Cheering on Carousel Show Horses as They Head to the 2026 APHA World Show
Supporting the Carousel Show Horses Team on the Road to the 2026 APHA World Show
One of my favorite things about being an equine photographer in St. Augustine, Florida is getting to work with talented horse and rider teams as they pursue their goals. Recently, I had the opportunity to photograph four outstanding teams from Carousel Show Horses as they prepared for the upcoming 2026 APHA World Championship Show.
The purpose of the session was to create custom images for a series of show advertisements that would be featured leading up to the World Show. The finished ads were beautifully designed by Sara Torres Marketing & Design, and it was exciting to see the photographs come together with such thoughtful and creative design work. One of the things people don't always realize is how much strong photography impacts the final advertisement. A designer can only work with the materials they are given. When images are created with ad design in mind, including thoughtful composition, clean backgrounds, proper negative space, and strong horse and rider expression, it gives the designer far more flexibility to create a polished and professional piece. Great design and great photography work hand in hand, and when both are done well, the final result feels seamless and elevated.
The teams featured in the advertisements include:
Claire Quinney and VS I'm Sugarcoated
Competing in Novice Youth and Youth English Events.
Kaylin Lee and Heza Rockin Cowboy
Competing in Novice Youth Showmanship and Equitation, along with Youth Performance Halter Geldings.
Addison Cerasale and Kiss My Lazy A
Competing in Youth Western Events.
Maci Cerasale and Makin Me Fancy
Competing in Non Pro 3 Year Old, Gold 3 Year Old, and Amateur Junior Hunter Under Saddle events.
Creating advertising imagery for horse show competitors is a little different than a traditional portrait session. The goal is to create photographs that showcase both the horse and rider while also giving designers strong visual elements to build eye-catching advertisements. These images become part of a larger marketing effort that helps highlight the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments of each team.
Carousel Show Horses continues to produce talented riders and exceptional horses, and it was an honor to play a small role in helping these exhibitors prepare for one of the biggest events in the paint horse industry.
As a photographer, it is always rewarding to see images move beyond social media and become part of something larger. Whether it's horse show advertising, equestrian business branding, magazine publication, or custom artwork for a family's home, I love creating photographs that help tell the story of the people and horses in front of my camera.
I am incredibly proud to support these riders through my photography, and I cannot wait to follow along and cheer them on at the 2026 APHA World Championship Show. Best of luck to Claire, Kaylin, Addison, Maci, and their incredible horses. I'll be watching for those results!
Cara Taylor Swift
Fast Horse Photography
Equine Photography in St. Augustine, Florida and throughout Northeast Florida