Happy Christmas and 2024 - News and Views - A Note from your Editor

It's been a stellar year here at Catskill Horse magazine and it is thanks to many folks chipping in, contributing and supporting the core efforts of The Merry Band at The Catskill Horse. We thank each and every one of you!

It's been a great 11 years thus far, and we have a wealth of new plans for 2024 thanks to all the feedback everyone kindly gave to our recent survey.

 

 

The continuation of the publication in a new format along with keeping the magazine free from a paid subscription model is planned, and work has already begun with our IT volunteer and publisher Paul Alvin-Smith taking the reins on the graphic design and layout. There will be a subscription option added where users will be invited to join the 'official' readership list , but no pay wall will be instigated.

Readers can expect a more user-friendly experience, matched with video driven content, great copy with plenty of training advice for horse folks and more travel inspired adventures. Several new writers have joined The Merry Band and a new diversity to content will be the result. In addition to the mainstay equestrian focus, new spin-off columns and media platforms on rural lifestyle, including hunting and hunting guide coverage to both field and stream; homestead advice and insights with rural property development advice for farm, agritourism, garden and sustainable living including off-grid living, log homes and small houses; plus livestock and pet corner are also in the works. 

Advertisers continue to report great metrics on their analytics that showcase the value of the organic SEO boost from the .org status of Catskill Horse and the high number of repeat viewers that are loyal to the brand, with good sharing across the social media platforms reaching an ever increasing number of readers. The demographic audience is trending lower in age, and the advent of the new magazine layout and update will doubtless help develop this trend further.

Micro-influencing through the various PR routes and distribution media channels offer a myriad of opportunities to snag new viewership. The micro-influencer channels are not huge but importantly are very well targeted and thus productive. It is expected that the reach of the magazine will continue its upward spiral as new social media platforms will be announced in early summer. New partnerships will be announced in particular with professional film production on video routes.

Social teaming will also be available to select advertisers with differentiated markets honored to ensure no conflict between brands. The advice of noted mentors, including Barbara Corcoran, has been brought front and center through liaison with certain loyal magazine readers who worked directly under her tutoring and have kindly gifted their access and expertise. This is an aspect we are very excited to be bringing to the table, as we expect the returns to be significant.

Our free help to 501(c)3 registered charities will continue and be further developed as we continue Catskill Horse mission to make the world a better place for all to enjoy.

The aim of the magazine is as always, to bring a super, fun, and useful resource to as many horse trainers/owners, country lifestyle loving folks and cookery and travel aficionados as possible. The magazine continues to expand well beyond the North-East U.S.A., in parallel with the breadth of interests readership has reported. We will continue to add staff to the writing team to broaden the expertise across these topics to meet the demand.

There is also a likely mid-July launch of an exciting rebrand of a specialist canine/pet publication, pending some ongoing negotiations for an acquisition of an existing well-respected publication. We will keep you posted!

So that's the update for now. Please stay tuned for additional news!

Happy 2024! 

 

Your Editor,

Nikki Alvin-Smith

Nikki Alvin-Smith

Clinic Season Popping - The Joy Of Giving Horse Clinics Abroad

Travel is always both fun and difficult for a horse owner. The benefits of being able to get 'off the farm' for a respite from the daily work is welcome but the convoluted world of air travel can make the idea of taking off for different climes and countries a stressful affair.

But once I am safely seated in my international airline seat, I know there is nothing to be done but kick back and enjoy the ride. A bit like when you finally enter at A during a dressage test as an experienced competitor. It's time to put the nerves away and just get on and enjoy the fruits of your labor.  

 

Once you have safely landed the next major happy moment is seeing your luggage come off the carousel. For every passenger seeing that their suitcases are present and intact is always a relief, but for a horse clinician or competitor, it is especially significant. Let's face it, replacing your custom tall dressage boots or perfectly fitted riding helmet on the fly would not be easy to do.

