Daytona Beach / Florida / United States
Editors and publishers of half a dozen publications were represented at an informal meeting in Lexington, Kentucky in 1970. They discussed a new idea advanced by Arnold Kirkpatrick, who at the time was editor of The Thoroughbred Record.Kirkpatrick envisioned an organization of horse publications, an idea that raised eyebrows in some circles and fists in others. Horse groups didnt see eye to eye on many matters in those days and any thought of Quarter Horses, of Harness and Thoroughbred types getting together was considered by many to be a bit radical."We spent a lot of time at that first meeting looking at one anothers shoes, " recalled The Horseman and Fair Worlds editor, Bob Hackett, alluding to the curious mixture of cowboy boots, jodhpurs and wing tipped brogans. Bolstered in by the fact that the American Horse Council, formed with a similar ecumenical philosophy a year earlier, was still in business, the group of six decided to march forward. Out of the meeting came the American Horse Publications, which grew from the six foundation members to 20.Over the years, the majority of major equine publications in North America have joined AHP. Today, it boasts a membership of 85 magazines, newspapers, tabloids and newsletters with a combined circulation of over 1, 000, 000 readers, plus several affiliate members.AHPs success likely is based on the fact that it has never strayed from its original goal "to promote better understanding and cooperation between all facets of the horse industry, irrespective of breed." When the editors and publishers began comparing their common problems editorial, advertising, printing, mailing, financial, to mention a few - they ceased looking at shoes and started looking at ways to improve their products.
