Elizabeth & Thunderstruck | Chincoteague Pony Equine Portraits in Fillmore, NY

Some horses represent more than just a new chapter.

For Elizabeth, Thunderstruck represents a dream that had been building for a long time.

Thunderstruck, whose registered name is Valentyns Lifted Wings, is a young Chincoteague pony born on Assateague Island in Virginia. He’s by Chief Golden Eagle and out of Daisey, and Elizabeth first met him at the Chincoteague Pony Auction.

From the beginning, he was exactly what she had hoped for. As a yearling, Thunderstruck is already full of personality. Elizabeth describes him as loving, playful, and very treat-driven and honestly, treats might be his favorite thing in the world. He’s curious about everything and always ready to see what’s going on around him, usually with that cute little face leading the way.

But what makes him truly special to Elizabeth is what he represents.

Thunderstruck is her first horse, the realization of a dream to raise a foal and train one of her own from the very beginning. Watching him grow, learning together, and building that partnership step by step is something she had hoped for for years. Right now, some of their favorite things to do together are simple: sharing snacks and going for walks while Thunderstruck explores the world around him. One of her favorite memories so far was their first trip to Equifest together, an experience that made everything feel a little more real.

These portraits were created on a beautiful fall day in Fillmore, New York, the quiet fields and wooded trails made the perfect setting to capture Elizabeth and Thunderstruck together as they begin this journey.

Elizabeth’s dog Zoie joined in as well, she is a two-year-old mix of Miniature Dachshund and Pomeranian with a personality that is so big it’s hard to believe that it lives in such a tiny body. Zoie is silly, sweet, curious, and just a little bit of a troublemaker. She loves toys, people-food snacks, and spending time with her favorite people, Daddy, Mommy, Nannie, and Bompie. She also has a few quirks, including trying to “pet” the cats with her paw and occasionally stealing underwear when no one is looking. Zoie came into Elizabeth’s life during a bittersweet moment. After losing her previous dog the day after Christmas, Zoie was born just a few days later as part of an unexpected litter from a friend’s dog. Somehow, the timing felt meant to be.

Now she’s Elizabeth’s snuggle buddy and little sass mouth, and having both of her animals together during this portrait session made the experience even more meaningful. Seeing her two babies together was something Elizabeth loved most about the experience. Having the opportunity to photograph moments like this is exactly why I love creating equine and pet portraits. Horses grow, partnerships evolve, and these early chapters become some of the most meaningful memories.

And for Elizabeth and Thunderstruck, this story is only just beginning, a young pony, a dream that’s finally becoming real, and a partnership that will continue to grow together for years to come.