 

Arrival at an English-speaking company is always easier than one where you have limited (if any!) comprehension of the language. Visits to give clinics in Europe for hubbie and myself, have always been difficult where the audience is not all ex-pats that speak English or even the younger generation of EU riders who can manage to converse in English reasonably well. 

Portugal and Spain are notably harder to navigate than France or Germany, and Italy is definitely one where a translator is necessary at the clinic events. Technology options not withstanding, it is still an challenging task to get the message through at times. Though many laughs are often had along the way.

Horse keeping methods and horse barns are always interesting to observe during your travels. In Portugal horses in training are often stabled for much of the time, as grazing is very limited due to the lack of grass available. 

Meantime in Britain, where grass is plentiful, livery barns of all grades offer plenty of turn out. And of course my noted fellow countrymen, Charlotte Dujardin ( actually grew up in my hometown!) and Carl Hester, advocate the benefits of grazing for even their most elite equine superstars.

 

Even at the most prestigious world renowned dressage masters' private yards, care is sometimes more rudimentary than you might expect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Horses in the U.K. are most commonly pastured most of the time.

 

One of the superstars at a clinic event we gave in the Lake District, UK. No fancy stabling but a beautifully fit horse and well-kept.

Not just the horse housekeeping but also the horse training and workout methods are also different globally. Pounding horses around the indoor day in day out is frowned upon most everywhere. 

In many countries getting the horses out on the road, exposed to everything that is there at an early age, helps set them up for success when it comes to the busy world of showgrounds and competition. And of course, linking up from bridleway to bridleway is a great way to enjoy trails elsewhere.

Safety first when on the road is a must. Boots and jackets for everyone.

Riding through the villages is great fun.

 

There is always a lot of driving involved when giving clinics abroad. It is important to be a good map reader, because navigation systems only go so far. It pays dividends to take a good co-pilot along with you. It makes things much easier. 

 

And of course, when you're not pouring over maps and devices to find your way, there will be beautiful scenery to enjoy. And random food stops!

Lake District - Windemere

Tavira, Portugal Algarve Region

 

 

Converted dairy barn in farm county.

Random spots for a coffee stop, including renovated stables!

And don't forget the foodie fun. Exploring different cuisines is all part of the adventure. But I do carry some SNZ antibiotics, charcoal tabs/psyllium tabs/ Immodium and Gavescon with me just in case needed! Don't want too much adventure, and feeling poorly when you've got to stand in the center of an arena giving instruction for 8 or 9 hours a day is no fun.

 

Don't forget to try the local wine

Living dangerously with cured meats - but delicious fare is worth the risk (pick a clean/good quality restaurant though!)

Don't forget to take time out to relax. Especially after all that driving and standing/walking/riding about... , 

Nikki at the Estrela Pousada, Serra da Estrela. highest point on mainland Portugal.

 

In all, getting yourself out of your own 'training' rut and out and about, shopping/competing or giving clinics is always good for the mind and soul. 

Don't be shy to expand your horizons, the rewards are well worth the expense and effort. And meeting fellow equestrians from different backgrounds and countries is always a treat!

 

Paul and Nikki Alvin-Smith, The Algarve, Portugal.

 

Experts Warn To Stock Up On Horse Hay Needs

It doesn't come as a huge shock to hay producers in the country to hear experts warning horse owners to stock up on their forage needs early this year.

 

Organically produced hay growing at Willowview Hill Farm, Stamford, NY

Take the recent press release by Coleman, University of Kentucky Extension Office -

"Coleman emphasized that hay is a mobile commodity. Although hay may be readily available in some areas, regions experiencing a shortage will require hay to be transported across the state or county,” he said. “Making hay purchasing decisions early can ensure buying at a reasonable price when the supply is abundant. Waiting until later in the feeding season might lead to reduced availability and significantly higher costs.” (read more on our news page)

 

Here in the North-East we've enjoyed the wettest July in nearly 200 years, 197 to be exact, and the 3rd wettest month in 197 years with over 11.5 inches in Upstate regions of New York. Staggering metrics for sure, and as any hay farmer knows not only has Mother Nature dished out heavy rain this growing season, she has also spent this season offering tantalizing day of sun followed by a day of rain. 

