* There are over 500 member publications and related businesses. (There are over 400 publications in the horse industry!)

* This organization was founded back in 1970 by some forward-thinking people to allow publications in the horse industry to network with each other. Their goal was “to promote better understanding and cooperation between all facets of the horse industry, irrespective of breed.”

* Competition is viewed as a way to celebrate and encourage excellence. Publications and websites compete in a variety of categories (66 classes), as well as a number of special awards.

Congratulations to our own website www.myhorse.com, writer Lauren Ann Back, and The Trail Rider for winning second place in the “Service to the Reader” category. (You can read the article here:
http://www.myhorse.com/vehicles/trailers/special_report_keep_on_hauling.aspx?ht=#top)

Congratulations also to Charlotte Kneeland, founder of the American Riding Instructors Association (http://www.riding-instructor.com), who received The Equine Industry Vision Award. Each year, Pfizer Animal Health partners with American Horse Publications to honor one individual who has demonstrated exemplary innovation and service across the entire equine market.

Though publications compete for subscribers, the editors, photographers, writers, and publishers enjoy getting together to talk about the industry and ways to improve their individual publications.
So, why is this important to you? Because this organization is proof that horse people of all breed and discipline preferences can work together and have fun doing it.

Horse people often tend to magnify what separates us, making fun of people from other breeds or disciplines, rather than pulling together around our love of the horse.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Think about what you could do to foster better understanding with someone in your area. Maybe it starts with going to lunch with someone you don’t know. Maybe asking a breeder to tell you about his horses, or offering to help out at a local show, even if it’s not your club running it.

Taking that first step isn’t easy. The founder of AHP said that at the first meeting, nearly everyone looked at his shoes, unsure about how to interact with competitors. But they worked through that awkwardness, and developed something rich and rewarding.
I can’t wait until next year’s AHP meeting because it helps me to carry the spirit of camaraderie in the industry I love with me all year. I hope I convey some of that to you, and that you pass it on to people in your sphere of influence.