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Belton McMurrey

@beltonio

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TX, E. Africa, USC Film ‘20
📸: @beltonsiphone

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“Working Horsemen of the World”
Chapter Two - France

My first serious art project, featuring one pastoral horseman per continent, pays tribute to those who spend sunup to sundown in the saddle, tending herds of animals grazing in quiet pastures, far from the rest of us.

Named for his great-grandfather, Paul Laurent represents four generations of breeding “Raço di Bióu” - black fighting bulls native to the marshy Camargue delta. Here, where the Rhône meets the Mediterranean, Manadiers such as l’famille Laurent mount up beside trusted Gardians to work prized herds of tareaux atop “le crin blanc” - iconic, semiferal white horses of Camargue.

Each day, champion bulls are evaluated, sorted, and transported to historic local arenas for Le Course Camarguaise - the bloodless bullfighting tradition of southern France. Here, tareaux outwit agile raseteurs (bullfighters).

For a few weeks at Manade Laurent, we galloped the marsh, sorted bulls, and awed as champion bloodlines upheld a proud legacy.

An absolute honor, being introduced to this place beside not only Paul, but his mother, father, grandfather, and grandmother. All legends of the Camargue. (Stay tuned for Part II of this chapter, coming soon) taken in Les Marquises - Manade Laurent by @beltonio

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3 months ago

“Working Horsemen of the World”
Chapter One - Australia

Introducing my first serious art project, which will feature one pastoral horseman per continent. These are the folks whose days are spent sunup to sundown in a saddle, looking after great herds of animals in greater pastures, often quite far from the rest of us.

Travis Fisher represents a remarkable history of Aboriginal Australian horsemen. Here, they’re not called cowboys, but ringers. Outback soil is the oldest dirt on the planet, and Travis’ people maintain its oldest living culture. I didn’t want to start this project anywhere else. We spent a week at Willeroo Station trapping clever mama brahmas in thick brush, pushing them down tricky channels, and dismounting only when daylight grew dark again. What an honor to include this unstoppable man for the inaugural chapter, and to call him a friend.

Y’all stay tuned for the continents to come. All shot on @fujifilmx_us GFX 100 II taken in Northern Territory of Australia by @beltonio

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a year ago

What does conservation funding look like on the ground in Tanzania? 🇹🇿

DSC Foundation has invested in several anti-poaching projects in a Tanzania, the investment in Ganam Safaris is just one of those example.

This funding has helped maintain a consistent patrol presence, deter illegal activities such as unregulated fishing and livestock encroachment, and protect critical wildlife habitats.

Because conservation isn’t just about protecting animals. It’s about protecting habitats, supporting people, and ensuring these landscapes remain valuable for generations to come.

This is what happens when conservation funding reaches the ground.

And it’s another example of how partnerships between hunters, outfitters, and conservation organizations are making a difference.

#TheOriginsFoundation #DSCFoundation #ConservationInAction #WildlifeConservation #AntiPoaching taken in Tanzania, Africa by @beltonio

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2 days ago

Another successful visit to this year’s @returntotheremuda sale, held at @6666ranch

We are incredibly grateful for all of our buyers, our generous hosts, and the chance to catch up with old friends & new.

To represent our ranching heritage alongside fellow greats of the business is nothing but a true honor. See y’all in ‘27.

📸 @beltonio taken in 6666 Ranch by @beltonio

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12 days ago

A day’s work at the Calera Pens atop PALOMA DE SANCTUS (Sanctus x Dry Paloma x Marsala Red). This impressive 2023 colt heads to the @returntotheremuda sale next week, held at @6666ranch.

Demo on Friday. Auction on Saturday. See yall there.

📸 @beltonio taken in King Ranch by @beltonio

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21 days ago

The crystal clear waters of the Moyowosi River in the middle of nowhere Tanzania.

Not a single eco-tourist has seen this place in decades, yet a wildlife paradise exists.

A paradise rejuvenated and protected by #hunting

🎥: @beltonio ||| @ganamsafaris taken in Tanzania, Africa by @beltonio

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a month ago

“Working Horsemen of the World”
Chapter 2 - France, Part II

Part II of each continental chapter in this project highlights the various aspects of day-to-day working life at the featured horseman’s operation.