Finding horse hay of 2nd cut supply wise will be hard as quantities will necessarily be low due to the late 1st season harvest. Finding 1st cut that hasn't been wet in the field will be equally hard. 

The reality is that many farmers through sheer frustration turned to silage as a means to get hay harvested at all. While others have relied on the bevy of (untested for safe use on horses) dry-down agents and preservatives to cure hay sufficiently to prevent it causing fires, molding and dusting etc. Adding 'organic' acids does not mean that the final product can't cause horses health issues just because the word organic is in the title.

The other concern is that soaking or even steaming the hay that is infused or coated with these dry-down agents will likely not remove them from the forage. It is also good to realize that almost every large round bale of hay will have been treated in some manner to try and negate mold, dust or other issues in these so called 'ton' bales. It is simply almost impossible to bale these mammoths without their use.

Health issues that are likely to be prevalent in horses exposed to 'treated' hay crops can include hives, upper respiratory inflammation (especially in young horses), and that bane of every horse owner at this point, ulcers.

Digestive issues in the horse naturally manifest themselves in a variety of issues. Leaky gut syndrome, hind gut issues in general, lack of condition or poor behavior, muscle soreness and lameness, skin issues etc. The list goes on.

There are lots of good reasons to feed supplements to counter the effects of the negative diet and nutrition in the horse, but of course not putting the a horse's health in jeopardy in the first place would be ideal. This is trickier than it seems, as finding good quality well cured hay that is cured the old-fashioned way, by Mother Nature alone, is hard to do. When you do find it, it is likely more expensive than its counterparts and the absence of dry-down agents or preservatives does not mean it is good hay. 

Hay also needs to be clean and green, meaning clean of weeds, dust and mold and green with good color notating a proper time of harvesting and method of drying to the correct moisture content has been executed.

Many folks turn to feeding bagged, commercially produced forage made by large companies such as Standlee (Tractor Supply a likely purchasing point). If you read the print on the label and website, they do indicate that the hay they utilize has been treated with preservatives etc.

The likelihood is that hay produced to date will be quickly snapped up by hay dealers who have both the storage to hold large supplies in reserve while the market is built up to high demand and highest prices can be attained with accompanying robust profit margins. They can move the hay wherever the best price will be paid, often out of the area it was produced. 

Sadly it is not usually the farmer that reaps the profits of the hard labor it takes to produce hay. So in response, farmers across the U.S.A. have plowed many hay fields under for more profitable crops over the past several years. A practice that continues to show no sign of stopping its upward trending popularity.

The extremely high costs of fertilizer mean that yields are likely down. Utilizing 'liquid gold' cow manure or other animal manure spread on the fields after 1st cut to bring on the 2nd cut is common practice. But the organic manure will also bring with it a myriad of unwanted seeds from weedy or obnoxious plants. 

The small square, user-friendly, organically grown and harvested hay supply is ever diminishing and the reality is that as Coleman at UK quoted in his press release above, the best time to set up your hay supply is now not later. If you don't have proper storage then its wise to think about making an investment in that area too. 

 

 

 

Do Expensive Horse Therapies Actually Work?

The recent press including the bold publication of some interesting books has highlighted the use and accessibility of expensive therapies and modalities administered to equine athletes and brought up the topic of whether or not horses truly benefit from all the effort.

Our Horses All Deserve The Best - But What Is The Best?

 

Diagnosing a health or performance issue is obviously a key to managing its care and offering remedial help to the animal. But just when are the lengths that can be employed to research, diagnose and the myriad of treatment options just used to pay for the expensive diagnostic equipment and build pharmaceutical or feed/supplement companies' bottom line?

Just as in human medicine, the doctors in veterinary medicine are subject to the market forces that exist to build business. The increasingly widespread use of drugs like Osphos, which I wrote about in this article -is a great example of how persuasive marketing from a drug manufacturer in press such as the AAEP magazine, and assorted 'attractive' offers, can make a treatment popular without necessarily, in this author's humble opinion anyway, being proven as safe to use long term. 

