The Horse: Your Guide To Equine Health Care was honored on June 24 as the best overall publication in the General Excellence category at the 2006 American Horse Publications Annual Awards. Sixty publications were entered. The Horse editorial “herd,” from left to right: Staff Writer Chad Mendell, Photo/Newsletter Editor Rachael Filkins, Editor Kimberly S. Herbert, News Editor Stephanie L. Church, and Editorial Assistant Erin Ryder.

“This monthly publication has big shoes to fill as an all-breed, all-discipline resource, but it certainly fills them beautifully,” remarked the judge. “This extremely tough decision boiled down to who best served their targeted audience. This magazine does an outstanding job of delivering helpful, hands-on information to its target audience of horse owners involved in a deep way in their horses’ health care.” Seventy-one AHP members were named finalists in the awards contest. Participation in this year’s contest represented 105 AHP members and 1,058 entries. Thirty-one professional judges placed the classes and provided constructive critiques for all entries.

American Horse Publications is a non-profit professional association of more than 400 publications, individuals, and equine-related businesses dedicated to promoting better understanding and communication within the equine publishing industry. Since its inception in 1970, the American Horse Publications Annual Awards has recognized excellence in editorial content and graphic design.

For the General Excellence category, judges reviewed the April 2005 issue, which featured a cover story on equine welfare in Mexico, and the November 2005 issue, which included Hurricane Katrina coverage. According to one judge, “I’m quite impressed by this publication’s tenacity and willingness to take on the tough issues in the equine industry, including horse welfare and the impact of Hurricane Katrina on horses and the industry–its coverage was objective, thorough, and enlightening…This publication is a must-have for those interested in horse health