Inspired by Icelandic Horses

The horse features prominently the Norse mythology that influences Icelandic history, culture and folklore. Because of this mythical heritage, the Icelandic Horse is often referred to as the horse of the gods.

It also holds a special place in the heart of photographer Martina Gates and is one of her favorite subjects to photograph. Gates, who travels to Iceland at least once a year, finds it particularly inspiring to photograph the horses in their native country.

“Experiencing the horses in this magical landscape is beyond words,” she says. “Their easy gaits and surefootedness propel you over territory that would be difficult to walk on. The treks often go through rivers, over mountains and along the beaches.

“Every time I pick up my camera to photograph the horses I let myself be surprised. There are times I will see a landscape and envision the horses there. I have often brought horses to those settings and let them be. Sometimes nothing happens; sometimes energy just explodes.

“I wait for moments, compositions, and a connection. The eyes of a horse say so much, as well as body language.

“I love the connection between the natural setting and the horse.”

Meet Martina Gates

Photography has been a big part of Martina Gates’s life, first in front of the camera as a model for 20 years, and then behind it. A love of horses has also been a constant for Gates, who grew up riding in her native Germany.

“It would have been a natural progression to photograph horses, but it wasn’t until 2007 when I received a wonderful gift from my daughter to go photograph Mustangs in the wild. It was a profound experience,” she says. “Watching the herd interactions within a natural setting was breathtaking. I decided right then that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”

Gates first discovered the Icelandic through a Horse Illustrated breed profile in the 1990s; she now owns 10 of them. She describes her first meeting with the breed as an instant connection. “The horses had an incredible temperament and the gaits were amazing. There was no turning back. Now, all these years later, it’s a real honor to have my Icelandic pictures in Horse Illustrated. It’s like coming full circle.”

A graduate of Parson’s School of Design, Gates owns a gallery, Fotoworks, in Millerton, N.Y., where she sells mostly limited edition photography, including her own. www.martinagates.com

This article originally appeared in the September 2016 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!