The business of equine medicine is still booming, despite the lack of ambulatory care providers nationwide. The attendance of a team of expert veterinarians at a prestige barn to treat the most valuable horseflesh will always be a given, even Universities such as Cornell must follow the money. And some opportunities at these high-end facilities to research and document injuries, diseases and treatments do come with the chance to employ their vast array of expensive equipment and learned personnel.

But increasingly the backyard or amateur horse owner is left in the dust. The budget of the average horse owner does not stretch to spending money on major diagnostic practices or costly treatments, even if they are willing or even able to transport their horses to a clinic or university location for the privilege. 

Many notable authorities in the veterinary field, including the much-loved Dr. David Ramey and similarly published author, Dr. Shelley Onderdonk, are among the growing number of veterinarians who are 'coming clean' about the prevalent use and validity of some of the protocols being urged on horse owners by their noble profession.

Full credit to publishers Trafalgar Square Books, for publishing titles such as one of their most recent, Winning with Horses. A stellar insight from both a highly regarded and accomplished polo professional Snow, and his partner veterinarian Onderdonk into the real 'winning' ways.

One of the very best remedies for healing in the horse, whether mental or physical and sometimes both of course run together, is simply to rest the horse. But no-one is making any money out of that, and sadly many horse owners simply don't want to give the horse the time it needs to properly recover.

The horse owners who simply does not have the money to fund repeat vet visits, multiple ongoing tests/Xrays/ ultrasounds, and specialist therapies such as laser treatments or stem cell regenerative methods etc. will likely feel a measure of guilt at not pushing their financial well-being off a cliff to afford what they are coerced into believing is, 'best for their horse". Somewhat ironically, by not doing everything possible and throwing everything but the kitchen sink at a health issue, these horse owners may be doing their horses a huge favor.

A good dose of common sense in the animal's routine, diet and daily care and exercise, with obviously some background help from a veterinary perspective (hopefully someone with an approach based on integrity and sincere knowledge and strong enough in character not to be subject to the wiles of the industry forces), can be better than what some doctors ordered.

The reality is that quick fixes often don't last, and Mother Nature still has plenty of import in the healing process and recovery of an animal's well-being that is sometimes better left without undue interference.

Diabolical Air Quality In NE Hampers Hay and Horses

Unless you've been living under a rock, which might actually be the best place to be right now, you will be experiencing the negative affects of significant air pollution from the Canadian forest fires in the North-East and beyond.

New York City was the most polluted city in the world on 6/6/23

 

It is stunning to be checking your phone for updates on the AQI ( air quality index) on an hourly basis when you usually enjoy the usually clean, fresh mountain air in the Catskills. 

Horse farms necessarily involve a lot of strenuous work outside and health experts telling us all to stay inside to protect our lung and heart health is not an option.

In recent years we have all learned a lot about mask wearing. Ironically now we find ourselves wearing ours between exiting the vehicle or house to get in to an air-conditioned shop where we remove them rather than the other way around a few years ago. Where the public places were where we'd put them on.

For the past few days the air quality has been so poor, nearly 200 AQI, that we have been wearing masks all the time we are outside with the horses. We have taken the precaution to stop working the horses altogether, both for their sake and for ours.

Thankfully our ongoing film production crew that were here at the farm for The Horse Studio/Horse in a Kilt Media shoot of Dressage 101 - Starting The Young Horse, in the past few weeks on and off had already left due to predicted cloudy weather.  

Turn out times for the horses have been limited and scheduled around when the better air quality hours may occur, be that inconvenient very early morning hours or whenever. The barn doors are kept shut to try and mitigate the air flow of polluted air down the aisleway. Thankfully the weather is cool so the barn does not need them open for cooling though we have been reluctant to close all the windows. 

Thankfully horses have a long neck that helps protect their respiratory system from airborne particles but according to the health experts the pollutant particles are of a size that our bodies cannot easily clear them and they will settle in our lungs.

