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2001 Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

Brown Printing Co.

Pfizer Animal Health

Quebecor World TPC Group

Gold Sponsors

American Quarter Horse
Association

Merial Limited

Publishers Press

Silver Sponsors

Idea Flight, Inc.

Purina Mills, Inc.

Bronze Sponsors

Ariat International

Branch-Smith Printing

Cowboy Publishing Group

Dover Saddlery

Fancy Publications

HorseCity.com

Intervet, Inc.

Life Data Labs

Professional’s Choice Sports

 Medicine Products

Ryerss Farm For Aged Equines

Trueman Communications Group

UK Equine Research Foundation

San Mateo: A Golden  Opportunity and a Reunion
by Chris Brune

Everyone who attended the AHP seminar in San Mateo, California, saw the Golden Gate Bridge. Okay, so for some it wasn’t the “real” thing, however the lighted three-dimensional backdrop displayed during the Awards ceremony was pretty impressive. And one AHP member had her photograph taken in front of the Golden Gate Bridge during the San Francisco City tour, on stage at Awards Night, and at Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim a few days following the seminar. I call that at triple golden opportunity.

Did we have fun? Did we learn? Did we meet new friends? YES to all three questions. Is there room for improvement? Always. Overall, the members who responded to the evaluation survey rated the Golden Opportunity 2001 Seminar with a 4.7 with 5 being excellent. The hotel and location received 4.4. Carl Landau’s session on Advertising Sales For Niche Media rated highest with a 4.5 followed by 3.8 each for the sessions on digital photography, online legal risks, and editorial design. One of the most popular workshops this year was one on management, but interest in the other sessions on technology and the Internet was high, too. For the third year, the Freelancer and Publisher Workshop presented an opportunity for freelancers and publishers to share ideas. And, of course, the evening activities are always fun and rewarding events, earning a 4.4 for Friday night’s Student Award Fundraiser and 4.6 for the Awards Banquet and Presentations on Saturday.

All in all, it was another memorable conference. Everyone was wandering around the San Mateo Marriott wearing smiles throughout the three-day event. Sure, there were the few minor glitches that developed, but they passed quickly in light of the ever-present camaraderie.

The 25 AHP members who took the San Francisco tour on Sunday enjoyed the city sights and will all be wearing matching fleece jackets with embroidered San Francisco logos next year in Park City.

Filled with ideas and new contacts, attendees headed home with their overstuffed Pfizer rolling bags filled with session handouts and sponsor goodies and prizes. And when they got back to work, many took the time to share their thoughts about their experience.

Here's what they wrote:

“I had such a wonderful time in California. I made some wonderful industry contacts for the future.”

Maggie Jo Martin, 2001 Student Award Winner

“I give AHP credit for really helping my publication grow.”

Karen Pickering, Northwest Horse Source

“For the second year in a row, I truly enjoyed the AHP seminar and felt that it was money and time well spent, because of the useful information we brought back with us, as well as the general camaraderie that goes along with this can’t miss event. Loved all the sponsor goodies, too.”

Lisa Marie Wood, The Texas Thoroughbred

“I want to thank AHP for a wonderful meeting. We all had a wonderful time and brought home incredible amounts of valuable information.”

Jan Weber, American Vaulting Association

“It was so awesome to meet all the writers and publishers that I had only read about before – and others involved with AHP – and to find out what an awesome group you all are. I felt so welcome and had a really great time.”

Joni Gleason, Student Member

“I just wanted to thank you for letting me participate in your conference. Your group was just terrific. I just got back from my very first dude ranch experience and had a great time. I’m really into horses now.”

Carl Landau, Niche Media (speaker)

I think this was the best seminar I’ve attended. Extremely useful sessions, great people, wonderful facility – in fact, the friendliest hotel staff and the best banquet fare I’ve ever had.”

Jennifer Bryant, Affiliate Member

“I wanted to thank you for such a wonderful seminar. It was a great chance to meet in person many of the editors who I have been writing for…and contact those who I have wished to meet."

Pamela Burton, Affiliate Member

“We are still new to this publishing biz, and it’s great to be around other people who not only do what we do, but who encourage us as well. We came away from the seminar re-energized and excited about the future of our magazine, with a couple new ideas tucked away for safekeeping.”

Jay Koch, The Horsemen’s Voice

“I’m so glad I talked myself into spending the money to go. I liked what Dan ‘Pfizer’ said about our gathering being a reunion rather than just an ordinary business conference. He’s right.”

