Years in the Making
Saturday, July 30th, 2011Nearly six years ago, the Western Horseman staff sat down around a table together and began planning our 70th anniversary issues. What stands out most to me about that meeting wasn’t a particular article idea, but rather a comment from A.J. Mangum, who was editor at that time. “Before long we’ll be planning the 75th anniversary, so we should probably start thinking about that, too.” At the time, the 75th anniversary seemed so far away. But tonight, after years of painstaking planning, Western Horseman kicked off one of the most significant milestones in the magazine’s long history.
An estimated 150 people–a mix of staff, Western artists, horse-industry influentials and readers arrived at Latigo Trails Equestrian Center in Elbert, Colorado, the staging area for the long-awaited Western Horseman Celebration and Ride. The three-day event includes a mixer, trail ride at the United States Air Force Academy, a dinner and Michael Martin Murphey concert, and a clinicians’ round-table discussion. It’s been more than a year since the magazine’s headquarters moved from my home state of Colorado and moved to Fort Worth, Texas, so it’s sentimental–and even a little emotional–to once again feel its presence and heritage in its longtime home.
An all-star lineup of past and present magazine staff and trainers and clinicians turned out for the night’s mixer. We didn’t have a red carpet to roll out, but a concrete entry into the indoor arena area, seemed to be a more appropriate platform to showcase our guests as they entered. Bob Avila, Martin Black, Jack Brainard, Craig Cameron, Doug Carpenter, Chris Cox, Al Dunning, Marty Martin, Robert Miller, DVM, and Curt Pate were among the horsemen mingling in the crowd. Readers, such as Joe and Connie Vara, from Chappell Hill, Texas, took advantage of the chance to meet the “celebrities” they read about in the magazine.
“Where else would you see all these guys together in one room,” said Joe who competes in Stock Horse of Texas events.
Joe and Connie Vara traveled to the Western Horseman 75th Anniversary Celebration and Ride from Chappell Hill, Texas.
Making information from top horsemen accessible to our readers has–and continues to be–a priority for the Western Horseman staff. Bringing some of the best horsemen together to meet readers seemed impossible not that long ago, considering the trainers’ and clinicians’ travel schedules. But that’s the power of Western Horseman, you can’t help but want to be a part of it.
–Jennifer Denison
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