Haymaking hadn't begun on our organic hay farm at Willowview Hill Farm, due to the lack of rain and lack of growth of the crop. This weather hasn't helped much and we will certainly wait for Mother Nature to come wash down all the grasses of particles of ash that we have actually seen floating down from the sky.

I feel sorry for those in the horse community who have events planned, competitions lined up and expenses to cover. 

The adverse air quality and lack of rain is not the only problem folks are facing. The pop up thunderstorms producing golf ball size hail in parts of Upstate New York and I'm sure elsewhere have damaged much agritourism produce. The nursery businesses have all their stock outside and set up ready for the big sale season and much stock that simply could not be moved inside has been decimated by the storms.

Oh Canada..

 

But to keep all this in perspective we must remember the people in Canada that have lost much more. Their homes and livelihoods. 

And if we step just a few thousand miles away to Ukraine, or even further afield we can see a completely other level of suffering.

We shall all weather this weather. But it is a stern reminder that we should not take our oxygen or our water for granted.

 

It's A 'Summer' Horse - Grade Horses Count

There is an interesting cycle that seems to happen in the business of horse ownership. The first horse many folks own is often a 'grade' or 'summer' horse -

" Some o' this and some 'o that!"

These invaluable mutts or mongrels of the horse world usually come with a lesser price than their pedigree purebred equine compatriots. But as equestrians develop their skill sets and riding prowess along with the rider's development sadly commonly appears horse breed snobbery. 

WVH Gambol's Georgy Girl (DWB x TB)

 

The branded horse, the registered and papered equine that is often specifically bred for the specialized discipline the rider has decided to track, is nearly always more expensive than its 'grade' counterpart.

Obviously if the equestrian discipline competition is restricted to a particular breed, such as horse or harness racing  with the heritage designed Thoroughbred or Standardbred, then the horse owner that wishes to play must purchase the right animal to do the job with the right pedigree. 

Thoroughbred Mares at WVH Farm

 

For the barrel racer or reining competitor the all American Quarterhorse will be the beast of choice. With its powerful hind end and stocky build designed to intimidate the bovine contingent as a cow pony, the AQHA is the perfect companion for the Western rider.

The dressage aficionado will favor a forward launching warmblood breed or more recently trending popularity in the marketplace is the horse that offers the ease of collection and the less 'back breaking' ride of an Iberian, such as an Andalusian or Lusitano as a better option. 

Eventers and showjumpers love the athletic talents of the Thoroughbred, though cross bred horses are also popular where warmblood power off the ground and scope is beneficial.

Driving enthusiasts will harness everything from miniature horses to draft breeds bred for toil such as Percherons and Belgians to elegant Hackneys, Friesians or warmbloods to pull their weight in competition.

But. The seasoned horse breeder will also find that fully registered horses, whether line bred, closed studbook stock or bred using similar unfortunate practices common in the horse world are restrictive and unfortunately, just as in the dog world, produce unwanted results. OCD (a disease syndrome of growing cartilage such as epiphysitis, subchondral cysts and angular carpal deformities), club feet, warmblood fragile foal syndrome and a myriad of other issues.

The decision of a breed registry to forego adding a breed brand to the horse's hip or neck, (something that has largely only been undertaken due to forced decision by laws enacted in certain countries to protect the well-being of the horse), has alleviated some of the snobbery that surrounds buying the usually more expensive purebred equine. 

The prideful rider can now display their horse breed passion on their saddle pads or own riding colors or apparel, but the horse must stand on its own merit when on display in public.

From the nefarious horse dealer point of view, the registration paperwork may be easier to manipulate without the visual evidence on the horse's hip (or neck) of the breed, and removal of microchips or change in chipping is rarely revealed into well past the date of sale. The breed registry that now requires DNA testing is only as good as the method of enforcement and the ability for folks to access the data without payment of huge fees during a pre-purchase exam.