Ellen Haight, Affiliate Member

Park City 2002

Olympic hopefuls will not be the only visitors headed to Park City, Utah, in 2002. American Horse Publications members will be arriving in June to network and learn from each other during the AHP annual seminar scheduled for June 20-22, at the Park City Marriott. Results of two informal surveys resulted in 88% of the 65 members responding that they plan to attend the 2002 seminar.  The AHP Board Members met in Park City in February.

Location. Park City’s convenient location, just a 45 minute drive from Salt Lake International Airport, allows attendees to leave either coast in the morning and arrive by early afternoon. Salt Lake City is a hub for Delta and Southwest, with over 350 flights arriving daily from every major airline. All Resort Express offers shared van shuttle service from the Salt Lake City airport to the Park City Marriott for $27 each way. Once you’re there, restaurants, shopping and recreation are easily accessible by rental car or via the free in-town transit bus system, which stops in front of the hotel.

The advantages of a setting like this are too many to mention. Summers bring wildflower-covered slopes and magnificent mountain scenery, in addition to a wide range of outdoor activities including golfing, tennis, hiking, horseback riding, and hot-air ballooning. Park City in the summertime also brings annual art and music festivals, concerts on the mountainsides, and nighttime skies filled with more stars than most people will see in a lifetime. Days are never too full here to squeeze in a little shopping on historic Main Street, a great meal at one of over 100 restaurants, or a side trip to Sundance.

Olympic Site. In February, the historic mountain resort town will be host to 26 medal events in 78 competitions during the 2002 Olympics. The Utah Olympic Park is host to the bobsled, luge, skeleton, ski jumping, and the Nordic combined (jumping portion) competitions. For the past few summers, tours have been offered daily and wheeled bobsled rides have been offered to the public for a fee. These self-steering bobsleds hold four passengers and reach speeds of 60 mph.

Hotel Headquarters. AHP seminar headquarters is the newly remodeled Park City Marriott located in the heart of Park City. The Marriott offers all the services and amenities you expect in a full-service conference hotel including: in-room service, atrium pool and jetted hot tub, cable TV, lounge, non-smoking rooms, valet laundry service, underground parking, executive business center, in-room phone modem ports, in-room coffee makers and hair dryers, exercise facilities, concierge/bellman services, and high-speed Internet access.

AHP group rates for Wednesday, June 19, through Sunday, June 23, are $79 single or double. Additional person charge is $15. An executive suite rate is available for $129 and a corner suite for $159.

Schedule of Activities. The Park City Seminar Committee will begin planning the activities and sessions soon. Input from members who attended the 2001 seminar in San Mateo has been very helpful and constructive. A pre-activity for Thursday will be researched and a meeting room for full day breakout sessions has been added for Saturday in addition to three breakout sessions in the afternoon.

If you would like to volunteer your time or have any suggestions for activities and/or speakers and topics, please contact Committee Chairman, Frank Lessiter at 262-782-4480 or by email: lessitef@lesspub.com or Chris Brune at 386-760-7743 or by email: AHorsePubs@aol.com.

Park City Resources. To start planning your trip to Park City, visit these websites:

• Park City Visitors Bureau (www.parkcityinfo.com)

• Park City Marriott (www.parkcityutah.com)

• All Resort Express (www.allresort.com)

• Utah Olympic Park 435-658-4200

Equine Industry Vision Award

Pfizer Animal Health is proud to announce the creation of the Equine Industry Vision Award—the first major award to showcase innovation across the equine industry.  It is intended not only to serve as a unique recognition of ingenuity and service, but also to benefit the industry by inspiring these qualities in others.

In order to make this special honor a reality, Pfizer Animal Health partnered with American Horse Publications. Together, Pfizer and AHP developed the Equine Industry Vision Award. Its purpose is to recognize outstanding leadership, creativity and meritorious contributions in the equine industry. In order to showcase these achievements across the country, this distinguished award will be given at the AHP annual meeting for equine media.

Anyone is eligible to be nominated, or to nominate a candidate for the award and nominees may include individuals and organizations. They may be considered for a single outstanding visionary achievement or for sustained outstanding contributions that have made a profound impact on the equine industry.

In recognition of these achievements, the award recipient will be given the Equine Industry Vision Award Perpetual Trophy, created in the finest full lead crystal by master artisan Peter Wayne Yenawine and commissioned by Pfizer Animal Health. Yenawine has created gifts of state for the past four White House administrations. In addition to the perpetual trophy, the winner will receive a smaller version of the award as a memento of this unique recognition.