On a manade (ranch) in the French Camargue, life demands daily doses of action-packed bravery, linebreeding vision, and sincerity towards tradition. Each morning, Manadiers Patrick & Paul Laurent ride into a marshy pasture of black fighting bulls (en Provençal - Raço di Biòu) to select contenders for the week’s Course Camarguaise. This bloodless form of bullfighting pits man versus beast in historic arenas throughout the region.

Distinctive deep-seated saddles secure manadiers & gardians alike in hard, fast turns against these agile, agressive, intelligent creatures - famously bred for these exact traits. The iconic white Camargue horses ridden by all enjoy a semiwild existence identical to their pitch-black counterparts.

Now imagine a push down the lane at full gallop, through tall reeds & standing water. Long tridents keep action under control.

Atop Eden, his favorite mare, Paul cuts the old fashioned way - out in the pasture, a mounted team holding the perimeter. This often includes his grandparents, Henri & Annie, whose practical lead the family follows while gradually adjusting the business for modern times. Much of this includes public tours, events, and receptions, which Paul’s mother, Estelle, helps conduct and maintain.

All of this, while dressed in impeccably fashionable garb that the rest of us can only dream of trying. I naively first asked if these are worn every day, or only on occasion. To which Henri warmly replied, “every day is the occasion.” It sure is - he’s lived it for 92 years.

My endless gratitude to @manade_laurent_officiel_ and @paul_laurent13129 for allowing me into their gorgeous world. Stay tuned for Chapter 3… taken in Les Marquises - Manade Laurent by @beltonio

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3 months ago

Gathering herds under the big skies of a big desert. Nice maiden visit to unique cattle country with some dear friends, whose hospitality I sure don’t deserve the half of.

Love my people here too darn much
@gonewiththewestxx
@colepalfreyman

(shot on @fujifilmx_us GFX 100ii) taken in Utah, USA by @beltonio

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6 months ago

Yesterday was my late brother’s birthday. These photos were taken 5 years ago, on March 24th. Never shared them before. I was living in the rainforest in Ituri Province, DRC, and had been in East Africa for the better part of a year by then.

Several camps of BaMbuti (indigenous pygmy hunter-gatherers) who inhabit this particular area had kindly tolerated my endless weeks of interviewing. They began taking me far into the forest, a few days at a time, to teach me firsthand about their more traditional practices.

The calendar date eventually hit me while we were out there. I must’ve started looking a bit down. An Mbuti friend asked why. That year, 2021, I’d turn older than Harry ever was. Feels no less strange today; forever our big brother, yet suddenly the younger man.

Next year will be 10 years. Big ol parts of me often feel frozen in time from when we lost him. But looking back, the day of these photos continues to stand out - we’ll lose people we thought we’d never lose, need faith enough to keep moving, and do right by their memory in a hopeful search for our better selves.

Still working on that last part. Still miss my brother. A lot. Getting back to jungle business that day, I figured he’d be proud. taken in Ituri Province by @beltonio

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7 months ago

First time in front of the camera for a major magazine! Only three years ago, @westernhorseman printed my first real story - guess everything’s downhill from here…

Thank you to @mira3photography for bringing this one to life. We talked about the Ranch, Africa, Aussie, NZ, and a couple other nice things.

Find yourself a March issue of WH on shelves & online while you still can! taken in Weatherford, Texas by @beltonio

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7 months ago

This Thursday (2/19) the King Ranch team will compete in the San Antonio Ranch Rodeo, at the Frost Bank Center. Real working cowboys, real working ranches, and a spotlight on our historic way of life.

Thank you @sanantoniorodeo, and good luck to all competing.

Team Members:
Lee Roy Montalvo - Team Captain
Rick Falcón III
Riley Roberts
Rolando Silguero
Tres Hinojosa
Ernie Garcia (not pictured)

📸 @beltonio taken in King Ranch by @beltonio

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8 months ago

There’s only one Running W, and only one place in the world which it will always call home.

📸 @beltonio taken in King Ranch by @beltonio

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8 months ago