A good trainer will train any breed horse to reach its potential

 

As an advance level competitor/coach/clinician I don't much care about the breed of a horse anymore. I can usually determine the attributes I see in a horse's conformation or manner of movement and biomechanics to its specific breed influences, perhaps due to my 25+ years in the horse breeding business. I care about what the horse can do and how much he tries and his suitability for the rider and task at hand. 'Designer' labels are a thing of the past for me from that perspective. 

However I do highly value the benefit of having the knowledge of the performance accomplishments of the forbears of a horse in my private yard. The breed registries that maintain these records and develop purity in the breeds are essential and to be revered to protect both the continuation of specific horse breeds and to help breeders produce the best horses they can possibly manage.

The eventual 'openness' of these registries to address health issues associated with in-breeding or certain lineage is hopefully something we will see more of as each year passes rather than less.

Like most other folks I too began with a 'grade' type horse, a likely Standardbred that had risen from an accident on the track to Grand Prix level showjumper before i remade him into a dressage horse in his vintage years. It was what I could find and could afford. And I never regretted the purchase. And like so many others I also worked my way up the pedigree ladder, from grade horses to crossbreds to purebreds. When I couldn't afford the imported Hanoverian horse I wanted for competition, I started my adventure into horse breeding and started producing these baby equines in my own backyard. A labor of love for sure. 

Of course the judging was a critical component in what types of horses folks bought for competition, in its favoring of a certain type of movement and conformation for my chosen discipline, dressage. But in the early years there was still a number of judges in the U.S.A, such as Major Burton and Dr. Max Gahwyler , Mike Matson and others that gave our Thoroughbred or Quarterhorse crossbred a fair shake in competition scoring.

 

ANCCE Stallion Celesto IV with Paul Alvin-Smith

 

But I also migrated from breeding purebred Hanoverians and Oldenburgs, to Andalusians and Lusitanos, along with Dutch warmbloods and along the way went back to capture the benefits of mixed breed horses. Andalusians crossed with Percheron mares, Dutch warmbloods and Thoroughbreds crossed over Percheron mares, Dutch warmbloods crossed with Belgian/Haflinger crosses, Hanoverians crossed over Belgians - and the list goes on.

Before finally retiring from horse breeding we arrived at our 3rd generation in breeding and embraced Andalusian and Lusitano crosses with Dutch/Thoroughbred crossbred mares. And I still have the progeny in my yard today alongside purebred Andalusians.

When you walk down the aisle at an FEI competition anywhere in the world today, you won't necessarily be able to determine the horse's breed or heritage from its appearance. Even the German studbooks have opened themselves up to inclusion of Iberian horses past their previous severe limitations to include Thoroughbred or Arabian lines as outside influences to the warmblood family gathering.

The singular most important thing at the end of the day, is to support breeders that produce good quality horses and to not overlook the recycled horse who has an unknown pedigree but will make up to a super partner. And any trainer worth their salt won't regard any one equine breed as better than another when training horse and rider.

 

 

Kerry Gould on her Bashkir Curly training with Paul Alvin-Smith

 

Shout Out To Equine Artists - Come Join Us

Catskill Horse Magazine has long been a supporter of equine artists. Since inception of the publication over a decade ago, the topic of equine art has always been close to our hearts at The Merry Band at the Catskill Horse.

We are giving a fresh shout out to equine artists and on the hunt for those that would like to be included in our main feature home page and complete an interview and submit some images of their creations for inclusion and some free publicity. 

To give an idea of what to expect, please visit our articles archive and check out some of the articles depicted below, as well as out equine art column where others are published.

 

Articles from super writer and one of our favorite contributors Amy McLaughlin include a special review of the wonderful equine artist of yesteryear Alfred Munnings. On our Equine Art column features works on Daniele Lewis, Judy Widener and Juliet Harrison and many others.

All art formats are equally valuable as essential sources of enjoyment of equine life. Photography, painting fine art, sculpture works. The cinematic, literary, theater, architecture, music and other arenas are also significant areas where the horse is celebrated, though these were not the focal point of the equine art original intent, they are now included.