The deadline for nominations for the inaugural Equine Industry Vision Award—to be given at the 2002 AHP annual meeting—will be January 1, 2002. For more information, and to obtain nomination materials, please contact: Chris Brune at 386-760-7743. (E-mail: AHorsePubs@aol.com)

EDITOR’S NOTE: I have already received numerous inquiries about nominations for this prestigious award. The Equine Industry Vision Award is certain to be a highly coveted honor, so contact me as soon as possible to start the nomination process.

Awards Contest Results

Winners in American Horse Publications annual awards competition were announced on June 23, 2001, during the Golden Opportunity 2001 Seminar in San Mateo, California. The 2001 competition, which was for material published in or by member publications in 2000, drew a total of 746 entries from 77 members. AHP President, Warren Wilson and the staff at California Horsetrader performed the responsibility for processing the entries and acquiring the judges. A complete list of the winners is published online at the AHP website and is included in the 2001 Annual Awards Program sponsored by Corporate member, Life Data Labs, Inc.

New for 2002! In response to requests from Affiliate members who are freelance writers, the AHP Board of Directors has recommended that Affiliate members be allowed to submit their own entries in the Editorial Content classes. Entries must be sent as a tear sheet only and must be accompanied by a letter of written support from the publisher. Publishers will have first right to enter the article themselves.

The Awards Committee will review the current contest rules and procedures for improvement, clarity, fairness, and variety. Rules for the 2002 Annual Awards Contest for material published in 2001 will be sent to members in early December. The deadline date for entries will be Wednesday, January 16, 2002.

Student Award Fund Auction raises $3,637

On Friday, June 22, 2001, American Horse Publications honored its 2001 Student Award Winner, Maggie Jo Martin, with a reception sponsored by the American Quarter Horse Association and a dinner buffet sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health. The ninth annual silent auction and raffle raised over $3,000 in the silent auction and over $600 in raffle ticket sales. Proceeds benefit the Student Award Fund, which rewards a college student pursuing a career in equine publishing with a cash award and an all-expense-paid trip to the annual AHP meeting. This year, the Fund also presented cash awards to the first and second runners-up and provided complimentary student membership and seminar registration certificates to all applicants.

In addition to Maggie, three other Student Members attended the Golden Opportunity 2001 Seminar. Amanda Luchsinger was named the first runner-up in the Student Award Contest and worked as an editorial intern at Quarter Horse News. Joni Gleason received a complimentary seminar registration as a Student Award applicant. And Janna Krajci persuaded her college, Michigan State University, to pay for her registration. These young women are talented, personable and enterprising individuals who are destined to be an asset to the equine publishing industry.

The Student Award Fund Silent Auction and Raffle were part of a Gold Rush-themed evening

Highlighted by the first-ever AHP “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” Horse Trivia Game hosted by AHP’s own “Regina Filbin,” aka Steph Stephens. Each table participated in the qualifying round of questions to determine the team players for the Golden Egg and Spoon Relay Race, in which teams of prospectors, pioneers and wine growers competed for extra raffle tickets and prizes. Representing the Prospectors were Cindy Perez of AQHA, Nancy Kelly of Meyocks & Priebe Advertising, and freelance writer, Sushil Dulai Wenholz. The team of Wine Growers included Pat Eskew of Primedia Equine Network; Amie Akard of The Texas Thoroughbred and freelancer, Amber Heintzberger. The Pioneer team consisted of Affiliate members, Ellen Haight and Audrey Pavia, and Student member, Joni Gleason. First place went to the Wine Growers, second to the Pioneers and third to the Prospectors.

College students, who will be juniors or seniors at the start of the 2002-2003 college year with at least one semester before graduation, and who are actively pursuing a career in equine publishing, will be eligible to compete for American Horse Publications 2002 Student Award. The next AHP Annual Meeting and Seminar is scheduled for June 20-22, 2002 in Park City, Utah.

Got questions? Ask me. I'm Board.

The attendees at the AHP's Golden Opportunity 2001 Seminar identified the Board members by the button each wore that stated: "Got questions? Ask me, I'm Board." As a way of introducing the newly elected Board of Directors for 2001-2002 to the members who did not attend the seminar, a brief biography on each is provided below with their email address.

