Meet a Member: Anna I. Sochocky, CEO, Equi-Libris, LLC

By , February 6, 2023

Anna created her company with a mission to “educate, inspire, and document distinctive narratives about Horses, Health, and History while highlighting the relevance of equines in the 21st century.” Read about how AHP has helped Anna grow her business, and the assignments she’s excited about writing. Be sure to look for Anna at the Meet at the Mesa Conference in June and say hello.

Meet a Member: Fran Severn

By , October 19, 2022

If you were at the Back to Bluegrass Conference in May, you might have met author Fran Severn. Her book Riders of a Certain Age: Your Guide to Loving Horses Mid-Life and Beyond, published by Trafalgar Square Books last spring, has struck a chord with “mature” riders, whether they’re just starting or getting back into horses after a hiatus. Read more about Severn, her book, her AHP experiences and how she’s expanding on the success and relating even more to her reader

Meet a Member: Zoe Bowden

By , May 1, 2022

Zoe Bowden’s interest in equine media has certainly been spearheaded by her involvement in AHP. Starting with internships she learned about through AHP and becoming a student member, the recent University of Florida graduate with a Masters in Agricultural Communications, has joined AHP as a media professional member. Her graduate thesis research investigated the demographics and professional skills of American equine journalists and communicators. Zoe is excited about attending her first AHP conference in May 2022.

Meet a Member: Carley Sparks

By , January 22, 2022

Carley Sparks is the Editor in Chief of Horse Network, a modern digital media company specializing in equestrian sport in North America. She joined AHP in 2019 primarily to provide an opportunity for the Horse Network creative team to be nationally recognized. A story that Carley wrote in 2019, “The Inevitability of Sexual Abuse in Horse Sport,” won an award in the 2020 AHP Equine Media Awards and kicked off a project #WeRideTogether of which she is very proud. She names sharing industry news and connecting with other members valuable tools provided with AHP membership.

Meet a Member: Rebecca Didier

By , July 6, 2021

Rebecca Didier is the managing editor and graphic designer for Trafalgar Square Books, where she works on a variety of projects “for the good of the horse.” Since joining the staff 19 years ago, she’s been part of AHP and a regular attendee at the annual Equine Media Conference where she values connecting with fellow equine media professionals and horse lovers.

Meet a Member: Heidi Nyland Melocco

By , November 7, 2020

Based in Mead, Colorado, Heidi Melocco specializes in a variety of services, including freelance photography, journalism, public relations, website design, social media management and advertising for equine-related companies under her brand The Whole Picture, LLC.

Meet a Member: Straight Arrow Products Family of Brands: Mane ‘n Tail; Cowboy Magic; and Exhibitor’s

By , August 27, 2020

The Straight Arrow Products Family of Brands brings you more than 100 years of combined grooming excellence, with 50 years of Mane ‘n Tail; 25 years of Cowboy Magic; and 30 years of Exhibitor’s. An AHP Business member since 2009, we have been fortunate to connect with many talented industry professionals through AHP and to be able to collaborate with photographers, writers, authors, illustrators and many more resourceful members. All have broadened the scope of what we can accomplish for the Straight Arrow Family of Brands. We are extremely thankful for that opportunity.

Meet a Member: Susan Friedland

By , May 24, 2020

An AHP member for 6 years, California author and blogger Susan Friedland writes heartfelt stories about overcoming obstacles in life and healing through horses. Read about the craziest place she met and connected with an editor and the projects she’s most excited about.

Meet a Member: Valerie Ormond

By and , February 24, 2020

After serving 25 years in the U.S. Navy, Valerie Ormond has dedicated herself to writing for the equine community. The author received an award for Best Veterans Fiction in the 2019 EQUUS Film and Arts Festival, and she has more projects on the horizon in 2020.

AHP commemorative pins are a collection of memories

By and , January 29, 2020

Fifteen years ago AHP began including commemorative pins as part of the annual conferences. As someone who loves Disney pin trading, Tracy Gantz was all in. Her pin collection multiplied to the point where she had to find an extra Disney pin lanyard to hold all of her 18 AHP pins. Tracy says, “I decided to loan my pin collection to Man o’ War, our 50th anniversary mascot, to show off the pins for this blog post. But I’ve returned them to the lanyard, which is about the only way I will be able to get them to Lexington in May.”

My aha moment at an AHP seminar in 1994

By , January 15, 2020

AHP Champion and past president, Dean Hoffman remembers an AHP seminar in Lexington, Kentucky in June 1994, when a representative of a printer spoke to AHP members. “His comments prompted several light bulbs to brighten in my normally-vacant brain,” he says. “AHP membership (and participation!) paid for itself many times over for Hoof Beats,” says Hoffman. “Plus, I got to hang around and become friends with some of the top professionals in equine journalism and benefit from their wisdom.”

How AHP changed my career

By and , December 27, 2019

Longtime AHP member, Jennifer Bryant, recalls a meet-cute story from her first AHP seminar in 1995 that changed her career. A chance meeting with Lua Southard in the line for the ladies’ room led to a new position and a lifelong friendship.

Meet a Member: Lisa Wysocky

By , December 19, 2019

Lisa Wysocky wears a lot of hats in the equine industry–from book author to freelancer to executive director of a nonprofit therapeutic riding and life learning center. A longtime member of AHP, she has served as a former judge for the Equine Media Awards and continues to enjoy the friends she has met through AHP.

Annual Awards given at the AHP Conference

By , October 17, 2019

Many special moments happen during the annual AHP Equine Media Conference, especially when it comes time to honor those in the equine media industry, and also the horse industry as a whole, with special awards. When those times come, don’t hesitate to cheer on both new and old friends during one of the many awards ceremonies at the conference.

Meet a Member: Janet de Acevedo Macdonald

By , August 19, 2019

Janet de Acevedo Macdonald is a freelance writer from Arizona. She makes the most of her membership by attending the annual conference and maintaining contact through social media. Janet says, “When I have opportunities to post about an author’s new book or to share a news announcement from the AHP Newsgroup, I do it.”