Horsing around

Wildlife photographer and autism campaigner Alfie Bowen tells how spending time with horses and photography changed his life

- Alfie Bowen

This project, which I shot over the past two years, is all about connection: my connection to animals and the art form of photography; the horses’ connection to each other and the land; and our collective connection to the land and our planet. My connection to animals, which has developed continuously throughout my life as an escape from the challenges of living with Autism Spectrum Disorder, has often focused on exotic species – zebras, lions, giraffes and others – but I have a very genuine love for the UK’s floral and fauna, and for horses.

I first spent time in the presence of horses during childhood days out at Fritton Lake in Suffolk, where I would spend 10 minutes on the back of a friendly pony. We would ride along the same route every time I visited, but the thrill of being back in the saddle each summer holiday would leave me beaming from ear to ear.