As an avid reader of the Horse and Rider Magazine, i've been wondering a a certain thing. Why is everything about Quarter Horses? I am not a HUGE fan of them, I prefer thoroughbreds, so i was wondering why all of the cover horses are Quarter horses and not the beautiful mustang or the powerful Percheron? The title of this magazine is horse and rider i thought. I didn't think that horse was just another term for the Quarter Horse.

Horse & Rider is a pretty strictly western magazine.  As the Quarter Horse is a stock horse and probably one of the more common horses used in western disciplines, they make a perfect candidate.  You don't ever see Percherons performing a sliding stop and quick rollback, for example.

Then why call it horse and rider? Why not call it Quarter Horse and Rider? (I know Perchrons don't do that but I was just using it as a horse the dont have in the magazine.) Then how about Haflingers? They are "western" horses as well. Even my little Hank can do weave poles and jumps and barrel and I never see his breed in the magazine. What about palominos? Or mustangs? Or thoroughbreds (which are fast and can do excellent western events)? Answer me that.

How long have you been subscribing?  There have been Mustangs, palominos, a Tennessee Walker, and a Morgan in the "We'd Love to Own" section and/or on the cover.  It's just that the westen horses at the very top of their game are usually Quarters/Paints.  Sure there are exceptions in other breeds, and those are the ones you occassionally see on the cover or whatever; but Quarter Horses are the majority.

As for the name, Horse and Rider started out as an "everything horse" magazine and included some English articles (though it was mostly western).  It has since turned western, but the name hasn't changed.  Besides, "Western Horse and Rider" doesn't flow nearly as well.  What about Practical Horseman?  That's an English magazine, but practical horsemen abound in the western disciplines as well.  What's so wrong with the choice of name?

Yes exactly! A tennesee walker and A morgan In we'd love to own. But i haven't seen any of the horses you said on the cover. No im not getting angry but im just curious why is it called horse and rider when its USUALLY quarter horses. Just a curious customer. That's all. What about Haflingers? They can do just about ANYTHING! and i mean anything. why aren't they ever mentioned?

A few months ago was H&R's 50th Anniv. issue. They had an article on the top 50 horses of their 1st 50 years. There were several different breeds mentioned, not just QHs. It's just that QHs (w/ Paints running 2nd) seem to be the most popular breed in Western riding. If you pick up an issue of Western Rider, most of the horses seem to be QHs too. I do have to agree that I've never seen a Halflinger in it, and I've subscribed for several years. I personally love Arabs (but I own 2 Paints - go figure) but there are not alot of Arabs in H&R either.

 PS "Palomino" is not a breed.  ;-) 

Solaris:

 PS "Palomino" is not a breed.  ;-) 

Just as a side note: I believe there is a registry for them, though.  They're still not technically a breed, because the registry includes horses of all breeds (Quarters, TWs, etc.) but you can have a registered palomino, correct?  If I am incorrect, please tell me.

There's a registry for just about anything with a mane and a tail these days. People seem to go to any lengths to have a "registered" horse. And there's a blossoming publishing market for magazines/newsletters for each one of them, which goes back to the OP's complaint about not seeing any variety of horses in Horse & Rider. ~FH

 Yes, there is palomino registry.  Just like there is a white horse registry.  I am going to start my own Brown Horse Registry and we will be champions every time!!

FloridaHorseman:

There's a registry for just about anything with a mane and a tail these days.

This is true.  I wish they would restrict it more.  They're devaluing our true registered horses by letting anything be registered.

Thanks Scout's Mom:) I LOVE arabs as well. I just would rather see other horses besides Quarter Horses. That's all. I mean Haflingers OMG! They can do anything from western to dressage. And they aren't ever there because they too are western horses like Quarter horses. I wish that horse to H&R meant a variety. That's my point in short. But thanks for all of the imput guys:)

Practical Horseman is a strictly english magazine..but heck, I ride western and there are horsemen that are practical in the western area..get my drift?

Horse and Rider is pretty much a western magazine..I have seen other breeds talked about within its pages..but lets face it, QH's are the top breed among western riders..thus it would make sense they would be featured more..not intentionaly..but because that is the breed used in the articles by the professionals and the breed that excels the most in the events western riders compete in.

The Little Trainer Girl:

 What about Haflingers? They can do just about ANYTHING! and i mean anything. why aren't they ever mentioned?

 

LOL - probably because most people think of them as ponies. Horse people and non-horse people.

I rode a Haffie at my old barn. She was bred by the BO, who was very into dressage, but I was the first to ride her in dressage, and she was my first dressage show mount as well. She was an old school Haffie, probably under 14hh (maybe under 13, lol) but built like a barrel and took up all my leg. I'm 5'3" so that's not much, but still.

 Anyway, when my totally unhorsey mother came out to visit one summer, I told her I wasn't skipping my riding lesson (she could come and watch or wait for me at home). When she saw Laura Lee, she expressed her disappointment at not seeing me ride "a real horse"!

 

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