Submission Guidelines

Get to Know the Publications

Paint Horse Journal

Article topics in the Journal are as diverse as the horses themselves—we love profiles featuring extraordinary Paint Horses and/or APHA members, equine health, breeding and Paint Horse genetics, competition-focused pieces, training tips and industry news. Think of the Journal as your most trusted friend at the barn, always ready with solid advice and news to help you maximize your Paint Horse experience.

Chrome

Each issue of Chrome is built around five pillars: Spirit (personality profiles, expert horse and dog training advice); Attitude (designer/brand spotlights, health/beauty, equestrian vitality and style advice), Culture (artist profiles, heritage, connection and personal growth), Place (Western lifestyle decor/trends, recipes and the horse-human bond) and Journey (destination/travel, trail riding and equestrian experiences). Think of Chrome as a smart, trendy cowgirl who loves to stand out and always has the most trusted advice to share with her friends.

Our magazines are always interested in unique, well-written story ideas that fit the goals of each magazine. Please familiarize yourself with the Paint Horse Journal and Chrome so you understand the voice and focus of each publication; this will help you generate story ideas that will fit our magazines’ needs. In general, story ideas need to include a connection to Paint Horses, APHA or the Western lifestyle. Purchase back issues here.

We frequently work with experienced, equine-focused freelance writers and photographers to produce content for our publications. The best way to get your foot in the door is by submitting story ideas to the editor—check out the submission details below.

Most of our feature articles are between 1,000-1,800 words. Columns are typically 550-1,000 words, depending on the topic. We expect freelancers to help acquire images for the stories in most cases.

Topics We Love

Though story ideas aren’t limited to the following, here are some topics we always love to hear about:

Champion Paint Horses: that might include those with an established legacy of success in APHA or prestigious all-breed competitions and their road to the winner’s circle.
Unique Paint Horses or APHA members: those who are stepping beyond (and excelling outside of) the realm of traditional stock-horse competitions.
Paint promoters who tirelessly support the Paint Horse breed in new, exciting ways. Examples include a breeder’s lasting legacy or Paint enthusiasts working to establish the breed in a foreign country.
Paint Horse-related genetics: details about Paint pattern genetics and how to use genetic testing.
Healthcare and breeding articles, with Paint Horse ties.
Ranches that predominantly use Paint Horses—this could take a more lifestyle approach for Chrome or a horse-focused approach for the Journal.
Celebrities who own Paint Horses.
Lifestyle articles about ways to incorporate the Western lifestyle into your home and everyday style.
Brand & creator spotlights: this includes artists, craftsmen, authors, musicians and more putting a Western lifestyle spin on their work—those with a Paint Horse tie to the subject or in the craft itself are especially sought!
Pedigree or historical influences on the Paint Horse breed. Examples include a specific stallion/mare’s legacy or a lineage’s impact on APHA.

Well-written articles that adhere to outlined expectations and are submitted on or before deadline are the best way to establish a freelance relationship with our magazines.

Follow the publication’s writing style. APHA uses the AP Stylebook, but also has its own preferred style in certain situations (attributions, use of horse/breed names, etc). Freelancers should review the APHA Style Manual for details, which is available from the editor, Jessica Hein.

Strive for tight writing in the active voice. Long, rambling essays will be rejected. First-person narratives and question-and-answer formatting require prior approval from the editor.

Write with the publication’s tone in mind. While we strive to maintain a freelancer’s “voice” in their work, all articles are edited by staff to fit the magazine’s tone. You might be asked to clarify questions or even rewrite your article, if needed.

Attribute information sources in the article. That might include direct quotes, or references for paraphrased information.

Proofread your article before submission, including correct spelling, grammar and punctuation. Check all names (horse and human) for accuracy, and fact check details of your article.

If a source requests the ability to review your article, it’s the freelancer’s responsibility to take care of that before submission to APHA.

Include a headline, deck and byline. Main body copy should be separated into sub-headings/sections to enhance readability in most circumstances.

Before submitting a freelance article to our magazines, first pitch your specific story idea details to our editor. An article query should be a detailed query of the topic, including what you’ll cover, the proposed article style, source ideas and available imagery. If we haven’t worked with you before, include information about your background with horses/APHA and a link to some published writing samples.

Email queries are highly preferred; physical manuscripts/materials will not be returned.

APHA generally develops its editorial calendar a year in advance, though we accept story ideas at any time. A query might be accepted, held for future consideration or rejected. Acceptance or use is not guaranteed, and APHA reserves the right to modify stories/publication schedules at any time.

If your query idea is accepted, you will be asked to provide a complete outline of the article, including a list of potential sources (to be approved by APHA) and photos that might accompany it. The editor will outline the expected word count, deadline, fee and any other considerations. APHA purchases FNASR in most cases, including approval for use in APHA-owned vehicles (print and digital publications, horseIQ resources, social media promotion, etc).

Suitable photographs/imagery are an integral part of an editorial submission and are considered part of the complete editorial package. They should be visually interesting, while clearly illustrating the major points made in the article and feature a registered American Paint Horse.

Freelance photography needs are discussed on a per-article basis and needs will be outlined with the freelancer in advance whenever possible. Preference is given to freelancers who can both write and photograph their assignments. Collecting good-quality images from a source might be an option in some circumstances. Payment for images is discussed on an individual basis.

RAW or high-resolution digital images are required.

Photographs are rarely purchased independently of editorial. If you have an exceptional photograph unrelated to an upcoming article, please query the editor.

The photographer must provide the APHA registered name of the horse(s) in the image and have permission of the owner to submit the images to APHA.

Resources

Paint Horse Journal
Chrome Magazine
Media Information
Email the Editor
- Jessica Hein, Editor-in-Chief