We welcome all artists to send us in their information for inclusion for FREE in our Directory mentioned above.  

Don't miss this opportunity to start your 2023 off on the right foot! Contact us via the Equine Art page and get your name on the list. We'll contact you if you are selected for our feature productions. 

What's Coming in 2023 For Catskill Horse Magazine

 The New Year is always a contemplative time for magazine publishers. The round table at our publishing house, Horse in a Kilt Media Inc., was full of ideas, plans to execute and items to change on the publication based on feedback from you folks - our wonderful readers.

 

There are many new and varied experiences to be enjoyed both in the equestrian world and the rural lifestyle field in the region of the Catskill Mountains. Our publication began as an earnest effort to build a community resource. A mission that has succeeded with our unique views topping 100,000 per month.

Here is a snapshot of where we were 5 years ago:

 

But that viewership is not just in the local area and it continues to grow as time passes. It has spread even beyond the shore of the Eastern Seaboard, across oceans. So consideration to changing up the name and rebranding the magazine altogether was a natural progression of the media program.

There are many pluses to changing names and rebranding, but there are also a significant number of drawbacks. Name recognition is obviously doing well, and despite celebrating our 10th Anniversary last year our content production is still reaching new audiences. A good harbinger of things to come.

Ultimately, with a clear vote to maintain the imprint name and current branding, Catskill Horse, it was then a matter of decision making in regard to the focus of the content.

Country lifestyle articles have long permeated the home page of the magazine, and are certainly growing their metrics nicely as time proceeds. So it was determined that keeping some broadband interest in not just horses, but also a nod to equestrian lifestyle and rural lifestyle was a good idea.

Of course the continued production of the magazine has long been underwritten by the graciousness of Horse in a Kilt Media Inc. alongside collaboration with a group of wonderfully supportive advertisers. Some of those names, such as The Horse Studio, Willowview Hill Farm, Sorrel House, Horizon Structures LLC,Trafalgar Square Books, are well known and appreciated by the readership as stalwart supporters of Catskill Horse. Others come and go, and all are always welcome.

 

The decision as whether a subscription sign up to collect emails to monetize the magazine also needed to be made, and this was also voted no. The reason that the magazine was founded in the first place was to provide a community resource under the umbrella of Horse in a Kilt Media Inc., as a give back or pay forward to the equestrian and local community. Thus is shall remain free to read and without need for subscription even free email sign up. 

The sister publication, Eastern Equestrian, that was to launch early in 2022, was also discussed. The merit of adding another equestrian imprint to the menu at Horse in a Kilt Media Inc., whose staff time and expertise is volunteered to the Catskill Horse production, was ardently discussed. 

Horse in a Kilt Media Inc. currently has several major projects in production. Including working on a film production and several book titles currently in editing awaiting publication. Artwork projects, the much valued PR/Marketing client roster and the ongoing development of new author profiles and management, revisions and reprints of popular titles like international artist Mary Brazier's book, 'Season's Greetings," and the attendance of the team at local PR Chapters and other association meetings all take much time and effort. The result is that time to run another imprint magazine would be limited and would detract from the production and development of Catskill Horse. As a result the Eastern Equestrian domain and social media pages have been dropped permanently. 

As time progresses, there may be a new 'Field and Stream" style magazine added to the roster of imprints that specifically addresses country lifestyle, but that will depend on how business develops over the next 1-2 years. 

So in conclusion dear readers of Catskill Horse magazine, you can expect to continue to receive FREE copy of the fun, informative and educational articles that Catskill Horse will continue to provide alongside development of more features on rural lifestyle interest pieces such as deer hunting, land development, landscaping and eco-protection plantings, trails and of course, all things Equus.

"The Merry Band at the Catskill Horse" gives a big shout out and heartfelt thanks to the current advertising base at the magazine for their support and looks forward to continuing to serve the equestrian and rural community far and wide through the forthcoming seasons.

New writers are always welcome! Please don't be shy to ask about adding your contributions to the magazine.

 Photo: Your Editor! Training time in FL back in the '90's!