with quotations from leading teachers and writers exploring equine wisdom and its intersection with spirituality. The photographs in Spirit Horses were shot in a variety of locales, from wildlife sanctuaries to private ranches to natural habitats in Europe and the western United States. These images — and the accompanying quotes — offer a portrait of horses as profound teachers, giving strength and stability to a world out of balance.
168 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2005
47 people want to read
About the author
Tony Stromberg
8 books6 followersAfter successfully spending over 20 years as a high-end advertising photographer in San Francisco, I found myself disenchanted, burned out, and ultimately receiving no nourishment from the work I was doing. On the outside, I had everything anyone would want, but my inner landscape was barren and I began “searching” for my lost spirit.
When horses came into my life in the mid-1990’s, I realized that I had found my teachers, and the connection that I have developed with horses has helped steer my life in a completely different direction. Horses have taught me so much in the time that I have spent with them. They have taught me about the power of authenticity, honestly, and integrity, and they have taught me the true meaning of leadership and relationship. They have also taught me about living in collaboration and community, rather than the model that our society embodies, which is about competition and “getting ahead of the rest”.
I feel my work is an homage to the equine spirit, and to the archetypal role they play in our lives. This is why I always photograph them without riders, saddles, bits, bridles or any other device that would interfere with their pure essence.
After publishing my first 2 books “Spirit Horses” and “The Forgotten Horses”, I have worked on a new book, Horse Medicine that just got published, which is my latest collection of photography, and also includes text about the role horses play for us as teachers and healers, and the profound lessons they provide for us… if we are willing to listen.
When horses came into my life in the mid-1990’s, I realized that I had found my teachers, and the connection that I have developed with horses has helped steer my life in a completely different direction. Horses have taught me so much in the time that I have spent with them. They have taught me about the power of authenticity, honestly, and integrity, and they have taught me the true meaning of leadership and relationship. They have also taught me about living in collaboration and community, rather than the model that our society embodies, which is about competition and “getting ahead of the rest”.
I feel my work is an homage to the equine spirit, and to the archetypal role they play in our lives. This is why I always photograph them without riders, saddles, bits, bridles or any other device that would interfere with their pure essence.
After publishing my first 2 books “Spirit Horses” and “The Forgotten Horses”, I have worked on a new book, Horse Medicine that just got published, which is my latest collection of photography, and also includes text about the role horses play for us as teachers and healers, and the profound lessons they provide for us… if we are willing to listen.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 31, 2020
I've had this on my to-read list for a few years. I've been reading horse books lately, so I decided to finally read this.
I liked the foreword, and learning that mustangs descend from domesticated horses brought over from Europe, who escaped bloody battles or wandered from conquistador's camps at night. I knew mustangs descended from horses from Europe, but I hadn't heard those other particular theories before.
It was interesting to hear no domesticated species seems to thrive without humans like horses do.
I was surprised to learn feral herds don't form strict pecking orders, because I recently learned that domestic horses do.
Stallions might defer to the alpha mare, and she might not be in charge all the time.
Sometimes it's the mild-mannered horse that never drinks first from the watering hole that leads everyone to safety.
Also surprised to learn two stallions might share a band of mares at times, and some stallions prefer mates with a certain color.
Females are more empowered and the males are gentler than myths say.
I liked the story of Cloud: Wild Stallion of the Rockies, of a pale stallion who came across a mare whose foal had died. He stood silently by her and her other foal. He was scarred from rough play in bachelor bands and bad fights with harem stallions and he was scarred and temporarily lame, so that one show of compassion from him earned him the right to be her mate.
This quote reminded me of Flicka. Not sure which came first.
'Horse and human travel as partners, ever cognizant that wherever humanity has left its footprint in the long ascent from barbarism to civilization, there is the hoofprint of the horse beside it.'
-Dr. Sherry Ackerman, Dressage in the Fourth Dimension.
I've always loved horses, and I enjoyed looking at all these pictures.
I wish I could include some of the pictures in my review, some were so pretty! The ones that stood out was the third picture of two horses emerging from the mist. It's very haunting and cool.
The freckled horses were cool, too. I loved the quality of some, how they look like old pictures taken in the 1800s, and the cool effects on some of the others.
I do wish the pages had been numbered, because I like knowing where I am in a book.
Something I thought of after I was done was that it would have been nice hearing more from the author, quotes from him, and words about the photos he took.
I liked the foreword, and learning that mustangs descend from domesticated horses brought over from Europe, who escaped bloody battles or wandered from conquistador's camps at night. I knew mustangs descended from horses from Europe, but I hadn't heard those other particular theories before.
It was interesting to hear no domesticated species seems to thrive without humans like horses do.
I was surprised to learn feral herds don't form strict pecking orders, because I recently learned that domestic horses do.
Stallions might defer to the alpha mare, and she might not be in charge all the time.
Sometimes it's the mild-mannered horse that never drinks first from the watering hole that leads everyone to safety.
Also surprised to learn two stallions might share a band of mares at times, and some stallions prefer mates with a certain color.
Females are more empowered and the males are gentler than myths say.
I liked the story of Cloud: Wild Stallion of the Rockies, of a pale stallion who came across a mare whose foal had died. He stood silently by her and her other foal. He was scarred from rough play in bachelor bands and bad fights with harem stallions and he was scarred and temporarily lame, so that one show of compassion from him earned him the right to be her mate.
This quote reminded me of Flicka. Not sure which came first.
'Horse and human travel as partners, ever cognizant that wherever humanity has left its footprint in the long ascent from barbarism to civilization, there is the hoofprint of the horse beside it.'
-Dr. Sherry Ackerman, Dressage in the Fourth Dimension.
I've always loved horses, and I enjoyed looking at all these pictures.
I wish I could include some of the pictures in my review, some were so pretty! The ones that stood out was the third picture of two horses emerging from the mist. It's very haunting and cool.
The freckled horses were cool, too. I loved the quality of some, how they look like old pictures taken in the 1800s, and the cool effects on some of the others.
I do wish the pages had been numbered, because I like knowing where I am in a book.
Something I thought of after I was done was that it would have been nice hearing more from the author, quotes from him, and words about the photos he took.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2011
Amazing photos
June 8, 2015
Very beautiful and mystical photographs of some of North America's last wild horses.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews