Awards Won by Horse Illustrated and Young Rider Magazines

Horse Illustrated Award from American Horse Publications
Horse Illustrated’s 2019 AHP General Excellence Award (for material published in 2018). Photo by Elizabeth Moyer

American Horse Publications (AHP) Equine Media Awards are the premiere awards within the equine media industry. The annual awards competition, which recognizes standards in journalistic integrity for informative and engaging content in a variety of media categories, has been in place since 1975. Below are the list of awards won by Horse Illustrated, and by Horse Illustrated’s sister publication, Young Rider, along with awards won by freelance contributors who entered the AHP awards contest with material published in both publications.

Horse Illustrated

2024

AHP logoRead the official press release about the Horse Illustrated awards won in 2024.

Horse Illustrated captured the following awards out of entries that were submitted by the publication: 

  • 1st place in Self-Supported Publication Editorial Design for “Journey to Iceland,” Cynthia Kassebaum, graphic designer, Shelley Paulson, writer and photographer, in the July 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine (out of 16 entries)
  • 1st place in Personal Column for “1,200-Pound Pill” by Kimberly Ann Harrison in the October 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine (out of 11 entries)
  • 2nd place in Personal Column for “Smelling Like a Rose” by Courtney S. Diehl, DVM, in the September 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine (out of 14 entries)
  • 2nd Place in Editorial Photograph for “Frosty Eyelashes” by Frank Sorge in the November/December 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine (out of 11 entries)
  • 3rd place in Self-Supported Publication Horse Care Article for “Golden Days” by Abigail Boatwright in the October 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine (out of 23 entries)
  • 3rd place in Instructional Article for “Backing with Ease” by Daniel Johnson in the March 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine (out of 11 entries)

Freelance contributors received the following honors for their work published in Western Life Today: 

  • 2nd place in Freelance Writer Personality Profile Article for “Cowgirl to the Core” by Kate Bradley Byars in the Summer 2023 issue of Western Life Today magazine (out of 10 entries)

2023

Read the official press release about the Horse Illustrated awards won in 2023.

AHP Media Awards winner 2022Horse Illustrated captured the following awards out of entries that were submitted by the publication: 

  • 1st place in Personal Column for “Prolonging a Procedure” by Courtney S. Diehl, DVM in the July 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine (out of 12 entries) 
  • 3rd place in Instructional Single Article for “Tackle Winter Woolies” by Daniel Johnson in the January/February 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine (out of 15 entries) 

Freelance contributors received the following honors for their work published in Horse Illustrated: 

  • 1st place in Editorial Human-Animal Photograph for “Angels on Earth” by Shelley Paulson in the June 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine (out of 5 entries) 
  • 3rd place in Freelance Writer Single Feature Article for “Easing the Perils of the Wild Horse” by Megan Arszman in the May 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine (out of 13 entries) 
  • 3rd place in Self-Supported Equine Media Service to the Consumer Single Article for “Pain in the Gas Tank” by Kristin Pitzer in the June 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine (out of 16 entries) 
  • 3rd place in Service to the Horse Industry Single Article for “Help for Hard Times” by Elizabeth Moyer in the November/December 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine (out of 15 entries) 
  • Honorable Mention in Self-Supported Equine Media Feature Single Article for “Easing the Perils of the Wild Horse” by Megan Arszman in the May 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine (out of 16 entries) 
  • Honorable Mention in Self-Supported Equine Media Feature Single Article for “The Standardbred” by Anna Sochocky in the November/December 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine (out of 16 entries) 
  • Honorable Mention in Freelance Writer Equine Journalism Article for “Easing the Perils of the Wild Horse” by Megan Arszman in the May 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine (out of 19 entries) 

2022

Read the official press release about the Horse Illustrated awards won in 2022.

Horse Illustrated captured the following AHP Equine Media Awards out of entries that were submitted by the publication:

  • 1st place in Service to the Horse Industry Single Article for “Help for Hard-Working Equines” by Kim MacMillan in the July 2021 issue (out of 11 entries)
  • 2nd place in Self-Supported Publication Feature Single Article for “Equines Fighting Fires” by Stacey McKenna in the July 2021 issue (out of 20 entries)
  • 3rd place in Self-Supported Publication Personality Profile Single Article for “Whale of a Time” by Sarah Evers Conrad in the June 2021 issue (out of 19 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Editorial Photograph for “Gypsy Vanner – Parting Shot” by Tracey Buyce in the November/December 2021 issue (out of 16 entries)

Freelance contributors received the following AHP Equine Media Awards for their work published in Horse Illustrated and sister publication Young Rider:

  • 1st place in Self-Supported Publication Feature Single Article for “A Lid for Every Pot” by Elizabeth Moyer in the October 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine (out of 20 entries)
  • 1st place in Freelance Writer Equine-Related Journalism Article for “Getting Over Grooming” by Elizabeth Moyer in the May 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine (out of 9 entries)
  • 1st place in Self-Supported Publication Service to the Consumer Single Article for “Building Your Dream Team” by Megan Arszman in the April 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated (out of 16 entries)
  • 2nd place in Freelance Writer Equine-Related Journalism Article for “Riding Toward College” by Elizabeth Moyer in the Fall 2021 issue of Young Rider magazine (out of 9 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Self-Supported Publication Service to the Consumer Single Article for “Have Kids, Will Trail Ride” by Allison Rehnborg in the August 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated (out of 16 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Self-Supported Publication Horse Care Single Article for “Getting Over Grooming” by Elizabeth Moyer in the May 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated (out of 19 entries)

2021

Read the official press release about the Horse Illustrated and Young Rider awards won in 2021.

  • Honorable Mention in General Excellence Self-Supported Publication (circulation 15,000 and over) for the January 2020 and June 2020 issues of Horse Illustrated (out of 10 entries)
  • 2nd place in Editorial Action Photograph for “Horses From Above” by Shelley Paulson (out of 7 entries)
  • 3rd place in Self-Supported Publication Feature Single Article for “Shining a Light” by Amy Hempe in the October 2020 issue (out of 34 entries)
  • 3rd place in the Instructional Single Article for “Clicks and Flicks” by Daniel Johnson in the June 2020 issue (out of 16 issues)

Freelance contributors received the following honors for their work published in Horse Illustrated:

  • 2nd place in Freelance Editorial Action Photograph for “Horses From Above” by Shelley Paulson (out of 6 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Self-Supported Publication Horse Care Single Article for “The Retiree’s Workout Regimen” by Kara Stewart in the October 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated (out of 24 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Self-Supported Publication Horse Care Single Article for “Scratch That” by Allison Rehnborg in the September 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated (out of 24 entries)

2020

Read the official press release about the Horse Illustrated and Young Rider awards won in 2020.

  • 2nd place in Equine-Related Editorial Series for “Out of the Wild” by Shelley Paulson in the February and March 2019 issues of Horse Illustrated (Out of 22 entries)
  • 3rd place in Service to the Consumer Single Article (circulation 10,000 and over) for “Eco-Friendly Horsekeeping” by Cynthia McFarland in the July 2019 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 32 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Editorial Event Coverage Single Article for “Equestrian Christmas Party” by Fran Jurga and published in the December 2019 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 24 entries)

Freelance contributors received the following honors for their work published in Horse Illustrated:

  • 1st place in Editorial Human-Animal Bond Photograph for “Parting Shot” by Shelley Paulson in the December 2019 issue of Horse Illustrated (out of 11 entries) (see above)
  • Honorable Mention in Freelance Writer Equine-Related Journalism for “Three Horses, One Rider: 11 Ideas to Keep Multiple Horses Fit While Juggling Real Life” by Kara L. Stewart in the August 2019 issue of Horse Illustrated (out of 24 entries)

2019

  • American Horse Publications Award WinnerWinner in General Excellence Self-Supported Publication (Print) (Circulation 15,000 and Over) for Horse Illustrated January, March, and December 2018 (Out of 8 entries)—one of the leading awards Horse Illustrated could have won
  • 1st place in Horse Care Single Article (Circulation or users 20,000 and over) for “Navicular-ish” by Fran Jurga in the July 2018 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 14 entries)
  • 1st place in Service to the Consumer Single Article (Circulation or users 20,000 and over) for “Take Time to Breath: How Martial Arts Can Help Us Become Better Riders” by Kara L. Stewart in the October 2018 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 21 entries)
  • 1st place in Instructional Series for “Canter Boot Camp” by Heidi Nyland Melocco” in the April through June issues of Horse Illustrated (Out of 4 entries)

2018

  • 2nd place in Editorial Human-Animal Bond Photograph (Print or Online) for “Seniors Rule” by Shelley Paulson in the October 2017 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 16 entries)

2017

  • Honorable Mention in Instructional Single Article for “Great at the Gate” by Kate Bradley Byars in the July 2016 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 20 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Instructional Single Article for “Achieving Symmetry” by Kara L. Stewart in the March 2016 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 20 entries)
  • 2nd Place in Service to the Consumer Single Article for “Face Your Fears” by Patrice Bucciarelli in the June 2016 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 28 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Service to the Consumer Single Article for “15 Ways to Save Time and Money at the Barn” by Dusty Perin in the April 2016 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 28 entries)
  • 1st Place in Editorial Action Photograph for “Sandstorm” by Cheri Prill in the October 2016 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 12 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Publication Cover Page for “Shake It Off” by Liliana Estep, Design Director and Wiebke Haas, Photographer in the September 2016 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 16 entries)

2016

  • Honorable Mention in General Excellence Self-Supported Print Publication Circulation 15,000 and Over for Horse Illustrated by Elizabeth Moyer, Editor; Pat Trowbridge, Publisher; Jerome Callens, Art Director in the January, May, and September 2015 issues of Horse Illustrated.
  • 3rd Place in Instructional Single Article (Circulation/AUV 20,000 and Over) for “Pack Trip Prep” by Kara Stewart in October 2015 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 17 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Instructional Single Article (Circulation/AUV 20,000 and Over) for “The Winter Grooming Challenge” by Elizabeth Moyer and Holly Caccamise in the November 2015 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 16 entries)
  • 2nd Place in Publishing Media Equine-Related Specialty or Custom Publication (Print) for “Your New Horse” by the Editors of Horse Illustrated in the 2015 Annual Edition of Horse Illustrated (Out of 9 entries)

2015

  • 3rd Place in Instructional Single Article (Circulation/AUV 20,000 and Over) for “Train to Win” by Natalie Defee Mendik in the March 2014 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 17 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Instructional Single Article (Circulation/AUV 20,000 and Over) for “Rubber Band Braids” by Holly Caccamise in the June 2014 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 17 entries)
  • 3rd Place in Service To The Reader Single Article (Circulation/AUV 20,000 and Over) for “Love It or List It” by Kara L. Stewart in the April 2014 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 39 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Personal Column (Circulation Over 20,000/AUV Over 50,000) for “Talking to the Animals” by Leslie Potter in the October 2014 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 25 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Freelance Writer Equine-Related Journalism for “Love It or List It” by Kara L. Stewart in the April 2014 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 16 entries)

2014

  • 3rd Place in Service to the Reader Single Article (Circulation 20,000 and Over) for “Texting While Trotting” by Lisa Kucharski in the October 2013 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 33 entries)
  • 1st Place in Equine-Related Editorial Series for “Ex-Racehorse Diaries” by Megan Moore in the January through June 2013 issues of Horse Illustrated (Out of 13 entries)

2013

  • 1st Place in Instructional Single Article (Circulation 20,000 and Over) for “Horses in Action” by Dusty Perin in the May 2012 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 14 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Personal Single Column (Circulation Over 20,000 – Print) for “Finding Safe Harbor” in the May 2012 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 18 entries)

2010

  • 2nd Place in Instructional Single Article (Print) (Circulation over 20,000) for “7 Habits of Highly Effective Barrel Racers” By Micaela Myers in the May 2009 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 10 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Service to the Reader (Print) (Circulation 20,000 and Over) for “A Greener Stable” by Sharon Briggs in the April 2009 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 20 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Service to the Reader (Print) (Circulation 20,000 and Over) for ”From Day Job to Horse Job” by Kara Stewart in the February 2009 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 20 entries)

2009

  • 3rd Place in Horse Care (Circulation 20,000 and Over) for “Holistic Healing” by Kara Stewart in the March 2008 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 15 entries)
  • 2nd Place in Service to the Reader Series for “Special Fitness Series” by Patrice D. Bucciarelli in the May and June 2008 issues of Horse Illustrated (Out of 5 entries)

