Horse Power
By Meda Kessler
Photos by Constance Jaeggi
Nothing takes the place of seeing horses up close. They are incredible beasts, both awe inspiring and intimidating. But photographer Constance Jaeggi’s powerful images come a very close second at capturing their beauty and raw power.
Jaeggi, a TCU graduate and competitive cutting horse rider who lives in Weatherford, spent weeks during the pandemic at The Devil’s Horsemen, a farm just outside of London. The family-owned business is one of the leading suppliers of horses to the film industry.
You’ve seen their equine talent in The Crown on Netflix, the Game of Thrones series on HBO and in the recently released film The Last Duel. On the farm is a team of people who care for the animals on a day-to-day basis, with duties ranging from mucking stalls to feeding. Jaeggi used her time of self-isolation to document the daily work there. We’ve long been a fan of her studio portraits of horses, but her photojournalism is equally stunning thanks to its intimacy and the quality of light. Jaeggi has selected 42 black-and-white photographs shot at the farm for her new exhibit, “The Devils,” now on display at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. A companion hardbound book featuring 180 images also is available; $50. A special edition with one 9-inch-by-12-inch print is $500; a volume with three prints sells for $1,000. The show runs through Feb. 6. Learn more about the photographer and her work at constancejaeggi.com.
THE DETAILS
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, 1720 Gendy St., Fort Worth, 817-336-4475, cowgirl.net