BEHIND THE LENS

PITCHER PERFECT: Matt Cain

Being one of only 23 professional pitchers to pitch a no-hitter, also known as a “perfect game” in the history of baseball, is enough notoriety for a lifetime, but Matt Cain, a three-time World Series Champion and retired pitcher for the San Francisco Giants is now getting noticed for something new. After spending most of his adult life playing baseball, Cain traded in his starring role on the pitcher’s mound for the behind the lens view of a photographer.

Cain was interested in photography from a young age. His grandfather owned a bridal business and he has memories of watching him take photos. When Cain’s wife Chelsea bought him a digital camera for his birthday one year, he began to explore his love of photography in earnest. With the help of good friend and wedding photographer, Stacey Pentland, and the Giants team photographer Andy Kuno, Cain began dabbling in photography.

He started by taking photos of his children and his wife, who rides in the 1.10–1.20m jumpers. Cain enjoys action shots, and shooting show jumping provides plenty of action! He said learning to photograph show jumping came with a steep learning curve; he really had to have patience, listen to what shots worked, and learn how to capture just the right moment over the jumps.

Cain and his family are based out of Northern California, and when he is not photographing horse shows, he loves spending time with his family and driving at the Sonoma Raceway. Cain enjoys driving anything with an engine – from the most elite race car, to a horse show tractor – he likes to push them to their limit while testing his own.

LINDSAY MAXWELL CHARITABLE FUND/USHJA EMERGING ATHLETES PROGRAM NATIONAL TRAINING SESSION – FINDLAY, OH OUT&about

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1. Participants attend an equine gastric health lecture with specialist Leah Mitchell 2. Group photo of the 2019 Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program participants. The program was created specifically to provide opportunities for young riders to advance their education in their pursuit of becoming knowledgeable horsemen within the hunter/jumper community 3. The EAP Nationals Outstanding Horse, Continue, with rider Rebecca Morris and Caroline Holman from the LMCF 4. Claire Huskey aboard Middleton, provided by University of Findlay 5. When not riding or in an educational seminar, participants audit and act as jump crew for the other sessions 6. The EAP National Champion receives a $3,000 grant to be applied toward the cost of advanced educational training, in addition to a variety of other prizes, including a keeper trophy

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7. Participants watch a saddle-fitting seminar 8. Claire Huskey is presented with the peer-nominated Sportsmanship Award 9. Joelle Hylton riding Emily 10. Julianna Empie, the EAP National Champion, aboard Woody, provided by Henry Pfeiffer. Empie spent the riding and stable management sessions building a strong partnership with the horse 11. According to 2019 Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund/USHJA Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session Lead Clinician Peter Wylde, there were no doubts that this year’s champion would be Julianna Empie