2008

  • 3rd Place in Horse Care (Circulation 20,000 and Over) for “Great Clips” by Annie Eldridge in the November 2007 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 23 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Service to the Reader (Circulation over 20,000) for “In Case of Emergency” by Kara L. Stewart in the April 2007 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 33 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Feature Article (Circulation over 20,000) for “It’s Never Too Late” by Kara L. Stewart in the June 2007 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 42 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Personal Column (Circulation 20,000 and Over) for “Free Rein: Letting Go” by Elizabeth Moyer in the August 2007 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 20 entries)
  • 3rd Place in Corporate/Affiliate Advertisement for “John Wayne Saddle” by Designer Jeff Hatcher in the April 2007 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 16 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Corporate/Affiliate Advertisement for “Solitude IGR” by Art Director, Jeff Tresidder in various 2007 issues in Horse Illustrated (Out of 16 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Corporate/Affiliate Advertisement for “Zylexis” by Art Director, Jeff Tresidder in various 2007 issues in Horse Illustrated (Out of 16 entries)

2007

  • 1st Place in Service to the Reader (Circulation over 25,000) for “Can An Abused Horse Be Saved?” by Kara L. Stewart in the May 2006 and June 2006 issues of Horse Illustrated (Out of 33 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Feature Article (Circulation over 25,000) for “Paroled Horse” by Denise Parsons in the April 2006 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 42 entries)
  • 1st Place in Corporate/Affiliate Advertisement for “Renew an Old Friendship” by Designer Jon Falls and Farnam Companies, Inc. in the November 2006 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 10 entries)

2006

  • 2nd Place in Horse Care (Circulation 15,000 and over) for “A Mature Perspective” by Sharon Biggs in the November 2005 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 34 entries)
  • 3rd Place in Corporate/Affiliate Advertisement for “Simplify Your Life” (SimpliFly) by Farnam Companies, Inc. in the March 2005 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 11 entries)

2005

  • 1st Place in Corporate/Affiliate Advertisement for “Proven Dewormers For Every Horse” by Farnam Companies, Inc. in the February 2004 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 16 entries)
  • 2nd Place in Corporate/Affiliate Advertisement for “Now Guarantee Your Horse Gets Every Ounce of Supplement…Every Time” by Farnam Companies, Inc. in the May 2004 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 16 entries)

2004

  • Honorable Mention in General Excellence Self-Supported Magazine (Circulation 15,000 and Over) for Horse Illustrated (Out of 14 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Horse Care for “Gaining a Foothold: Techniques For Handling Hooves Safely” By Kara Stewart in the May 2003 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 30 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Service to the Reader (Circulation 15,000 and Over) for “Beyond Goodbye” by Kara Stewart in the December 2003 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 36 entries)
  • 3rd Place in Personal Column for “My Problem Child” by Cindy Hale in the April 2003 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 24 entries)
  • 2nd Place in Corporate/Affiliate Advertisement for “com” by Charmain Vaughn in the December 2003 issue of Horse Illustrated (Out of 5 entries)

Young Rider

2021

Freelance contributors received the following honors for their work published in Young Rider:

  • 2nd place in Freelance Wrtier Equine-Related Journalism Article for “Becoming a Trainer” by Jennifer Bryant in the Summer 2020 issue of Young Rider magazine (out of 6 entries)

2020

Freelance contributors received the following honors for their work published in Young Rider:

  • 1st place in Editorial Illustration for “Ava and the No Good, Very Bad Oxer” by Jean Abernethy in the March/April 2019 issue of Young Rider (Out of 7 entries)
  • 2nd place in Editorial Illustration for “A Ribbon for Yancy” by Jean Abernethy in the July/August 2019 issue of Young Rider (Out of 7 entries)

2018

  • 2nd place in Instructional Single Article (Circulation/AUV 20,000 and over) (Print or Online) for “Go with the Flow” by Heidi Nyland Melocco in the September/October 2017 issue of Young Rider (Out of 19 entries)
  • Honorable Mention in Instructional Single Article (Circulation/AUV 20,000 and over) (Print or Online) for “Cue the Lope, Cut the Drama” by Heidi Nyland Melocco in the November/December 2017 issue of Young Rider (Out of 19 entries)

American Horse Publication Equine Media Awards are the gold-standard in the equine industry, and Horse Illustrated and Young Rider are honored to be able to stand out within the industry.