I am letting Practical Horseman Magazine go...

[mvp]

See, I knew I was in the wrong place when they did publish that BAR series. Also, I think there was some author who had a series of articles about her adventures with keeping her backyard horse and DIY stuff. It seemed more like a blog (then not yet as common as now), and an article meant to make readers feel like they can relate rather than learn.

I do remember articles written by, say, BNTs’ grooms who described the care they gave the horses in their charge. As a kid, I did like the detailed articles about tack cleaning or doing a spider wrap on a hock. By the way, I still haven’t attempted one of those.

The better (if different) replacement for PH was Mike Plumb’s Horse Journal. They had some useful information and reviews in there. I remember it in the paper-with-three-holes-so-you-could-keep-all-the-issues-for-future-reference, early days. Is it still around and the same in its focus and quality?

I’d be curious to know from the person who has the 1970s PH issues if she, too, sees the meat receding and the fat increasing in PH’s content.

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

I think with almost any topic focused magazine (horse related, cooking, decorating, crafts) - the content becomes repetitive after a time. You first subscribe when you are less knowledgeable about whatever the topic is, but over time, there are only so many ways that what is more or less the same information can be re-packaged and retain appeal to a broad audience.

[pologirl27]

[QUOTE=mvp;8005498]
I do remember articles written by, say, BNTs’ grooms who described the care they gave the horses in their charge. As a kid, I did like the detailed articles about tack cleaning or doing a spider wrap on a hock. By the way, I still haven’t attempted one of those. [/QUOTE]

Ha, I think this is actually where I learned to do a spider wrap! Horse ripped her knee and the wrap working beautifully.

[pologirl27]

[QUOTE=SmartAlex;8005467]
That would explain a lot! And I think I know who it is! And I’m pretty sure she called me fat recently :lol:[/QUOTE]

We’ve on the same wavelength SmartAlex! I will keep an eye out for other slips of her secret GM identity.

[chestnutmarebeware]

Not to drift off topic, but does anyone else still miss the first few years of Equus magazine (1970s), when it was basically a gorgeous horse-centric arts magazine?

My parents gave me a subscription as a kid. There was a monthly “How My Horse Stumped the Vets” column, but the main articles focused on the art and science of horses. Photography and design were incredible, and the articles were written at a much higher reading level than you’d ever see today. RIP, original Equus!

[SmartAlex]

My grandmother got Equus from day one. They had a black cover and looked very scientific. I learned a lot from that magazine.
Anyone remember the high end Spur magazine that came out around the same time but didn’t survive long?

[jen-s]

[QUOTE=Windsor1;8005454]
PH WAY back in the day:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sports-and-outdoors-1978-Practical-Horseman-Bruce-Davidson-and-Might-Tango-/121549620741?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c4cec0605#ht_76wt_849[/QUOTE]

Thanks! I just bought it!

[findeight]

[QUOTE=Groom&Taxi;8005566]
I think with almost any topic focused magazine (horse related, cooking, decorating, crafts) - the content becomes repetitive after a time. You first subscribe when you are less knowledgeable about whatever the topic is, but over time, there are only so many ways that what is more or less the same information can be re-packaged and retain appeal to a broad audience.[/QUOTE]

I don’t think so. I used to take Horse and Rider many years ago. Like when it was privately owned. I ran into an old issue a few years ago I kept for, like, 30 + years because I bought the horse on the cover of that issue. I sat down to thumb through it and read the darn thing- it was pretty good, lots of helpful articles, big name guest writers, fewer glossy ads. Of course they that mag has been sold several times and now has the same publisher as PH and has simlarly dumbed down.

Along those lines, my trainer was invited to write a few articles for PH circa 2004, before the nadir of BAR, and I still have one of those issues because a picture of moi appeared with the article. Same thing as with the other old issue, no comparison between the current repetitive drivel sandwiched between glossy ads and product testimonials aimed at beginners and the actually insightful issues of even 10 years ago.

Good publications keep up with new material and new takes on older subjects by current name writers active in the sport or skill, they don’t aim lower and lower and lower.

[Bluey]

Farm magazines today are free, the ads alone more than pay for them.

I expect some horse magazines may have to go to that, when enough subscribers quit them.

At least COTH the magazine still has purpose with the show results, neat articles and wonderful pictures.

[Lady_Eboshi]

[QUOTE=mvp;8005498]
See, I knew I was in the wrong place when they did publish that BAR series. Also, I think there was some author who had a series of articles about her adventures with keeping her backyard horse and DIY stuff. It seemed more like a blog (then not yet as common as now), and an article meant to make readers feel like they can relate rather than learn.

