The Stuff of Legends

America’s Horse magazine introduces readers to stars big and small.

America's Horse
February 24, 2011

The March-April issue of America’s Horse magazine – exclusively for AQHA members – introduces readers to legends already made and some still in the making.

One is Texas horseman Jack Brainard, who has been riding horses for 86 years. Along the way, he has been instrumental in founding several associations that make our horse world what it is today. He had a hand in starting the National Reining Horse Association, the Stock Horse of Texas competition group, the Southwest Reining Horse Association and its futurity, and the AQHA state affiliates in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. He helped start the equine program at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and has also been an award-winning rodeo stock contractor, a longtime judge, a trainer and breeder, and the recipient of a number of honorifics, including an induction into the NRHA Hall of Fame and the 2010 Western Horseman award.

Now, Jack is putting his considerable energy into a new group, the Western Dressage Association of America (also featured in the March-April America’s Horse) and into finishing a new autobiography about his remarkable life.

In the pages of America’s Horse, he stands toe to toe with a literary legend, Tom McGuane, who’s a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the National Cutting Horse Association Hall of Fame.

Tom has written 10 novels and two collections of short stories – all while pursuing his passion of ranching and riding cutting horses. American Quarter Horses have always been his breed of choice, and he and his wife, Laurie, have bred several outstanding mounts.

The March-April issue also features two luminaries whose rise to prominence has been much more recent: AQHA Professional Horseman Ken McNabb and Horsewoman Stacy Westfall each offer training tips to help you improve your relationship with your horse.

And those up-and-comers? America’s Horse loves to feature stars in the making. Look for a story about an 11-year-old girl whom we fully expect to see competing in the Miss Rodeo America pageant one day, and a country singer whose roots are in the Quarter Horse speed-event world.

America’s Horse is the membership magazine for the American Quarter Horse Association, and as such, we strive to represent all aspects of our versatile breed – and our versatile members. In May, we’ll focus on trail riding to celebrate the arrival of spring. You won’t want to miss it! If you’re not an AQHA member, join now!

AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal or America’s Horse, visit AQHA Publications.