Global Horse Culture

Angela Swedberg, artist and horsewoman

I posted briefly before about Angela Swedberg, an artist who makes beautiful Plains and Plateau Indian clothing, horse gear, and other items using historically accurate methods and materials. To my delight, Angela is featured in the September 2010 issue of Cowboys & Indians, one of my favorite magazines. The article is from an interview I did with her about her work. Copies are in the stores now: get one if you can, it's a beautiful 2-page spread with lots of photos!

In talking to her for that article I discovered that she is not only an artist, but also a horsewoman. I asked her to tell me about her personal experience with horses, and more about the meaning and function of the fantastic horse masks, such as the horse in the photo above is wearing.

A Magazine for Show Horses

Saddle and Bridle Magazine is an American magazine covering the show horse breeds, such as Hackneys and Saddlebreds, and the show horse disciplines, such as Fine Harness and Saddle Seat Equitation. Saddle and Bridle Magazine is one of the oldest horse magazines in publication in the US, having been founded in 1927. Besides news and information, the magazine and its associated website offer useful links to advertisers, organizations and breeders.

The Brazilian Crioulo

The Crioulo is the Brazilian version of the Quarter Horse, similar to the related Criollo (Argentina, Chile), descended from Spanish stock. "Crioulo" or "Criollo" (Spanish) refers to something of mixed ancestry, although the Crioulo horse is now a fixed breed with specific standards. They are specialists in working cattle, and shown in the equivalent Brazilian versions of reining and working cowhorse competitions. They are stocky and agile creatures, and come in a variety of colors  - this video includes some very pretty duns and roans. This video is a promo for a new magazine about the Crioulo horse. The promo says the horses are known for their "força" (power), "garra" (literally "grab", thus probably referring to agility), and "belleza" (beauty).

The Gaited Horse magazine

This was a fun magazine, to which I once subscribed. Sadly it has closed after 10 years... back issues are still available, according to the website. Perhaps they'll keep the site up for a while. It is a nice resource.

Conquistador Magazine

Conquistador is a fun magazine, full of good quality photos and interesting articles, focusing on the Spanish-related breeds, from the Andalusian to the Peruvian Paso and beyond. I have a habit of subscribing to random horse magazines for a year, just to see what's going on in the horse world. This was one of my favorites. Sadly, the full magazine content is not published on the website, but there are a few articles and interesting links, particularly a huge array of links to breeders of Iberian horses. There is also a bookstore, with an interesting selection of reading material.

Ponies!

I love ponies. My cousin had a little strawberry roan pony when she was a girl, and when I visited her we would wander all over the countryside on that little guy. I think my feet hung almost to his knees, but he was game for anything. Ponies have a tremendous cuteness factor, and are surprisingly strong and fleet-of-foot for their size. They tend not to be as flighty as horses. They sometimes have a reputation for stubborness and naughty behavior, but this is usually due to the inconsistent and inept handling they get at the hands of the inexperienced children who are so often their riders.

Fans of ponies might enjoy these print magazines. Both have websites, though not all content from the print editions is available online, sadly.

The Native Pony is a British magazine featuring the diverse and adorable breeds of the UK.

Pony Enthusiast is a relatively new magazine focused on the United States.

Both are full of pretty pictures and useful pony-related advertising.