Get in close! Make the horse fill about 90% of the frame, even when moving.
If your camcorder has the image stabilizer feature, make sure it is
turned ON (some camcorders have a button marked "EIS" for electronic image stabilizer).
Dark horses need light backgrounds, light horses need dark backgrounds.
The background should be fairly consistent behind the entire body of the horse.
Pictures come out best on a sunny day, with the sun to your back.
In an indoor arena, make sure any bright doorway is at your back.
Avoid bright sunlight - early morning or late afternoon sun is better, if possible.
If your camera allows, turn the flash ON (especially on a dark day, or indoors), but natural sunlight
hitting the horse's side, and coming from behind the photographer, is always better.
Try to get a side view
"conformation" shot, a front view, and a shot of the horse moving.
When you are close to the horse, it helps the perspective
to bend your knees a little and shoot the picture level or
pointing slightly up toward the horse's head. It's always best to avoid shooting down at
the horse from a higher vantage point, level shots look best.
Try to make sure the horse's ears are forward, nobody likes the look of pinned ears!
For conformation shots, try to get the horse standing with all four feet flat on the ground,
preferably with all four legs showing separately, and with the horse looking straight ahead with neck stretched and ears
forward.