Barrie Reightler

President

E-mail: breightler@mdhorsebreeders.com

Barrie graduated in 1977 with a Bachelors Degree in art from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland, concentrating on graphic design, which included a two-semester internship with the then art director of Polo magazine. After college she worked for The Maryland Horse in the advertising department for a year or so, but left to pursue her interests in training Thoroughbreds. After a stint with steeplechase horses and galloping at the racetrack, she returned to MHBA in February 1984 as advertising manager. In 1986, art director was added to her growing list of responsibilities, and she was given the official title of Director of Publications. She has been there ever since, through the life and death of The Maryland Horse and the creation and success of Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred. Her responsibilities include running the advertising department, the art direction and design (and redesign) of any publication put out at the MHBA, and some photography. In addition, she handles the production on all their publishing products, which means she is the technology guru for the Macs in the office, making the decisions and doing the research to keep MHBA on the cutting edge of magazine production. She handles the printing contracts--including shopping for the right printer for the right project, and dealing with the printers on a day-to-day basis-- along with exploring costs savings as related to any of her responsibilities with design, production and technology.

Barrie joined the AHP Board in 1996. During her term as a Board Member, Barrie has chaired the Student Award and Seminar Committees, moderated workshops, and designs the association newsletter, AHP For The Record. In addition to her current duties as president, she is responsible for processing the 2002 Awards Contest and is the Chairman of the Budget and Promotions Committees.

Frank Lessiter

First Vice President

E-mail: lessiterf@lesspub.com

Frank has been editor of No-Till Farmer since 1972 and bought the publication and launched Lessiter Publications in 1981. Currently, in addition to No-Till Farmer, he publishes American Farriers Journal, Winning Hoops, for basketball coaches, and his newest launch, Gridiron Strategies, for football coaches.

Frank became an AHP Director in 1995 and served as the chairman of the Student Award Committee in 2000-2001. This term, he takes on the duties as chairman for the 2002 Annual Seminar in Park City, Utah.

Doug Hayes

Second Vice President

E-mail: dhayes@aqha.org

Doug joined the AQHA staff as Advertising Sales Representative and three months later was promoted to Ad Sales Director for The Quarter Horse Journal and The Quarter Racing Journal.  His title has changed a couple of times over the years and another magazine and the Internet have been added to his responsibilities.

He became involved with AHP in 1982 and, in 1997 he was elected to the Board as a director. He has attended many AHP seminars since his initial involvement in the early 1980s and all of them since the early 1990s. This year, Doug chairs the Student Award Committee.

“AHP has been a wonderful source of information and encouragement,” says Doug. “So many times, through the years, I've been able to contact people from other publications in our industry to find out how to handle certain things and have received much-needed help. I doubt I would have felt comfortable doing that if it weren't for the camaraderie I've come to enjoy through my involvement in AHP. Of course, along with developing relationships with industry leaders, I've also benefited from educational programs presented at the annual seminars. AHP offers a common ground and a non-competitive environment. It brings us together for the good of the whole.”

Sue Copeland

Executive Board Member

E-mail: smcopeland@aol.com

Sue is the former editor for Horse & Rider, having started with them in 1988. She stepped back from the editorship several years ago and currently is a contributing editor for them and Practical Horseman. She has also done consulting work for Primedia Equine Network and their website, EquiSearch.

Sue is an award-winning book author. She is the creator/editor of the AHP-award-winning Hands-On Horse Care; creator/co-author of Hands-On Dog Car; co-author of Longevity Training with Lynn Palm, based on an AHP-award-winning training series; and co-author of Hands-On Senior Horse Care, to be published this fall.

She became a Board member in 1997. She currently serves as chairman of the Student Award Fundraiser Committee. She has also been a seminar speaker.

Sue says she finds AHP of terrific value as an information, education, and networking resource, and appreciates the opportunity to tap into that network to help share the equine publishing industry's vast bank of experience. “AHP also provides great mentoring benefits. The awards aspect is, well, rewarding. Most of all, I enjoy the opportunity to work with and meet the wonderful folks who make up our present—and future—membership.” 

Deborah Taylor

Executive Board Member

E-mail: dtaylor@ca.uky.edu

Since 1986, Deborah has served as the Executive Director of the University of Kentucky Equine Research Foundation, where she has written and published the UK Equine Research & Service Report, as well as various brochures and materials.  She joined AHP after attending her first national conference in 1990, when Chris Brune was President.

In 1991, she took a year's leave of absence from the University to serve as the Director of Development for the United States Equestrian Team, Inc., in Gladstone, New Jersey.

In addition to her profession, Deborah has been involved in volunteer work in the horse industry, serving on the Kentucky Horse Council (President) and the American Horse Council, lobbying for the industry in both Kentucky and Washington D.C., and serving on various equine industry boards and organizations.

She became an AHP director in 1998 and was elected to the Executive Board in 2001. Deborah currently serves as chairman of the Growth Study Committee.

