A Morning With Cindy

Pretty as a Picture. 

Some photo sessions feel less like a scheduled shoot and more like being invited into someone’s private little world for a while. Cindy’s session was one of those.

Her property is tucked away with the kind of view that makes you pause before you even take the camera out. It felt like a little slice of heaven — quiet, open, peaceful. Cindy has created the kind of place that feels like a retreat from the outside world, not just for herself, but for the animals who have found their way to her.

Cindy said she's loved horses since she was a little girl. She remembers dressing up like a cowboy and pretending she was tying up horses at the local saloon. But like many horse lovers (including me), life did not immediately lead her to horse ownership. She spent more than 30 years in corporate software sales, traveling often, and for a long time the idea of land, animals, and rescue work stayed more like a future dream than a present reality.

Eventually, though, she bought her property in northwest Georgia and began building the kind of life she had imagined.

A Growing Herd. 

Her first horse, Lincoln, came from a kill pen. The experience of rehabilitating him opened the door to the life she has now — centered less on riding and more on caring for animals in a safe place where they can thrive.

Oz came next. He had been part of the Atlanta Police Mounted Patrol after being rescued from a jumping facility. When he needed to retire, Cindy was asked if she would be willing to take him. She was honored to do it. Oz joined Lincoln, and the two settled into life together.

Then came Forest, who quickly became the little boss man.

Forest is a 36-inch mini mule, and he was skeptical of me from the minute I arrived. Cindy described him as the pesky younger sibling, but he's as cute as can be. He tagged along through much of the session and definitely mastered the art of photo-bombing. (See end of post for some of his antics.)

Cindy lost Lincoln in May of 2024, and the loss affected both Oz and Forest deeply. She described them mourning in a way that was heartbreaking to witness. Oz and Forest became inseparable.

Then KK arrived.

KK (Khemis Khopi) is a former National Dressage Champion, but after surgery and rehabilitation, he was no longer sound for his previous life. What he needed was space, turnout, companionship, and a soft place to land.

He found that with Cindy.

Oz, KK, and Forest blended together quickly. Cindy says it was a match made in heaven — three souls healing in their own way.

More recently, LuLu joined the group. LuLu is a rescue donkey who came from a neglect case and was later surrendered to a Georgia sanctuary. Cindy brought her home in November 2025, thinking Forest might benefit from having a smaller companion.

Forest agreed and claimed LuLu for his own.

In April 2026, Cindy learned that LuLu had been pregnant when she came to her, and baby came a couple of weeks after our photo session. Unfortunately, the baby did not survive, but Forest has stayed by her side through the whole ordeal.

That is what stood out to me most during this session. Yes, the property was beautiful. Yes, Oz and KK were gorgeous to photograph. Yes, Forest was hilarious and full of personality. But the real story was the connection between Cindy and these animals.

She said she can have the worst day, then go outside to “pet the ponies,” and all is right with the world.

I totally get it.

Here are some shots from a beautiful morning spent with Cindy.