Photo Credit to Zachary Maxwell Stertz in Cannes, France

Elizabeth Shatner, wife of actor William Shatner, is a star in her own right.  She was born in Hinsdale, Illinois, the youngest of five children. She spent most of her childhood in Indiana, her family moving there when she was quite young.
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. She and her father invested a lot of love and energy into training the young pony, and Elizabeth later went on to show him in local competitions. Her love of animals, and horses in particular, continued to grow, and while still in elementary school she began taking hunt seat riding lessons.

When Elizabeth was 12 years old, her family moved to a farm. Soon, she began training and showing family- owned Arabian and half Arabian horses, and exercising Quarter horses and race horses. 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. It was Elizabeth's husband's premature death and her intimate experience with the grief of losing a spouse that led her to send a letter of condolence to William Shatner after he tragically lost his wife Nerine in the summer of 1999. Their mutual losses and their love of horses eventually drew them to one another. They wed in a private ceremony in small town in Indiana on February 13, 2001.

A photo safari trip with her husband in Israel was the spark that ignited her passion for art with that photography launching her in another career. She found that the photographing something as simple as a flower opened the mind's eye to beauty hidden in nature.  She calls her art Florosophy. There is art inherent in nature that calls to us. Elizabeth’s art form examines the beauty in nature and connects the flow of philosophical thoughts that humans bring to the experience. Florosophy is a meditation on nature designed to allow us to be uplifted and re-energized by it.

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 in a special tribute to horses in service by making contribution for those in need.

Other initiatives she works on are the "Hollywood Charity Horseshow" started by her husband William two decades ago.  In addition, her horse "All Glory" was chosen as the Celebration Horse at Breyerfest in 2010 and earned enough money to spearhead a NARHA Horses for Heroes pilot at the Central Kentucky Riding for Hope which will help disabled vets use horses as a mean of physical therapy and healing.

She is currently working on another initiative for Spring 2011 in Kentucky to have raised gardening boxes available for disabled veterans and an installation of her artwork in Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital, where it can inspire recovering patients.

In addition to the "Unbridled Collection" debut, Elizabeth is introducing a selection of horse inspired decor.

Today, Elizabeth remains active in the horse judging circuit and holds seven judges cards! She is active in a variety of breeds and disciplines. Along with her husband Bill, the pair are members of the Governor’s Advisory Board in Kentucky and are actively involved in the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky.