New Year - 2026 Marks 14th Anniversary of Publication

2026 will mark the 14th year anniversary of the publication of Catskill Horse Magazine and The Merry Band at the Catskill Horse is very proud of that achievement.

 

Now reaching over 165,000 views per month the readership has blossomed far beyond the reaches of where it began in the mountains of New York's Western Catskills. What began as an earnest attempt to create a central hub for all equine enthusiasts in the Catskill Mountain region of Upstate New York now finds avid readers up and down the Eastern U.S. and even across the seas. 

Feature articles found among the digital pages include an impressive array of topics from advanced level dressage training advice that professional equestrians appreciate; to research overseas of horse breeds under threat of extinction and activities and events that readers interested across multiple equestrian disciplines can enjoy.  

Amazingly perhaps given the increase in expenses and the changes in the publishing world the magazine is still free to read for all. And it is still the community resource its original mission intended. The premise was to spread human-authored thought led advice and education from its band of dedicated volunteer contributing writers and the editorial features, news pages and event pages have all delivered on that original intent.

Over time writers have come and gone. Some have moved along to create their own marketing enterprises or advanced their writing careers where others have continued on their life journey in other directions. For each one that has made a contribution however big or small we thank you. 

Helping writers and horse aficionados navigate their careers has always been a central part of Catskill Horse's ideals. To have played a part, however small, in helping a writer gain confidence through publishing their works or by providing thoughtful, full reviews of their books in the Yay or Neigh review column is a wonderful ripple effect of working hard to create the magazine.

The expenses of producing the publication are in part covered by the stalwart advertisers, and in part underwritten by the publisher Horse in a Kilt Media Inc.

The intention was always to keep the magazine available to all, and to create a diverse and inclusive publication that would help horse people and of course then indirectly, horses themselves.

As Catskill Horse Magazine canters into 2026 we hope and expect that to be able to continue. Though for security purposes it may be necessary for readers to enter an email address to enter past a viewing wall in the future. That is all yet to be figured out. 

 

A heartfelt thank-you to you all dear readers, and of course to our advertisers, and to our band of contributing writers and IT professionals. 

The Merry Band at the Catskill Horse wish you all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2026.

Catskill Horse Editor: Nikki Alvin-Smith

 

 

 

  

Happy 6th Birthday to Catskill Horse Magazine

Catskill Horse magazine began as a community resource as an idea to bring together equestrians and horse lovers from all disciplines in Upstate New York.

At the outset we wondered whether the name should be more general to encompass any future growth past the Catskill region. We didn't know then how well received this all volunteer publication would become or the widespread geographic support and readership it would garner. 

The Merry Band at the Catskill Horse began as a small group of avid horse enthusiasts led by yours truly, who met in local restaurants for quick lunches to put together a program of responsibilities. Some took on sales and marketing, others wrote features and covered events, and the initial reception from local equine businesses was frosty. 

Whether the lack of enthusiasm from the industry was due to budget restraints on their end or their lack of confidence that a digital magazine would work six years ago or perhaps a mixture of both, I don't know. Whatever it was, there have been stalwart supporters of the magazine through advertising, sharing on social media of the columns and feature articles since those early days in 2012.

Today I am proud to report our visitors exceed 69,000 per month! The reach has grown to encompass not just Upstate New York and certainly not just the Catskill region, but also reaching into neighboring states. We even have some ardent followers abroad in the U.K., South Africa, Canada and Australia. 

The Merry Band at the Catskill Horse has evolved over time too. Some of our contributing writers have moved away, become too busy to write for us or taken on other tasks elsewhere. New folks come and join in, people from all walks of life, ages and geographic distribution. Everyone brings fresh ideas, new voices and our readership apparently loves it because they keep coming back and quickly become regular readers.

Renewing advertisers are truly the best indicator that their advertising spend with us results in increased branding for their products or services, increased trust in the integrity of their brands and increases sales. 

Sometimes trainers and horse folks in general are just so busy 'doing' everyday that they forget that if they don't keep up with some marketing effort their businesses will slowly decline, as their clientele moves, ages or changes focus.
It is our job to help them grow and our mission is to help the Upstate New York region develop its tourism business and maintain its beautiful bucolic farming landscape through horse farms and rural lifestyle development.

So far we have been successful in our endeavor to keep the magazine FREE to read and FREE to advertise in the Directory Listings and specialist areas such as restaurants, accommodations, job listing etc. 

We invite everyone to come join in! And remember, renewing advertisers receive a discount off our regular advertising rates.

Happy 6th Birthday to Catskill Horse magazine and sincere thanks to everyone past and present, for their support and contributions.