Old Friends in Summer: A Look Back at Summer 2021 at Old Friends at Cabin Creek

Click here to order a print of this photo.

This past summer I spent three days a week volunteering at Old Friends at Cabin Creek in Greenfield, NY, a sanctuary for retired thoroughbred racehorses. In this post, I will share some of my favorite photos from the summer. Please note that if you click through and purchase prints of any of the photos in this post, I will donate 100% of my profit back to the farm to help take care of the “boys.”

Red Down South being goofy while I work on mucking his paddock. Zippy Chippy can be seen in the background stomping his hoof. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Another photo of Red from inside his paddock.
I captured this photo of the farm in between giving tours. Mr. Cowboy (left) and Naughty New Yorker can both be seen in this photo. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Mr. Cowboy in monochrome. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Old Friends Equine founder Michael Blowen came to visit the farm in August. He told stories about the horses to guests. Here he is interacting with Cool N Collective.
RI took this mouse-eye view portrait of This Hard Land AKA Frankie while I was helping muck his paddock. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Here’s a photo I took of Slew’s Brew while helping muck his paddock. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Occasionally one will encounter other animals besides horses at the farm. One day a pig named Moose came to visit!

All of the photos I’ve shared thus far in my post (save for the title card) were taken on my phone. Now lets have a look at some of the photos I’ve taken using my professional gear.

Strummer looking so handsome. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Here’s another shot of Strummer. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Here is Strummer’s paddock mate, Doc N Roll. Click here to order a print of this photo.
This is Cool N Collective. Click here to order a print of this photo.
This is Cool’s paddock mate, Watchem Smokey. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Smokey is very photogenic! Click here to order a print of this photo.
This is the face This Hard Land, aka Frankie, makes when he wants a treat. Click here to order a print of this photo.
This is a more serious portrait of Frankie. Click here to order a print of this photo.
This is Patrick, our resident quarter horse. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Slew’s Brew stands in the sunlight. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Naughty New Yorker pays homage to his predecessor, the late Travers winner Will’s Way, who occupied this paddock prior to Naughty New Yorker’s arrival. Click here to order a print of this photo.
I took a lot of photos of Naughty New Yorker. Here he is backlit by the morning sun. Click here to order a print of this photo.
This close up portrait of Naughty New Yorker is a bit of a departure from my usual style. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Here’s another shot of Naughty New Yorker standing next to Will’s nameplate. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Yole, one of our volunteer’s dogs, loves the camera.
King Congie gallops across his paddock. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Dedicated volunteer Dan Milliman gives Congie some affection.
Zippy Chippy is famous for having won 0 of 100 races! Click here to order a print of this photo.
Here’s another portrait of Zippy. Click here to order a print of this photo.
A monochrome portrait of Zippy’s paddock mate, Red Down South. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Dan gives Red some affection.
The barn at sunrise.
Roaring Lion, aka Leo, makes his way over for a treat. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Leo gets a pet from my mom. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Congie makes his way out of his run in shed. Click here to order a print of this photo.
Congie’s always game for a portrait! Click here to order a print of this photo.
Like Now gets a treat. Click here to order a print of this photo.
On Travers day this year, carnations were placed by the memorials of Old Friends’ two Travers winners, Thunder Rumble (above) and Will’s Way (below).
Will passed away on Christmas Eve last year at the age of 27. This year was the 25th anniversary of his big win.
Pictured here is the beautiful barn at sunrise from up near Cosmonaut and Commentator’s paddocks. On the barn you can see the wooden cutout of Old Friend’s own Mr. Cowboy, who was born at the farm and now lives out his retirement there, and the sign featuring Exceller and Ferdinand, two beloved racehorses whose untimely deaths inspired the creation of Old Friends in Georgetown, KY. Click here to order a print of this photo.

To see more of my upstate New York photography be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. All photos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.

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