Well-known Lexington equine photographer Joy Gilbert died the evening of Feb. 3 following a lengthy illness. She was 54.
Gilbert photographed horses and scenery at many of the major Thoroughbred farms in Central Kentucky, including Mill Ridge, Juddmonte, Darley, Lane's End, and Ramsey Farm. The majority of her work involved stallion conformation, yearlings and weanlings, and mares and foals.
"She's probably the best photographer we ever worked with," said Circle O Farm's Arlene O'Neill, who grew up with Gilbert in Winchester, Ky. "She was so precise and meticulous and had to have it exactly right or she wouldn't take the picture. That's just the type of person she was—she was so in tune to the horses."
Added Kim Poulin, who handled Gilbert's accounting and also serves as assistant sales manager at Mill Ridge: "Joy was the best of the best in our opinion. She loved what she did wholeheartedly and was very dependable. She would bend over backwards for any of our clients. She was all around a great person."
Funeral services for Gilbert will be 2:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home in Lexington, with visitation prior to the service from 12:30-2:30 p.m.