Warren Wilson

Immediate Past President

E-mail: wilson@horsetrader.com

Warren worked as a reporter and editor for weekly and daily newspapers in his native San Diego County for 9 years before taking the reins at California Horsetrader in 1985 as editor. Since becoming publisher of California Horsetrader in 1990, he has assertively applied new technologies to blend print and Internet products, resulting in www.horsetrader.com. After 20 years of residence at his family's 14-acre Quarter Horse Ranch in San Marcos, CA., the California Horsetrader last October was relocated into larger accommodations in nearby Escondido. Warren lives in Escondido with his wife, Lori, and sons Nile (7) and Case (4).

Warren was elected to the AHP Board of Directors in 1995. During his terms in office, he has served as chairman of the Student Award, Seminar, and Sponsorship Committees and a workshop moderator and seminar speaker. For 2001-2002, he serves as chairman of the Awards Contest and Nominating Committees.

Stacy V. Bearse

Director

E-mail: sbearse@bloodhorse.com

Stacy oversees all operations at Blood-Horse Publications, including The Blood-Horse magazine, The Horse, Equine Images, TBH MarketWatch, Eclipse Press, and custom publishing and new media activities. He joined Blood-Horse in 1990. His publishing career began in 1973, after graduating from Rutgers University in 1972, with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

Stacy was elected to the AHP Board in 1994. He has been instrumental in the development of the AHP website and serves as Webmaster. He has been a popular workshop and seminar speaker and currently is the chairman of the New Media and Revenue Growth Committees.

Jennifer Bryant

Director

E-mail: flynride@snip.net

Jen is AHP's inaugural affiliate member Board director. In 1999, the bylaws were revised to allow affiliate members to serve on the Board of Directors and Jen was elected in 2000. She has been a member of AHP since 1994. She is a former editor of Dressage & CT and Hoof Print magazines, and she has been a full-time freelance writer and editor since 1998. She currently edits the U.S. Dressage Federation's member magazine, USDF Connection. Among the other AHP member publications to which she contributes are the Paint Horse Journal, The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care, and Western & English Today. She is the author of Olympic Equestrian: The Sports and the Stories from Stockholm to Sydney (Eclipse Press, 2000). Trafalgar Square Publishing will publish her next book, which she is co-writing with well-known dressage trainer and rider Betsy Steiner, for publication in 2002.

Jen moderated the first-ever freelancer/publisher panel discussion and workshop at the 1999 AHP seminar and, with fellow affiliate member Audrey Pavia, co-moderated the 2001 sessions. She encourages freelance equine journalists and photographers to join AHP as affiliate members, having herself found the networking and educational opportunities to be invaluable. As the affiliate Board-member representative, she brings freelancers' needs and concerns to the Board and works to facilitate the development of mutually beneficial relationships among publishers, editors, and freelance contributors. 

Dean Hoffman

Director

E-mail: dhoffman@ustrotting.com

Dean is a native of Cincinnati and graduated from Ohio University in 1971 with a degree in journalism. After working on a horse farm in central Kentucky and in the advertising/public relations world, he joined Hoof Beats magazine as its Executive Editor in 1981. He has traveled to many different countries to cover harness racing and writes for publications in several foreign countries. He lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife Linda and daughters Meredith, 13, and Catherine, 11.

Hoof Beats magazine is an AHP founding publication member. Dean was elected to the Board of Directors in 1995. He is currently the chairman of the Membership Review Committee.

Connie Lechleitner

Director

E-mail: ohionews@oqha.com

Connie is editor of publications for the Ohio Quarter Horse Association, including the Ohio Quarter Horse News membership magazine and the Souvenir Program for the All American Quarter Horse Congress. In addition, her duties include media relations for the Congress and managing the OQHA web site. Connie has been a member of AHP for nearly 15 years and is entering her second year on the AHP Board. She is currently chairing one of AHP’s newest committees, Student Mentoring.

As a one-person publication staff, Connie has found the interaction with other equine publication professionals to be a great rejuvenation each year during the conference. "There is a feeling like we are all in this thing together, and often share some of the same obstacles," she says. "I always come back with some great ideas from the educational sessions as well as from my discussions in the hallways with other AHP members. AHP is absolutely my favorite organization of any that I have ever belonged to."

Carl Mullins

Director

E-mail: carlcowboypublishing@hotmail.com

Carl, who is currently Equine Group Publisher for Morris Communications, came to work at Quarter Horse News in Fort Worth, in early 1995. Since joining Morris Communications, Carl has seen their equine group grow to include Barrel Horse News, launched in 1996, Women's Pro Rodeo News, a custom publishing job for the Women's Professional Rodeo Assn, The Horsetrader acquired in 1999, Horsecity.com, The Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar, acquired in February of this year, and the most recent acquisition of Western Horseman.