I do remember articles written by, say, BNTs’ grooms who described the care they gave the horses in their charge. As a kid, I did like the detailed articles about tack cleaning or doing a spider wrap on a hock. By the way, I still haven’t attempted one of those.

The better (if different) replacement for PH was Mike Plumb’s Horse Journal. They had some useful information and reviews in there. I remember it in the paper-with-three-holes-so-you-could-keep-all-the-issues-for-future-reference, early days. Is it still around and the same in its focus and quality?

I’d be curious to know from the person who has the 1970s PH issues if she, too, sees the meat receding and the fat increasing in PH’s content.[/QUOTE]

Horse Journal just went out late last year. A client was giving me all her copies, then was all bummed out saying they were sold out to Equus. Frankly, I thought BOTH of those do waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much fear-mongering and making horse ownership sound like something halfway between raising orchids and brain surgery. Also, when the “content” amounts to little more than an infomercial for some blanket or supplement company, that’s irritating.

I’d rather read an actual AD than feel cheated by a feature “article” that’s nothing more than an ad in disguise. I also think too many of these “product placement” pushers are shills for some of the silliest excesses we see on COTH of what you “need” to own an everyday horse.

It’s too bad; years ago I subscribed to PH, Horseplay, Dressage & CT (now THERE was a real one!) and at times even Western Horseman and read all of them cover to cover in addition to The Chronicle. COTH went through a period when it seemed little more than an A-circuit mutual admiration society, but is MUCH improved in content lately. The rest are repetitive and mostly aimed at beginners.

[BellaLuna]

I’m also someone who is going to allow her gift subscription to run out. I already told my sister, (who has gifted it to me for years), not to renew. Of course, it will be another 2 years or so as they continued to send her renewal reminders and she just kept re-upping, even though it wasn’t time to renew and it added to the tail end…

I have been getting that magazine since the 80’s, black and white issues. I would devour the articles for the masters that would contribute. I agree that the content of the magazine has really gotten kinda fluffy. My absolute favorite section of the old days was the “What’s Wrong With This Picture?”. There would be a shot of some type of horse activity, clipping, loading onto the trailer, leading, etc, and you would try to find the dangerous and careless mistakes. When I catch myself doing something pretty stupid around the horses, I say out loud, “What’s wrong with this picture?”, and sadly, no one (other than hubby), knows the reference.

[Howlin_Wolf]

LOL!
I let go of them in the late '80s because of the encroaching nonsense!

[LaurieB]

I’m another longterm subscriber who gave up 6-8 years ago. At that point I was only reading for the GM critiques and even those had reached the point where I could have written them myself in my sleep.

My favorite BAR article was “How to Put On a Halter”. :lol:

[heidicald]

Not to hijack the thread but if anyone DOES get the magazine and did not use the coupon in it for Southern States/Triple Crown feed (it was in January '15 issue between pgs 16-17), I would sure love to use them. I’ll pay you to mail them or whatever works, thank you! Please just Private Message me here.

[paw]

I had the old 3-hole Mike Plumb’s Horse Journal (fantastic for a while, then it seemed like Mike or whoever got tired and the quality went down a little) and Dressage & CT (very good stuff in there in the late 90’s!). But alas - nothing ever lasts.

[tinah]

I like western horseman. The articles are written by people who RIDE. It makes me happy too read it.

[vineyridge]

Is Nancy Whatshername still with PH? She’s a genuine journalist and I’ve seen her byline lately in other publications on the East Coast. Her stuff was interesting and usually quite timely.

I gave it up probably six or sever years ago.

[Appsolute]

Ahhh yes, Practical Horseman, it was the first horse magazine I subscribed to back in the 80’s. LOVED it when it arrived in the mail, and I would sit and read every page - go back and re-read again.

And then it started getting crummier, I got more experienced. I think I stop subscribing around 1995…

[Windsor1]

[QUOTE=heidicald;8006035]
Not to hijack the thread but if anyone DOES get the magazine and did not use the coupon in it for Southern States/Triple Crown feed (it was in January '15 issue between pgs 16-17), I would sure love to use them. I’ll pay you to mail them or whatever works, thank you! Please just Private Message me here. :)[/QUOTE]

I like your style. :yes:

[Inclined]

[QUOTE=Lady Eboshi;8005877]
Horse Journal just went out late last year. A client was giving me all her copies, then was all bummed out saying they were sold out to Equus. Frankly, I thought BOTH of those do waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much fear-mongering and making horse ownership sound like something halfway between raising orchids and brain surgery.[/QUOTE]

Yes!!! That’s why I let my subscriptions go a few years ago.