Think about what you want the photographs to say. Jot down a few notes, or cut out pictures from magazines. Discuss these ideas with your photographer.

Consider suitable locations. Livery yards can be full of equipment and parked vehicles that produce distracting backgrounds. Do you need to move things before the shoot? If there is no spot that’s suitable, consider a shoot at an alternative location.

Think about the season, time of day and weather conditions. These factors contribute to the direction and quality of the light and how your horse will appear in the final results. Bright sunshine isn’t always the best option, it casts deep shadows that don’t favour animals with dark coats.

Your horse should be washed, groomed and the bridle 100% clean before the photographer arrives. That’s so long as you don’t want these jobs to be recorded as part of a lifestyle shoot.

If you’ve just removed the saddle and bridle, brush the horse down. Sweat marks leave an impression in the animal’s coat and while you may not notice them they are sure to stand out on a photograph!

An alert horse with head and ears up makes for a really good portrait. A handful of pony nuts or a favourite treat should be to hand. Props such as a squeaky toy or even a pocket mirror that the horse hasn’t seen before can produce the desired effect.