The WHINNY awards are designed to shine the light on people who are using their high visibility to save and protect horses and to promote the horse industry through charitable efforts. Elizabeth Shatner, wife of actor William Shatner, does just that.
Born with a love of horses, Elizabeth started riding at the age of five. At the tender age of eight, she got her first horse, a Galiceno pony. By 14, she was teaching horseback riding and participating in young judging competitions with the Indiana Arabian Club, winning several national honors and a scholarship. As a part of the scholarship, she was able to attend a USEF judging clinic. It was during her time as a youth judge that she began to see the beauty of art in nature. She attended Purdue University studying equine and animal science and Butler University in Telecommunications. She eventually became a professional horse trainer.
A photo safari trip with her husband in Israel was the spark that ignited her passion for art with photography launching her in another career. She calls her art Flowrosophy, using the nature’s shapes and colors to create pieces that heal the spirit and arouse introspection. Moving back to her love of horses Elizabeth recently unveiled as part of her “Elizabeth Shatner Art by Nature” series the “Unbridled Collection”, a series of digitally painted photographs of horses she has encountered all around the world focusing on Kentucky and the role horses have played in history and their influence on culture. Elizabeth celebrates these “horses in service” by donating portions of the proceeds from the sale of her artwork to equine-related charities.
Mrs. Shatner’s charitable works extend well beyond her personal donations. For instance, she is highly active in the “Hollywood Charity Horseshow”, an event started by her husband William two decades ago that has raised millions of dollars for those in need. In addition, the Shatners’ horse “All Glory” was chosen as the Celebration Horse at Breyerfest in 2010 and earned enough money for Elizabeth to help spearhead a NARHA Horses for Heroes pilot at the Central Kentucky Riding for Hope; a program that helps disabled vets use horses as a means of physical therapy and healing. This inspired Elizabeth to deepen her charitable work and found the All Glory Project, Inc. The All Glory Project is a non-profit campaign of consciousness to thank our wounded heroes, human and animal alike, as well as their families. Through her non-profit, Elizabeth is continually networking with different organizations with a mission to “join up” and Advocate, Educate and Enable animal-assisted therapy centers already in existence, allowing them to initiate and expand programs for those affected by military service.
Today, Elizabeth remains active in the ring and the judging circuit (she holds seven judges’ cards)! She still competes in a variety of breeds and disciplines, recently placing Third, aboard Boston Legal, in the 20011 World’s Championship Horse show. Along with her husband Bill, was on the Governor’s Advisory Board for the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky, and was the Honorary Chair for the 2010 American Royal National Championships. In her role as Chairwoman of the 2011 Lexington Junior League 75th Anniversary Horse Show Gala, Mrs. Shatner continued her mission of thanking the souls who serve our nation by conceiving an “American Heroes Night”, which was free for all veterans, active duty, national guard and their families, and which included a performance by Bravehearts, a veterans’ therapeutic riding group and color guard. Further info on Mrs. Shatner’s work can be found at www.elizabethshatner.com and www.AllGloryProject.org.
“We are downright thrilled to be able to present Elizabeth with a WHINNY award for her efforts in the horse world. Her contributions as a horse enthusiast, a judge and her charitable efforts go a long, long way in bringing awareness and support to our industry,” states Catherine Masters, Executive Director of the Women’s Horse Industry Network.
The WHINNY awards will be held Thursday, October 6th at the Radisson Hotel Opryland. The festivities include dinner, live country music, a silent auction to benefit several equine charities and the presentation of the awards. It is part of the Women’s Horse Industry Network’s annual business networking meeting that will be held on October 7-8 at the Radisson. Tickets can be ordered on line or by calling 615-730-7833.
For additional information on Elizabeth Shatner, please visit www.elizabethshatner.com.
For additional information on the Women’s Horse Industry Network, please visit www.womenshorseindustry.com or call 615-730-7833.
Contact:
Catherine Masters
WHIN
615-730-7833
Karl G. Lindstrom
President of Creative Operations
ES – ABN, LLC
859-494-5328