Leigh Park horserider has dream prom dress photoshoot with beloved pony after school prom is cancelled

HORSERIDER Bonnie Tyler’s dream for years has been to turn up to her secondary school prom on the back of her beloved pony Blue.
Bonnie Tyler, 16 from Leigh Park, with her horse Blue. Picture by R & L PhotographyBonnie Tyler, 16 from Leigh Park, with her horse Blue. Picture by R & L Photography
Bonnie Tyler, 16 from Leigh Park, with her horse Blue. Picture by R & L Photography

When Bonnie’s school Horndean Technology College announced its event was cancelled, stepmum Carla Fowlie stepped in to make the Leigh Park 16-year-old’s dream into reality in some way.

Having already bought a beautiful blue dress for the prom, Carla got in touch with Fareham couple and keen photographers Reggie Calder and Lauren Allen to capture a series of photographs of Bonnie in her prom dress with seven-year-old pony Blue.

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Bonnie Tyler, 16 from Leigh Park, with her horse Blue. Picture by R & L PhotographyBonnie Tyler, 16 from Leigh Park, with her horse Blue. Picture by R & L Photography
Bonnie Tyler, 16 from Leigh Park, with her horse Blue. Picture by R & L Photography
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Lauren, 21, said: ‘Carla spent all of 2019 saving up for Bonnie's dress so that she could feel and look like a princess on one of the biggest days that a girl could only dream of.

‘She had the idea of a photoshoot with Bonnie dressed up with Blue so that they could at least get the photos that they wish they could have had.’

Carla and Bonnie were blown away with the result of the photoshoot, and shared some of the images on Facebook which attracted more than 31,000 likes and plenty of positive comments.

‘We couldn’t believe it when we received them,’ Carla told The News.

Bonnie Tyler, 16 from Leigh Park, with her horse Blue. Picture by R & L PhotographyBonnie Tyler, 16 from Leigh Park, with her horse Blue. Picture by R & L Photography
Bonnie Tyler, 16 from Leigh Park, with her horse Blue. Picture by R & L Photography
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‘It sounds mad but we’re kind of glad it was cancelled now because the photos we have got now are so much better than the pictures we would have had.’

Bonnie added: ‘The photos are absolutely stunning, I love them.’

The keen horserider is heading off to the British Racing School in Newmarket for the next step in her education and equine career.

Carla said she is happy for anyone to use Blue free of charge if they have missed out on their prom and would like to book in for a paid session with the photographers.

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Reggie and Lauren have been a couple since 2015, and have been running their photography business as a hobby since 2016.

Delivery driver Reggie, 22, said: ‘We’ve always loved photography. We eventually want it to become a career for us both, we love making people happy.’

On Bonnie’s pictures, he said: ‘We were so chuffed with them. Especially the reactions that they have received is just incredible.

‘What was more incredible, is that we made Bonnie's year. She will treasure these forever.’

Visit reggielaurenphotography.co.uk for more information.

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