Hero as portrayed by "BUD"
Bud is a multiple award winning Racking horse, here in the state of Alabama.
July gets Bud to take a "show stretch" for the camera, right before the prep. A truly amazing horse.
Pictured above is July at one of the many shows that she and Bud have attended over the years, July works closely with Bud on a regular basis, to the point where Bud follows her around just like a little puppy! Hats off too Jackie the owner,July the rider / trainer and Bud for their contribution to the Phantom legend!!!
Pictured above is June, (Stevo's wife, and sister to July), holding the reigns of Bud while he is prepped for the photo shoot.
We owe a great debt of gratitude to owner Jackie, who owns and manages the Alexander ranch, without his agreement to do the shoot with Bud, our storyline would have been greatly lacking.The ranch was a great backdrop for our storyline, beautiful green rolling hills, and large hardwood trees.
Although the pictures do not reflect it, we were surrounded by terrific thunder and lightning this day that was threatening to end the shoot. When you looked up into the sky, you could see this large circle of thunderstorm, and we were right in the center of it! Thankfully it passed us by, and we were able to continue the shoot. Incidentally, Bud was the calmest of all of us during the weather! Thank you Jackie for allowing us to shoot with Bud!
Although the pictures do not reflect it, we were surrounded by terrific thunder and lightning this day that was threatening to end the shoot. When you looked up into the sky, you could see this large circle of thunderstorm, and we were right in the center of it! Thankfully it passed us by, and we were able to continue the shoot. Incidentally, Bud was the calmest of all of us during the weather! Thank you Jackie for allowing us to shoot with Bud!
We owe another great debt of gratitude to July, who is the rider and trainer of Bud. She was very kind to have spent the afternoon with us, and being with us every step of the way, from prepping and grooming the horse, to helping direct the action scenes, as well as giving pointers to Kellye, and myself on making ourselves comfortable with Bud during the ride. July has been around Bud so long, that he responds to hand signals, as well as voice commands. July's hard work with bud is reflected by the calmness of this magnificent horse, in the past I have been around some show horses, and in particular Arabian horses, and they are extremely high spirited, and short tempered, Bud was none of these, and was extremely friendly. Thank you July!
Pictured above is July giving instruction to The Phantom, on what Bud is normally used to regarding the use of the reigns, and the stirrups. Bud responded to the postures in the saddle, as well as the position of the stirrups. He was always on the ready to go!!!
DEVIL!
Devil, is copyright King Features / the Hearst corp., and Paramount pictures 1996/2013
Devil, like his father, and those who came before him, are the trusted companions, and friend for life of the Phantom. Both the Phantom, and Devil are so loyal to each other that they would sacrifice themselves to save each other. Like the Phantom, Devil has a family of his own in the jungle, and when he can no longer fight side by side with the Phantom, devil's strongest, and bravest of the pups will take his place by the Phantom's side!
"With the exception of women, there is nothing on earth so agreeable or necessary to the comfort of man as the dog." ~Edward Jesse, Anecdote of Dogs