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Writer's and Photographer's Guidelines

Thank you for your interest in The Gaited Horse: The ONE Magazine FOR ALL Gaited Horses. We appreciate your efforts and offer these tips to help you in preparing your work for publication. Our mission is to promote gaited horses to the 'rest of the horse world'. Your work is vital in accomplishing this goal, so know that you are important to us.

Since most of our 'writers' are horse people first, and not professional writers, we encourage you to participate in TGH on the basis that you have something valuable to offer your fellow horsemen, and not to worry about dotting the 'i's or crossing the 't's. That's our job!

Again, thank you for considering TGH for your work. We consider that an honor. Should we have to decline your work, we will be as frank and clear as possible in explaining why. Should we accept your story, we will work with you in polishing it to the very best version possible.

Follow these suggestions to present a clear and intriguing story and we will do the rest.

Warmest Regards,
RjHart-Poe, Editor

Writers: All gaited horse enthusiasts are welcome to submit articles or ideas to The Gaited Horse. We are most concerned with accurate, lively content from those with first hand experience. If you have a good story to tell we can help you turn it into a great article!

Submission: We encourage you to query through e-mail (tgheditor@thegaitedhorse.com). If you do not get an acknowledgment within three working days, please send us a brief note. Occasionally, e-mail messages wind up in space.

Include a brief overview and an outline of the article within the body of an e-mail. State availability of photos. Please do not send attachments. Full manuscripts are also considered. We do not return submissions (or photos) sent by regular mail unless accompanied by a S.A.S.E. (Self-addressed, stamped envelope) ALLOW 2 WEEKS FOR RESPONSE.

Focus: We are looking only for material that relates directly to GAITED horses. Submissions must deal exclusively with one aspect of gaited horses, i.e. adding toe-weight to correct paciness, or on a broader topic that involves gaited horses as the central focus, i.e. evaluating yearlings, including how to pre-determine their gait of choice once under saddle. If you have an idea that seems appropriate, we are happy to help you develop it to fit our needs.

Style: Articles should sound professional and authoritative, yet engaging and conversational. Since we expect you, the author, to be the authority, quotes from other sources are not usually necessary. (The obvious exceptions being profile type stories, or interviews.) Begin with a catchy lead. Divide your story into digestible segments, usually 3 - 4, that can be sub-headed, either chronologically, according to climaxes in the story, or by increments in training, medical treatment or other natural breaks in the article. Conclude, with a paragraph or two that pulls it all together. It is very effective to enter a 'problem' in your opening lead, and show how the content of the article 'solves' it in the conclusion.

Photos: Most articles require accompanying photos. Providing these often affects acceptance of a story. TGH requires EXCELLENT photos. Consider these tips:

• Unless the story concerns dirt, mistreatment, or some other angle that warrants it, horses should not appear unkempt. Among other things, TGH promotes the BEAUTY of gaited horses, so bear that in mind when choosing or preparing a subject for photographs.
• Be aware of the setting of the photo, the background, color and lighting contrasts. The photo must first be high quality and attractive, and secondarily, illustrate some point of the story. No fence posts emerging from the horses belly, no extra legs, no cutting off ears, tail ends, or feet.
• If possible, send more photos than you anticipate being used. A good selection, utilizing different angles, backgrounds, etc. is preferable.
• Obtain a written statement from anyone in your photos giving permission to reproduce their photo in TGH. Exceptions are shows, public places, public trail rides, etc. where a 'reasonable expectation' of privacy does not apply. The following is adequate:
  
  I NAME OF SUBJECT give my permission for YOUR NAME to release my photo for publication in The Gaited Horse magazine. Be sure it is signed by the subject and dated.

PLEASE NOTE: TGH does not offer compensation for photo subjects. Rarely do we pay for photos separate from manuscripts. It is the author's responsibility to arrange with subjects any compensation for their photos. Except for professional models, it is very unusual for photo subjects to demand compensation.

Originals: Never, never, NEVER send your only copy of a manuscript or photo to any magazine or publisher for consideration! Sometimes they cannot be returned to you, they may even be lost in the mail. If you do require photos be returned, please enclose a S.A.S.E. and we will make every effort to get them back to you promptly.

Liability and compensation: Submission of material infers that you are the sole legal owner of the material with all inherent rights to it, including the right to allow us to publish it. TGH shall not be held liable for any material which is misrepresented to us. Since many writers are more concerned with promoting their ideas or horses, than in monetary profit for their articles, compensation varies. When payment is required, we offer between $50 and $300 for full manuscripts, including any accepted photos.

Thank you for your interest in The Gaited Horse. We look forward to seeing your work!

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