Frequently Asked Questions (WHJ)

       Q:  How can I write for The Walking Horse Journal?

       A: Guidelines for Walking Horse Journal follow.  Write, call or e-mail us about your article and picture ideas in advance, or send the completed items for editorial consideration. Text may also be submitted by e-mail or postal service.  Mail us word processor documents on 3.5 inch floppy disk or CD in Microsoft Word, Word Perfect or Lotus Word Pro formats or in .txt format.  We accept short letters in printed or typewritten form.  On longer submissions we can attempt optical character recognition scans of clean, high contrast typed or computer printed documents.  Handwriting, no matter how beautiful, probably will be rejected.  Text materials are not normally returned to the writer.

      The Walking Horse Journal is devoted to plain-shod, working, naturally running walk gaited equines.  We promote good horsemanship; good management; and sound, communication based, gimmick-free training methods that respect the horse’s inherited gaits and traits.  We cover all non-show uses of Walking Horses, including but not limited to:  Pleasure trail riding, field trials, trail patrol, police work, therapeutic riding, fox hunting, jumping, working cattle, o mok see or gymkhana, competitive trail riding, packing, wilderness camping, long distance riding, parades, and…  What do you do with your Walker?

      WHJ also does features on individual horses and/or breeders, breed history, research into rare and forgotten TWH bloodlines, and gait analysis from photos.

      We cover a wide range of  topics and accept submission on all of the following:  Feed/ health care suggestions, management hints, tack and equipment, training tips, human interest, color genetics, conformation, emergency preparedness, trails to ride, letters to the editor, original poems and almost anything else that may be of interest to us or our readers.  We cannot include every topic in every issue, so each issue is different.

      The Walking Horse Journal is a copyrighted publication. Editorial submissions are welcome.  Articles should be approximately 750-1,000 words in length and must comply with current copyright laws.  We re-print articles only with the written permission of the author.   The original author retains rights to articles published in WHJ.  From time to time WHJ publishes excerpts from historical articles that have lapsed into public domain.

     Q:  Do you accept controversial subjects?

      A:  Guidelines for notoriously controversial aspects of the TWH breed follow:

      Training information should be safe for both horse and handler, humane, and gimmick-free.  It must be horse logical - based on communication with and respect for the horse as a thinking, feeling creature without idolizing the horse.

      Shoeing information should be based on sound scientific research, promote the long-term soundness of the horse, and be safe and appropriate for non-show uses. 

      Gait enhancement/manipulation information should be seeking a performance objective that is realistic, humane and practical for use outside the show ring.

      The Walking Horse Journal recognizes that there are several distinct riding disciplines, each developed for specific purposes.  WHJ does not endorse any one riding discipline, training method, or trainer as superior to another but encourages owners to practice good, safe horsemanship using techniques appropriate to their horse and activities.

      The Walking Horse Journal is published by FOUR CRAFTSMEN Publishing, whose motto is “Truth that Works.”

      Q:  Do you require pictures with articles?

      A:  We like appropriate photos and/or illustrations with the article.  The horse must be flat-shod, and sound.  Good action photos of the horse doing its job are strongly preferred to standing shots.  We must have written permission to publish from any and all living people who can be identified in posed photos (or from parents or guardians of minors).

      Photos are accepted for gait analysis, but will be published only with permission of the owner of the horse and rider if the horse is being ridden.  A side view photo is best.  The horse should be flat-shod or barefoot and gaiting on a firm surface with the hooves and their contact with the ground clearly visible.

      Q:  What are your other rules for photos?

      A:  For best results photo prints should be mailed to TheWalking Horse Journal , P. O. Box 177, Lakeside, AZ 85929-0177.   Prints will be returned after publication.  Digital photos should be submitted  to industry standard Category A, which means JPEG file format, compression level 8 (high quality)  from a 3 or 4 megapixel camera for typical cover pictures.

For scanning a 5x7 print this translates to a minimum of 300 dots per inch.  If you scan any smaller print double this minimum to 600 dots per inch.  If in doubt go to higher resolutions, such as 1200 dots per inch.  If you or someone you are working with is a skilled photographer please check the Digital Images Submission Criteria (DISC) link on our links page for a downloadable brochure on industry standards.  Photos may be submitted by e-mail, or mailed to us on CD.  We also use digital images in EPS or TIFF format.  LZW, CCIT or ZIP compression is fine.  JPEG images at less than Photoshop’s level 8 (high quality) discard needed details which cannot be restored at our end.