Quarter Horse News has been a member of AHP for more than 10 years and Carl became involved as a seminar attendee in 1996.  He was elected to the AHP Board in 1999.  “I have found it to be a real honor to work with Chris and the other members of the Board,” says Carl. “My time spent on AHP activities has not only been enjoyable, but fulfilling as we strive to find more ways to add value to the AHP membership and to increase the level of participation within the organization.”

This is Carl’s second year as chairman of the Sponsorship and Equine Industry Vision Award Committee.

Pat Trowbridge

Director

E-mail: ptrowbridge@fancypubs.com

Pat’s involvement in the equine publishing world began six years ago when he accepted the position as Advertising Sales Representative for Horse Illustrated magazine. The acceptance of this position also gave him the opportunity to, once again, begin riding and taking up a new discipline—English.  He handled the Pacific territory for two years and then was given the West, as well. He became the Advertising Director for all equine titles for Fancy Publications in 1998.  In 1999, Pat had the opportunity to be given the challenge of Group Advertising Director for the equine, canine and feline publications for Fancy.

Horse Illustrated has been a member of AHP for seven years and Pat attended his first seminar in 1999. This is his first year as a Board member and he is very happy to have been elected. “The members who I have met have made me feel welcome and I look forward to a very rewarding experience.” He feels the benefits of being a member of AHP give a person the opportunity to meet their peers and really have quality time and share experiences and information. “There seems to be a great deal of respect for each other and it also gives individuals the opportunity to really get to know each other and become friends.”

AHP Who’s Who

Arnold Kirkpatrick is the author of Investing In Thoroughbreds, a book published in 2001 by Eclipse Press, a division of Blood-Horse, Inc. The book is a practical guide to help the newcomer make smart business decisions. Kirkpatrick is an award-winning writer and Thoroughbred breeder who owns a successful real estate and consulting business in Lexington, Kentucky. He formerly was publisher of The Thoroughbred Record, an executive of the American Horse Council, founding president of American Horse Publications, a racetrack president, and a vice president of Spendthrift Farm.

Tony Chamblin, president and chief executive officer of the Association of Racing Commissioners International (RCI), for the past 15 years, retired on July 1. Prior to joining the RCI in 1986, Tony served as president and general manager of Finger Lakes Race Track from 1983-86 and as executive director of the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association from 1973-83. He has also served as editor and publisher of the Breeder’s Cup Magazine and Horsemen’s Journal. One of the founding fathers of American Horse Publications, Tony served as AHP president for two terms in 1974-76 and its executive director from 1977-1983.

Michelle Berg, the 2000 Student Award winner, was the last of the Appaloosa Journal brides to head down the aisle. Five journal engagements and weddings in 13 months kept everyone busy and the names in the staff box changing. She’s now Michelle Berg Anderson.

Horse & Rider welcomes Heidi Nyland as their new assistant editor. Heidi will be involved in H&R editorial, as well as continuing work on Equisearch.com. A student AHP member, Heidi has just completed her master's in journalism from the EW Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. While doing her undergraduate work at Ohio Wesleyan University, she coached the school's equestrian team in both Western and English events. She has relocated from Ohio to Colorado, and started Monday, August 27. She can be reached at (720) 836-1257; hnyland@cowles.com.

Pegasus Equine Express!! is pleased to announce its sale to: Tammy Pelotto of Odenville, Alabama. Former editor/owner Debbie Wilson says, “We are very eager to see our “baby” grow under Tammy’s capable hands. P.E.E. has been a fulfillment of a dream and watching its continued growth will be a great joy to us. We are sure that it will service the equine industry of Alabama for years to come.”  Please send all future correspondences to: Pegasus Equine Express!!, Tammy Pelotto, P.O. Box 355, Moody, AL. 35004, (205) 629-5248.

For the third consecutive year, Western & English Today magazine has been named the "Best Magazine" and judged "Best News or Feature Article" in the Western and English retail trade in the All Industry Marketing (AIM) Awards.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners has hired Lori Roberts as director of education. Her duties include managing the AAEP's new horse health website, www.MyHorseMatters.com, and developing outreach programs and education materials to help owners learn more about horse health. Prior to joining AAEP, Lori worked as a technical sales representative in Kentucky for Bayer Animal Health. A life-long horse owner and rider, her involvement in the animal industry includes experience as a veterinary technician.

