FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

With Fiona Todd

HHorseVibes just keeps getting bigger and better. I’m feeling just a bit emotional this month.

The launch of the April edition marks the coming of age for HorseVibes, now in its 33rd edition. Originally created as a way to promote the saddles the Equestrian Hub sells on consignment, the magazine quickly took on a life of its own, providing quality editorial, and filling, I believe, a gap in the market. From the highs of our first subscribers to the lows of having to seek a new editor after our founding editor Penny Newbold had an horrendous accident; to the abundance of talent and creativity that has come to the table since Candida Baker took over the reins – to use a horse metaphor, publishing HorseVibes has been the most amazing roller coaster ride I’ve ever been on.

These days HorseVibes is blessed with an amazing stable (there I go again) of regular contributors – writers and equestrians such as Ute Raabe, Berni Saunders, Dannii Cunnane, Charlie Brister and Jane Camens.

This month, the movement to a paid subscription will allow us to continue building this great platform. The tradeoff for your small monthly subscription are the deals we have been able to create with some of your favourite equestrian businesses. HorseVibes is proud to offer our advertisers space that is affordable enough to allow all businesses, big and small to be able to grace our pages. In exchange, the businesses provide a shopping opportunity unique to you, our valuable subscribers.

On top of that as usual we have a great issue for you. Our Hero, Showjumper and Australian representative Chris Chugg talks about the highs and lows of his long career, and sticking with jumping, with the Aquis Champions Tour coming up we have Training Tips from the always popular David Finch. Photographer and horse breeder Nicole Emanuel brings us her personal and terrifying journey through the days of Bunyip bushfires, a story that reminded me of how wonderful the equestrian community can be. Ute Raabe talks to Mattea Davidson about her painful journey back to riding after an horrific accident when her bridle broke on the middle of a cross-country course and Gold Coast jockey Laura Cheshire gets On Her Tackbox to talk about the dayto-life of racing. Our columnist Charlie Brister manages to mix humour with a message, talking about the importance of studying a course. Also a good lesson for those on the circuit this year! This month I would like to raise a toast to Candida Baker, our amazing editor, the entire team at Equestrian Hub, including our designer Obelia McCormack, and our advertising