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An image of Onaqui  wild horses galloping in Western Utah
Memories of Onaqui Wild Horses Linger Long After the Photo Safari

Wild Horse Photo Safaris (www.wildhorsephotosafaris.com) is a labor of love and a offers unique, custom tailored, ecologically conscious photographic viewing experience through my business A Place In Time Photography, LLC (www.APlaceInTimePhotos.com).


My private year-round tours start and end in the small rural town of Tooele and can accommodate any photography skill level from novice or professionals. Even non-photographers who simply love horses and wildlife have raved it’s been one of the best experiences of their lives.  Tooele is very easy to access only a short 25 minute drive from the Salt Lake City International Airport.



By choosing to accompany me with Wild Horse Photo Safaris on range you are getting the advantage of a unique and customizable experience from someone whose life is entrenched the wild horses on a daily basis.  I've spent over 2,500 hours documenting the herd, the individual family members, their locations, patterns, hide outs and likes and dislikes.  This enables me to help my guests have the best experience possible during your tour. 


It also helps you to feel confident that our time with the wild horses is done in a way that is most at harmony with their location and comfort levels and with the intention of preserving their natural behaviors and surrounding ecological resources for years to come. 


While in Utah’s west desert, my guests will be provided with comprehensive information about the Onaqui herds, band structure and individual horses.  You'll learn their names, stories and what challenges they have had and may still face both on and off the range.  You'll also learn in real time about wild horse behavior and how to read their body language, mannerisms and interactions.


All of my photo safaris are private and limited to small groups traveling together to help ensure the best experience for you and for the Onaqui horses as well.  Tour lengths vary and range from 4 hours, 6 hours to sunrise/sunset per day and multi-day bookings can also be accommodated. 




Previous guests routinely rave about the undeniable spirit of the Onaqui wild mustangs and share that they can’t stop thinking about them long after returning home. 


·         Devona from Arizona shares “What a wonderful experience of light and joy with this wonderful lady.  She has devoted years with dedication and love … holding them in compassion for the rest of the world to witness.” 


·         Lisa from Arizona says “I can’t really find the words to express how my experience with the horses affected me.  It was amazing, breathtaking and soul stirring.  I absolutely fell in love with the Onaqui. They are so special. I fell in love because I was able to hear their stories, history, family dynamics, etc. from someone, Jen Rogers, who has a passion and love for these horses that can’t help but rub off.  It’s contagious.” 


·         John from Virginia shares “It exceeded our expectations.  We saw more wild horses than we could have imagined.  We were able to get close, but not disrupt them in any way.  We can’t say enough good things about our guide Jen.  She knows everything about the horses.  She knows them all by name, how old they are, which horses are in which small group and the behaviors of each horse.  Jen loves all of the horses and is a passionate advocate for them.  Thank you Jen for the experience of a lifetime and one of our best days ever.”


Conservation efforts, including photographic documentation, education and protection, have always been at the forefront of my mind even as a young girl.  I spent long hours near woods and streams learning to identify tracks and understand wildlife behavior.  This has carried me through the years as I traveled abroad exploring several countries where I loved volunteering time and photography skills at animal sanctuaries or private reserves.


A photograph of an affectionate moment between two Onaqui wild horses in Western Utah by Jennifer Rogers of Wild Horse Photo Safaris, providing year-round ethically based & environmentally friendly wild horse photography tours. equustyle.com
An affectionate moment between two Onaqui wild horses in Western Utah

My prior travels and interest in conservation set the foundation for me to start my own locally based 501c3 non-profit Red Birds Trust (redbirdstrust.org) to help preserve and protect the Onaqui wild horses both on and off the range.  Red Birds Trust has worked with various other wild horse advocates around the US to speak for the betterment of the care of the Onaqui wild horses, held numerous range clean up events, sanctuary spotlight events, and assisted in the placement of 150 Onaqui wild horses to date.  Many of these Onaqui we rescued have been bought from kill pens and were slated to be sent to slaughter after they were rounded up off the range and their placements with private owners fail them.









 


EquuStyle Art & Travel magazine thanks Jennifer Rogers of Wild Horse Photo Safaris for sharing an excellent article and her gorgeous photographs. As founder of the wild horse advocacy nonprofit Red Birds Trust, Jen Rogers dedication to educate the public about protecting and preserving America’s vanishing wild horses and, in particular the Onaqui wild mustangs, is immensely inspiring.


All images copyright Wild Horse Photo Safaris -all rights reserved. Cannot be reproduced for any purpose without permission from Jennifer Rodgers and Wild Horse Photo Safaris.



A photograph of Colleen Cannon in Iceland with an Icelandic horse on a Women's Quest Ultimate Wellness Adventure Retreat.
Colleen Cannon with Women's Quest Icelandic Ultimate Wellness Adventure Retreat

EquuStyle: How did you become a World-Class triahlete?


Colleen Cannon: I became a World Class triathlete basically because I loved horses.. ha ha.

I would run to them as a child and then ended up cycling to them in high school. Then I competed in a small short triathlon in Huntsville, Alabama and I loved it. 


