Travel
A WOMEN’S WELLNESS RETREAT IN THE ANDES FOOTHILLS APRIL 20-27, 2024 Welcome to a big and exciting year! With an “8” vibration, 2024 holds the promise of abundance, possibility, growth, spiritual expansion, and big dreams coming to fruition. There is no better time than now to get together and celebrate each other, share in joy […]
OCEAN HORSE MAGIC A WOMEN’S RETREAT IN ST LUCIA FEBRUARY 3-10, 2019 Join horse lover and photographer Manuela Stefan on a replenishing experience of connecting with Source energy with the help of horses and nature. You will have the opportunity to live extraordinary moments shoulder-to-shoulder with beautiful island horses, meditate by the ocean, take cleansing […]
I believe horses are on this planet to help us find our own way back to ‘Source’ (or however one prefers to call the place where nothing but love exists). With remarkable patience for humankind, these incredible animals invite us constantly to join them in a state of oneness and pure connection. In their majestic […]
The horses brought Julie and I together. Since, we have had a magical journey. Originally from Belgium, Julie was in the process of moving to Jamaica (her current home country) when she found my equine work via an article I did about Jamaican horses. She started following my page and sent me a message saying […]
My photography work brought me to St Lucia early this year and I used the opportunity to tap into the local equine world. To my delight, I found a place of great beauty and authenticity: the Atlantic Shores Riding Stables. A few elements distinguish this horseback riding operation from others: its breathtaking, off-the-beaten-path location, the […]
I am a jet setter. I joke with my friends and tell them: ‘if you ever see me sad, just put me on a plane!’. I have traveled since I was 12. I owe this to my mother who was brave (and visionary enough) to send me alone, on a night train, from Bucharest (Romania) […]
A splendid wedding at the Lazy L&B Ranch in Dubois, WY
I have experienced quite a bit of serendipity since horses came into my life. They have brought me to amazing places around the globe and have introduced me to some formidable people. I have photographed weddings for years and have enjoyed creative adventures with horses all over the world. These avenues came together and I […]
While visiting the charming colonial town of San Miguel de Allende in Central Mexico, I traveled to the spectacular high planes and discovered an absolute gem: Rancho Xotolar, a place where authenticity and family tradition prevail. The younger family members warm up before starting their work day The Morin Ruiz family: four generations ranchers Back […]
I can only think of Romanian heritage with a profound sense of pride. I travel the world but return to my home country whenever I can. There is so much beauty there and I feel compelled to reveal it to the world the best way I can, through imagery and words. Elegant and proud, the […]
Over the past few years I have traveled extensively to find horses and their people in some of the most interesting locations of this world. I have been to Mexico before and absolutely loved it, but at the time I have experienced it in a completely different way. Never had I thought that my passion […]
Almost three years ago I was embarking on a wondrous journey. It started, like many adventures, with a strong desire: to travel the world and photograph horses. I imagined them wild, manes flying in the air, their powerful spirit shine, their thirst for freedom – the only guiding force. I have had many amazing encounters […]
While exploring the area around Jackson, Wyoming and exhibiting my equine art at the Western Design Conference in town, I had the privilege to live in a place that is hard to even begin describing: the Gros Ventre River Ranch. Remotely located in the Teton National Forrest, with the Gros Ventre River running right through its […]
I was born and grew up in Romania. I often travel back to visit my family and friends. Last December was a bit different. I went home with the intention of finding and photographing some horses roaming free in the Southern Romanian forests. I was detoured. Prior to my arrival, my dear mother watched a […]
Manuela Stefan presents: “The Old West, a travel and equine photography workshop”, October 6-12, 2013. Location: The Apache Spirit Ranch, Arizona.
Opportunities present themselves to us when we are ready to embrace them and make the most out of them. Sometimes it all begins with an intention we simply throw out there without necessarily knowing how to go about materializing it. And so we continue on with our lives. Miraculously, at some point in time, what […]
One quiet evening in the fall of last year I was browsing the Internet looking for places where wild Mustangs ran free. Out of the blue and for no apparent reason I felt like typing the word Montana in. And that’s when it happened: the Montana Horses website came up and with it, some exhilarating […]
Back in February I have had the immense pleasure and joy to present my “White-Power and Grace” fine equine art collection to the world. Sixteen large canvases were exhibited in the contemporary space of the Art Square Gallery, downtown Toronto. A very emotional and extremely rewarding experience! What mattered to me immensely was people deeply […]
My recent trip to Arizona would have not been the same without an absolutely dreamy encounter with some local horses. While in Scottsdale I discovered a ranch with quite unique architecture, displaying intricate elements of Arabic inspiration. Quite impressive! They allow visitors so spending time admiring the horses they keep there was effortless.I still recall […]
I have always envisioned photographing a white horse. There is a dreamy quality to such an exquisite looking animal. Following a series of ‘coincidences’ I found out about the white horses of Camargue, France. Without hesitation I decided to travel there so I could materialize my vision. I really did not quite know what to […]
I have had the chance to meet horses every time I went away, close or far, be it around Toronto or elsewhere in the world. I recall the peaceful feeling triggered by such encounters and the electrifying experience of simply being around these graceful animals, observing them, enjoying the powerful energy they exude….the desire of […]