Storey Books has released several new equine books. “Have Saddle, Will Travel: Low-Impact Trail Riding and Horse Camping “ by Don West offers low-impact strategies for environmentally friendly adventures on horseback (paperback $19.95). “Renovating Barns, Sheds & Outbuildings” by craftsman Nick Engler provides the amateur woodworker with the skills on how to save money, history and architecture (paperback $24.95). For more information, visit www.storeybooks.com.

Do you have news you wish to share with AHP members? Send news releases and updates to AHP For the record, Chris Brune, Editor, 49 Spinnaker Circle, South Daytona, FL 32119; or fax (386) 760-7728 or email AHorsePubs@aol.com.

Industry News

Morris adds to equine publishing group . Morris Communications has signed an agreement to purchase Western Horseman magazine, based in Colorado Springs, CO.  The publication will become part of the company's Cowboy Publishing Group, which includes Quarter Horse News, Barrel Horse News and The Horsetrader. The Morris equine network also includes the award-winning equine portal Web site, HorseCity.com, the leading monthly equine periodical in New England, The Horsemen’s Yankee Pedlar and Women’s Pro Rodeo News, published for the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. Western Horseman will continue to be operated from its Colorado Springs location with its present staff. The Morris Cowboy Publishing Group is based in Fort Worth, Texas. HorseCity.com is operated from the Morris corporate offices in Augusta, Georgia.

VNU Expositions discontinues Equitana USA. The 2001 Equitana USA was the last show to be produced by VNU Expositions, which through its acquisition of Miller Freeman, Inc. in 2000 has held the license to produce the event in the U.S. for the past three years. The company stated that it has a very large and diversified portfolio of leading media products. Equitana worldwide is owned by Reed Exhibitions. All questions relating to the present or future of Equitana USA will be directed to the management in Germany.

Court finds for AHSA: USET actions “null and void”.  In a dramatic court ruling, the United States Equestrian Team’s corporate actions this year have been declared “null and void,” and its corporate books and records have been opened to unlimited inspection by its trustees. The ruling was issued by mail on Thursday, August 16, 2001.  The Superior Court of New Jersey found for the AHSA (now USA Equestrian) and its president, Alan F. Balch, in the case Balch vs. United States Equestrian Team, Inc.  The decision followed oral argument held on Friday, August 3, at Somerset County Courthouse, Somerville, NJ. The entire court decision, USA Equestrian media release, and a statement by the organization’s president, Alan F. Balch, are available on the web site at www.ahsa.org/EquestrianGovernance/index.html.

ILC introduces Ranch Horse 101. The International Livestock Congress (ILC) will introduce a new and effective change to its line-up of topics during its annual meeting in February 2002 when it modifies its traditional equine forum to focus on issues affecting ranchers and beef producers who own horses. Called Ranch Horse 101, the forum will focus on such topics as alternative income markets through the horse industry, feedlot horse safety, developing effective ranch breeding programs and will include demonstrations from top trainers who specialize in ranch-type horses. Included among the topics will be a look at ranch horse competitions, prevention and recovery of stolen horses and marketing and promoting the ranch horse. The International Livestock Congress will be held February 19-22, 2002 at the Warwick Park Plaza Hotel in Houston, Texas, during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. For more information or to register, go to www.livestockcongress.com or call Julie Kimball, Executive Director at (817) 367-6563.

USDF names Sarah Jane Martin as Executive Director. After serving as Acting Executive Director of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) for seven months, Sarah Jane Martin, of Montgomery, Texas, was named the Executive Director. Sarah Jane is responsible for managing the business of the Federation and implementing the policies of the Executive Board.  She will operate the USDF office in Lincoln, Nebraska, with a staff of 29, which serves the organization’s 32,000 members.

TARA benefits retired steeds. The Thoroughbred Adoption and Retirement Association, Inc., (TARA) an organization to assist and accredit organizations that deal with the placement of ex-racehorses, has been officially launched, with five initial adoption and retirement groups attaining accreditation. Filed as a 501C4 non-profit organization, TARA was co-founded by the California Equine Retirement Association, Days End Farm Horse Rescue, Inc. in Maryland and ReRun, Inc., a national organization based in Kentucky. The TARA mission statement—to establish, apply and monitor standards of accreditation for thoroughbred adoption and retirement organizations, to serve as a liaison to the Thoroughbred industry to facilitate charitable assistance to retired Thoroughbreds and to promote the versatility of the Thoroughbred breed—outlines the goals of this unique organization. For more information, contact: TARA, Inc at (859) 865-4577.