I was quickly picked up by NIKE and was on their first triathlon team and traveled the world and was able to win the World Championships, and then also was National champion 3 times, and top 3 in the world for a very long time.


All because I loved horses.


A photography of Colleen Cannon with Women's Quest in Iceland with and Icelandic horse and in front of a farmhouse with a rainbow in the sky.
Beautiful rainbows and Icelandic countryside.

EquuStyle:  In what ways did your career as an athlete influence or drive your desire to establish Women’s Quest as a leading wellness adventure retreats travel company for women?


Colleen Cannon: There is a long story about how I started Women's Quest. It is too long to write down.


The short version is that I was doing running clinics for Nike and for the Florida Distance runners club in Brevard, NC when I was in college. I loved that experience. 


As an athlete, I always gave inspirational talks for groups and I noticed that women really needed to come together and learn skills in a safe way. 


I retired from competing and started Women's Quest in 1992, to help empower, encourage, and explore and, of course, have fun and laugh. But also for women to try something new for the first time.


EquuStyle: When you established Women’s Quest, what were your initial goals? 


Colleen Cannon: The retreats have always been about transformation and balancing the Body Mind, and Spirit which is what I learned as an athlete.



EquuStyle: How have Women’s Quest’s adventures/retreats changed over time?


Colleen Cannon: I learned meditation from Deepak Chopra, and John Douillard and Jay Wilson and I used those skills and we incorporated them into our wellness adventure retreats. We also did lots of Louise Hay visualizations in the early days because she was also a mentor.


We trained the correct way because Dr. Phil Maffetone was my coach and he said you should be healthy as well as fit and that healthy was balancing the body, mind, and spirit. 


A photograph of Women's Quest participants enjoying the scenery with Icelandic horses nearby.
Iceland Exhilaration!

I also like to do the Heart’s Desire or find out what women want to do in their lives or their passions and to follow their hearts.

 

When you gain your energy back then you have the energy to dream and get clear on what you want and then your goals.


So, I incorporated all of this into the retreats. The same concepts are at each retreat but we go to different spots around the world.


EquuStyle: Is a certain level of horseback riding experience required to go on one of the two Icelandic adventures?


Colleen Cannon: Beginners to advanced riders


A photograph of a waterfall in Iceland taken during a Women's Quest Adventure.
Enjoy hiking to waterfalls.

EquuStyle: What are some of the highlights of the upcoming horseback riding adventures to Iceland this summer?


Colleen Cannon:  The water. We go into all the hot springs, swimming and soaking. The horses. You must be an advanced rider for the advanced trip or you can also be intermediate but I talk to each person to make sure they can ride with the herd. Riding with the herd is a HUGE HIGHLIGHT. Fairies are one of my highlights. 


The first trip in July we do horse connection, riding, equine-assisted coaching and IFS therapy with the horses. We hike to waterfalls, soak in warm rivers and hot springs, swim in pristine pools, and go kayaking – all while finding our inner zen with yoga alongside a herd of Icelandic horses.”


But all the trips, we have sound healing, the FLOAT with Unnar who created the Float. 

Here is the information and she has a sauna ceremony, plus we have sound healing while we are doing the float which is like watsu.


What you most like women to know about what to expect when they go on a Women’s Quest adventure/retreat?


The adventure of a lifetime, connecting with nature, the horses, swimming and soaking in the healing waters, and being with a group of like-minded women for a week of exploring. Plus hiking in Iceland is incredible and exhilarating.





Our Iceland retreat is a bit different. 

  • We ride with the herd 

  • We go to a hot spring every night

  • We swim in the pools

  • We hike and visit waterfalls

  • We visit a wool lady who tells us about how she gets the colors from Icelandic Herbs

  • We take an herb walk with Anna Rosa skincare who does amazing skin care made out of Icelandic herbs. 

  • We do sound healing with gongs and yoga each day + centered riding and the new trip with have Horse Connection work with IFS therapy instructor 

  • We spend time in and with the herd

  • We also do a FLOAT with Unnar called Flotheta.. so, so cool and they float us in the hot spring so it is like watsu (a form of aquatic bodywork used for deep relaxation and passive aquatic therapy) plus they play tuning forks

  • We also have music because that is so big in Iceland

  • We have great food that is made by Betta.


Experience the feeling of riding an Icelandic horse through a field of lupine flowers!




Testimonial from Kathleen Burke: Riding horses in Iceland with Women’s Quest is an amazing and transformational experience. Colleen created an environment where I felt safe doing challenging things. As a result I rediscovered joy, strength and trust in myself. All while seeing the natural beauty of Iceland and bonding with the amazing Icelandic horses and a wonderful group of women. A trip of a lifetime! Highly recommend!

To learn more about Colleen Cannon's journey with horses, read her recent blog post


 




Please read EquuStyle Art & Travel's Disclaimer https://www.equustyle.com/disclaimer


All images Copyright Women's Quest -all rights reserved. Cannot be reproduced for any purpose without permission from Women's Quest.


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