Freelance Guidelines

Who we are:

Appaloosa Journal is the official publication of the Appaloosa Horse Club, the international breed registry for the Appaloosa horse. We strive to cover all aspects of the breed, from breeding and training to showing,  racing and trail riding.

We seek interesting, informative, fresh and well-written pieces that have an impact on the Appaloosa industry. We don’t publish poetry, fiction or purely sentimental stories.

Editorial needs:

We seek feature-length (1,500 to 1,800 words) and article-length (600 to 800 words) submissions about breeders, trainers, specific training methods, influential horses, youth and non-pro competitors, breed history, trail riding and artists using Appaloosa subjects. Article-length reports of timely and newsworthy events, such as shows, races and overseas competition, are welcome but must be pre-approved by the editor.

Manuscripts exceeding the preferred word length will be evaluated according to relevance and content matter. Lengthy stories, opinion pieces or poorly written pieces will be rejected. Submissions containing misspellings or improper grammar and/or punctuation may also be rejected.

Manuscripts may be sent on a CD or via e-mail in Microsoft Word or text-only format. If sent via CD, an accompanying hard copy should be printed, double spaced, following the guidelines set in Writers Market.

All submissions must specifically involve the Appaloosa breed or Appaloosa events. General-interest information such as health and training must use Appaloosa photo subjects. Coverage of Appaloosas competing outside the Appaloosa circuit may also be of interest.

Authors are responsible for accuracy of material, and a byline is required for any published material. Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses and Arabians, as well as any other breed, must be identified as such. Horses’ names must exactly match the names listed on registration papers.  Appaloosa Journal appreciates submissions from writers who have familiarized themselves with the magazine’s style.

Photography:

Suitable photography is considered part of the editorial manuscript and should represent the article itself. Photos should be visually appealing and feature Appaloosas with recognizable coat patterns. If the writer cannot include high-quality photos, he or she should arrange to have photos taken.

We accept high-quality freelance photography submissions that feature Appaloosas with recognizable coat patterns. Photos should be clear, relevant and of the highest quality.

We appreciate digital images submitted in RAW format, but any other image must be no less than 300 dpi at 5×7 inches. Prints are accepted, and should be no smaller than 5×7 inches, though 8×10 inch prints are preferred. Slides, Polaroid or low-resolution point-and-shoot camera photos are not accepted.

Captions, including identification of all horses and people pictured, are required for photos accompanying an article and are preferred with freelance photography. Model releases, photographer’s name and other pertinent information must accompany the image. To avoid marring a photo, never write on either side of the print.

Payment policy:

Payment for accepted material is made upon publication but arranged prior to acceptance. Return of signed writer’s contract is required. Typically, accepted material may not be submitted to another publication for six months after publication in Appaloosa Journal.

A self-addressed stamped envelope must be enclosed for material returns. Appaloosa Journal is not responsible for unsolicited materials. All freelance correspondence for Appaloosa Journal should be directed to Associate Editor Tafra Donberger, assoc.editor@appaloosajournal.com, subject line “Freelance.”

Postal address:

Appaloosa Journal
Attn: Tafra Donberger
2720 W. Pullman Road
Moscow ID 83843

Editorial calendar:

January: World Show Commemorative Issue
February: Breeding Issue
March: Travel/Vacation Issue
April: Speed Issue
May: Year-end Results Issue
June: Cattle/Ranch Issue
July: National & Youth World Show Issue
August: Education Issue
September: National & Youth World Show Results Issue
October: Trail & Distance Issue
November: World Show Preview Issue
December: Stallion Issue