STUART VESTY . . . Horseman, Photographer, Renaissance Man
Equal parts horseman and photographer, Stuart Vesty’s artistic secret is a unique combination of creative ability and a natural feel and eye for horses. His abundant energy, technical skill and almost magical ability to “get the shot” have made him one of the world’s best and most sought after Arabian horse photographers. Stuart Vesty found inspiration in the work of Arabian horse photographers Jerry Sparagowski and Scott Trees. As his notoriety grew in the horse industry, Stuart became “the guy that gets the shot” among the English trainers and eventually that reputation grew to include all performance horses and then Halter horses as well.
A well-known industry photographer for the past 25 years, Vesty began shooting overseas in the mid-1980’s and has been the photographer for Poland’s world famous annual show and sale since 1997.
“Brazil is the first place I went outside of America,” Stuart says, “and that was followed by trips to Paris to shoot the Salon du Cheval show and assignments in Egypt and Israel. In the winter of 1996 I went to Australia as the show photographer for the East Coast and National Championship Arabian shows and fell in love with the country. I try to go back there once or twice a year.”
Certainly Stuart Vesty’s talents and lifetime accomplishments as a horseman have informed and created the foundation for his success as a photographer. A National Top Ten exhibitor and champion amateur Halter handler, Vesty is also the breeder of numerous champions as well as six national winning Arabian and Half-Arabian horses, including National Champion Take A Chance On Me and five-time National and Reserve National Champion, Thank Ghaz.
“There are so many things that I would like to do and always so little free time,” Stuart says. “I still have the ambition to publish a photography book or two and I am going to get around to that! Still … life is good. It’s wonderful to have a life and a living that includes horses. Photography has provided me with a way to be a part of the industry, to be close to the great Arabians and to be involved in their lives, their stories and their moments in the limelight. Trainers have them for just a few years. My photography has allowed me to keep them forever. I’m very fortunate.”