Tufts Animal Expo to be held in October. Tufts Animal Expo 2001 will feature more than 175 expert speakers participating in over 515 hours of educational programming for professionals in veterinary medicine (veterinarians and technicians), animal care and human health. The event takes place October 10-13, 2001 at the Hynes Convention Center, Boston, Massachusetts. To register on-line, or for up-to-the-minute information on all aspects of Tufts Animal Expo, visit their web site www.tuftsanimalexpo.com or call Carol Miller at 800-642-9429.

IMAX film horses comes to the US. “Majestic White Horses,” produced and directed by Kurt J. Mrkwicka, debuts in America this fall at the Ferbank Museum of History in Atlanta, Georgia. The film not only uses as its centerpiece both the world’s most famous horses, the Lipizzans of Austria, and their home, the internationally famous Spanish Riding School of Vienna, but it also captures the heart and mystique of this great animal from its youth to its crowning achievement of its entrance into the School. Through an arrangement with www.bigmoviezone.com, AHP Affiliate member Elizabeth McCall would like to offer complimentary reprints of her review of an advance screening of “Majestic White Horses” to all AHP members.  Her only requirements are that publishers include her byline and a “courtesy of” credit to www.bigmoviezone.com.  She’d also personally appreciate a hard copy of anything that runs for her files. Please mail to: Elizabeth McCall, P. O. Box 2102, Malibu, CA 90265. AHP members interested in obtaining a reprint of the “Majestic White Horses” review should contact Mark Kresser at bigmoviezone (in Los Angeles) by e-mail or phone. Just advise him that you are a member of American Horse Publications. A photo can be transmitted electronically on request. Contact: Mark Kresser, Associate Publisher, Bigmoviezone.com, Phone: (310) 563-2611; E-mail: mfk@bmz.net. For more information on the IMAX film, “Majestic White Horses,” visit http://www.white-horses.com.

$1-Million up for grabs. One million—the magic purse level that separates pretenders from serious participants—is the amount of money that eligible horses will be able to run for in the newly restructured Texas Stallion Stakes Series (TSSS) beginning in 2002, announced the Texas Thoroughbred Association. Under its revised format, the $1 million Texas Stallion Stakes Series will comprise four races on the dirt, divided by sex and run at increasing distances within nine months. Purses for each race in the Series will be derived in part by stallion and foal nomination fees, with the balance to come from agreements between each Class I track and the TTA over use of a part of the 10 percent simulcast export fee that was directed to the Accredited Texas-Bred Program before being redirected to the tracks from 1997 until 2001. For more information, call Texas Thoroughbred Association at (512) 458-6133.

Intervet newest AAEP Educational Partner. AAEP has added Intervet, Inc. to its team of Educational Partners program, which is a group of corporations dedicated to providing resources and education through the AAEP to veterinarians and horse owners to improve the health and welfare of the horse. Highlighting this new relationship with AAEP is Intervet's exclusive sponsorship of a market and fee study. Information gathered from the study will be helpful to veterinarians in identifying opportunities for practice growth and providing nationwide data on veterinary equipment and hiring decisions.

AHP welcomes new members

To access New Member Profiles, visit the online membership directory.

INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION MEMBER

• Endurance World

PUBLICATION MEMBERS

• HorseSouth Magazine

• Southern Horseman

INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATE MEMBER

• Arnd Bronkhorst

AFFILIATE MEMBERS

• Bonnie Davis

• June Evers

• Renee K. Frantum

• Rebecca Gibbons

• Sandra J. Harting

• Amber Heintzberger

• Julie J. Kimball

• Lynda Bloom Layne

• Vickie Presley Mazzola

CORPORATE MEMBERS

• Ariat International, Inc.

• Horseman’s Radio Weekly

• Professional’s Choice Sports Medicine Products, Inc.

• Times-Mail, Newspaper and Commercial Printer

STUDENT MEMBERS

• Schuyler M. Barsch

• Andrea J. Caudill

• Tiffany Crawford

• Joni Gleason

• Janna Krajci

• Haley S. Mahoney

• Kathryn Anne Navarra

• Kenneth Willis O’Meara

• Sabra Ladd Spaw

 AHP Message Board

Equine Photographers’ Network. The Equine Photographers’ Network, at www.EquinePhotographers.net, is an organization formed as a resource center for equine photographers and those interested in finding photographers in their area and for publishers/editors to help meet the photo needs of their publications. The website includes a directory listing of photographers by state and country, a photo gallery, copyright information, a check-off on how to prepare your horse for a photo session, message boards, and links to additional resources.

AHP New Area Code. Please note that the Daytona Beach area code changed to 386 (FUN). The (904) area code will be good until November 2001, if you have trouble dialing (386).