The Plaid Horse is a North American equestrian media brand focused primarily on horse shows, hunter/jumper sport, breeding, horsemanship, and the wider horse community. It operates as both a print and digital publishing company, combining its magazine with online articles, podcasts, event coverage, and other equestrian resources.
Founded in 2003, The Plaid Horse was created to serve the equestrian community and has developed a strong presence at horse shows, clinics, competitions, and tack shops across the United States and Canada. Its coverage is aimed at riders, trainers, owners, spectators, horse enthusiasts, and businesses connected to the industry.
If you are searching for The Plaid Horse because you have seen the name online, at a horse show, or in an equestrian publication, this guide explains what it is, what it covers, how its digital platform works, and why it has become a recognizable name in the horse-show community.
What Is The Plaid Horse?
The Plaid Horse is an equestrian publishing company and horse-show magazine. Its stated focus includes the hunter/jumper and breeding disciplines, while its broader content covers horsemanship, horse care, training, competition, lifestyle, and stories from the equestrian world.
The publication serves both professional and recreational members of the horse community. Its content is designed to provide useful information while also highlighting riders, horses, trainers, competitions, organizations, and developments within the industry.
Unlike a traditional general-interest magazine, The Plaid Horse is strongly connected to the horse-show environment. Its distribution has included major competitions, clinics, collegiate and scholastic events, and tack stores throughout North America.
When Was The Plaid Horse Founded?
The Plaid Horse was established in 2003 with the goal of serving the equestrian community.
Since then, it has expanded beyond its original print presence into a broader digital publishing operation. The company now publishes regular website content and provides additional media through social platforms and its podcast.
Its continued emphasis on hunter/jumper sport gives the publication a specific identity within the much larger equestrian media landscape.
What Does The Plaid Horse Cover?
The publication covers a wide range of topics related to horses and equestrian sport.
Its website currently features sections such as Barn Lounge, Trainer Tuesday, Hunter Hack, Bay Broadcast, Outside the Ring, Partial Board, Jump Off, and The Plaidcast. These categories allow readers to explore everything from practical riding advice to horse-show news and personal stories.
Training and horsemanship are particularly important parts of its content. Articles can address riding technique, working with different types of horses, preparation for competition, mental skills, horse care, and challenges faced by riders.
The publication also provides press releases and horse-show coverage, making it useful for people who want to keep up with developments across the equestrian industry.
The Plaid Horse Magazine
The print magazine remains an important part of the brand.
According to The Plaid Horse, copies of its latest issues are distributed at horse shows and select tack shops throughout the United States and Canada. Readers can also subscribe to receive the magazine rather than relying only on copies available at events.
The magazine combines feature stories, expert advice, horse-show coverage, interviews, photography, and industry-related information.
This makes it particularly relevant to people who spend significant time around competitions and want equestrian content that goes beyond basic horse-care information.
The Plaid Horse Online
The digital side of The Plaid Horse provides access to articles, news, features, and other content through its website.
Its online platform is updated regularly with new stories, including training discussions, horse-care topics, personal experiences, competition news, and equestrian lifestyle content.
The website also makes the publication accessible to readers who may not attend horse shows or have access to a physical copy of the magazine.
According to the company’s 2026 media information, complete magazine issues are also offered digitally through its website.
The Plaidcast Podcast
Another major part of the brand is The Plaidcast, a weekly horse-show podcast hosted by publisher Piper Klemm, Ph.D., along with mental-skills coach and author Tonya Johnston.
The podcast features conversations with Olympic equestrians, riders, trainers, horse-show managers, and other people involved in the industry. Topics include horsemanship, collegiate equestrian programs, the state of the sport, riding advice, and the mental side of competition.
The podcast gives listeners an alternative way to engage with equestrian education and conversations without having to read a traditional magazine article.
Who Is The Plaid Horse For?
The Plaid Horse is primarily aimed at people interested in horse shows and equestrian sport.
Competitive riders can find training discussions, competition coverage, and industry news, while trainers and horse professionals can explore educational and professional topics.
Horse owners and enthusiasts can also find stories about horse care, relationships between riders and horses, and developments within the wider equestrian community.
The publication also welcomes the broader public interested in horses, rather than limiting its content exclusively to professional competitors. Its stated mission specifically includes equestrian competitors, horse fans, the general public, and suppliers to the industry.
The Plaid Horse and Hunter/Jumper Sport
Hunter/jumper sport is one of the central areas associated with The Plaid Horse.
The publication regularly covers riders, trainers, horses, competitions, and educational subjects connected with these disciplines. This focus makes it particularly relevant to people participating in or following the North American hunter/jumper scene.
Its distribution history includes major events such as the Devon Horse Show, Pony Finals, HITS shows, Lake Placid Horse Shows, Washington International Horse Show, and other important competitions.
Where Can You Find The Plaid Horse?
Readers can access The Plaid Horse through its official website, at selected horse shows and events, and through tack shops and other equestrian distribution locations.
The publication’s 2026 media kit says its magazine is distributed at horse shows, hunter/jumper association events, and clinics across the United States and Canada. It also identifies retail tack shops, feed stores, and barns as additional distribution locations.
Its online presence makes it possible to follow the publication even when you are not attending a competition.
Can You Subscribe to The Plaid Horse?
Yes. The publication offers several subscription options.
Its current subscription listings include one-year, two-year, and three-year subscriptions, along with single issues and a yearly box subscription. Pricing and available options can change, so readers should check the current subscription page before purchasing.
For someone who regularly follows horse shows and equestrian news, a subscription can provide a convenient way to keep up with new issues.
What Makes The Plaid Horse Different?
One of the publication’s defining characteristics is its close connection to the active horse-show community.
Rather than simply discussing horses as a general lifestyle topic, The Plaid Horse combines editorial content with direct coverage of competitions, riders, trainers, industry professionals, and equestrian events.
Its combination of print publishing, online journalism, podcasting, social media, and event distribution also allows the brand to reach readers through several different formats.
Is The Plaid Horse Still Active in 2026?
Yes. The Plaid Horse remains active in 2026, with current articles, magazine issues, podcast content, and event-related coverage appearing on its platforms.
The September 2026 issue, for example, is identified as “The Fashion Issue” and includes features covering equestrian fashion, horsemanship, research, travel, and other subjects.
The website is also publishing new articles and horse-show news throughout 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Plaid Horse a horse magazine?
Yes. The Plaid Horse is a print and digital equestrian publishing company known for horse-show and equestrian coverage, particularly within hunter/jumper and breeding disciplines.
When did The Plaid Horse start?
The Plaid Horse was founded in 2003 to serve the equestrian community.
Does The Plaid Horse have a website?
Yes. Its official website provides articles, horse-show news, magazine information, subscriptions, podcast content, and other equestrian resources.
What is The Plaidcast?
The Plaidcast is The Plaid Horse’s weekly horse-show podcast featuring conversations with riders, trainers, equestrian professionals, and other industry voices.
Who reads The Plaid Horse?
Its audience includes competitive riders, trainers, horse owners, equestrian fans, spectators, industry professionals, and members of the general public interested in horses.
Final Thoughts
The Plaid Horse is an established North American equestrian media brand that combines a horse-show magazine with digital publishing, podcasts, event coverage, and educational content.
Founded in 2003, it has developed a strong connection with the hunter/jumper community while expanding its coverage to include horse care, horsemanship, training, lifestyle, industry news, and personal stories.
For riders, horse owners, trainers, and anyone interested in the equestrian world, The Plaid Horse offers multiple ways to stay informed. Its combination of print and digital content makes it a useful resource for following the people, horses, competitions, and ideas shaping modern equestrian sport.
