Horse Girl Interviews: Kristen Haines of Luna Goods

Kristen Haines is a photographer and leatherworker based in Alberta, Canada. She shares lyrical snippets of her life restoring her historical homestead property, which she shares with her family and animals - the beautiful, the difficult, and everything in between. For city horse girls, Kristen offers a little prairie escape through your screen. We caught up with her to discuss her work, style and of course: horses. 

Kristen wears the Dawson Denim Jacket and Lilooet Denim Shorts

Can you tell us about your horse Willow, and your relationship with her?

"Willow is my 4 year old Friesian QH mare, I had just gotten back into the horse world as an adult after being away from it for 15 years, and went to see some foals with my trainer. I fell in love with this untouched 3 month old filly, and brought her back to the barn when she was weaned. I did exactly what you’re not supposed to do, green adult and untouched foal, and in my desire to do right by her entered the steepest learning curve. I was the first person to handle her, and have done all her training myself. It really has been 4 years of us teaching one another, learning and making mistakes and growing together, so our relationship is unique compared to the relationship I have with the rest of my herd. I trust her deeply, even though she still has toddler brain and is not a small horse, and I know she trusts me as well. She is my teacher, friend, confidant, my heart."

What made you decide to live the ranch/homestead life with your family? 

"I wanted to raise my kids with a lot more freedom than they could have in the city, the ability to go outside at will and ride their bike for hours, climb on the back of their mini mule and spend days under the sun, and also have chores and responsibilities. They are a part of caring for our many creatures and get to see animals be born, and die. It’s not easy but it sure is beautiful."

Do you have any advice for those who dream of one day having their own property and animals?

"There’s nothing more rewarding than looking out your window at your herd, or sitting with them for coffee in the mornings as they nap around you. To witness their relationships and be with them throughout the day and night. But it’s an immense responsibility, there’s no days off, or spontaneous vacations. It’s going outside in -50 for 3 hours making sure everyone is eating and drinking and sitting with your mini under a heat lamp in the shelter. So my advice would be, don’t do it unless you’re willing to sacrifice a lot of comfort, and get mentors in your life that will teach you along the way."

Kristen wears the Lucky Wool Varsity Jacket, Workhorse Shirt, and Lilooet Shorts.

 We see a lot of LOVE in your photography, from fashion to animals and families. How do you convey such emotion into your work?

"I think it’s easy to do when I am photographing something I connect to. I think being a photographer has made me appreciate the little things more, the way light hits my horses mane, a smile, the reflection of canola on a puddle, my kids playing in the rain and with that, the ability to slow down and notice the small things, makes it easy to capture them, and my love of them."

How would you describe your personal style, and how it has evolved over the years?

"I don’t know that my style fits into a category, sometimes I’m wearing something more western, sometimes sweats and slides, sometimes a minimalist dress, or sometimes something out of little house on the prairie. I view getting dressed in a few categories, function, comfort and beauty. Having my own property with animals has put function more to the front, I wear less white, more denim, a lot of wool in the winter, I rarely break out my flats. I like being comfortable, because movement is a big part of the day. But at the end of the day, I love fashion and am happy to ride my horse bareback, barefoot in a dress."

Kristen wears the Workhorse Shirt and Prairie Lace Collar

What does being a Horse Girl mean to you?

"Horses are beautiful and majestic, healing and often quite funny. But to me a horse girl is the one who not only loves the easy part of horses, but the hard parts too."

Kristen pairs the Milton Menasco Colt Denim Shirt with her Luna Goods handmade saddle bags. Click here to explore her work.