History of The National Horseman

THE NATIONAL HORSEMAN has been a long-time standard in the show horse world. Our beginnings and the beginnings of the breed itself share much in common.

THE NATIONAL HORSEMAN began its existence as The Farmer’s Home Journal which brought news and events in the farming and agriculture world to agrarian America. It was here that a regular means of conveying news about the unique "American Horse" began in 1865 as a newsprint release. Each month, the Saddlebred was discussed in breed histories, sales, editorial columns and Saddlebred news; entire issues were devoted to the Saddlebred alone.

Ion Beverly "I.B." Nall (then publisher of The Farmer’s Home Journal), General John Breckenridge Castleman and other Saddlebred supporters established the National Saddle Horse Breeders’ Association in 1891 (changed in 1899 to the American Saddle Horse Breeders’ Association) in our Louisville office. As publisher, I.B. Nall followed the breed from its use in the cavalry of the Civil War through to its eventual use for sport. Castleman, Nall and their peers played a large role in the breed’s development, and the new organization promoted the significance and superiority of the Saddlebred. Colonel Nall served as the Association’s first secretary while still acting as publisher of The Farmer’s Home Journal.

By 1935, brothers W. Vaughan Spencer and H. Phelps Spencer, who had taken over the publication after Nall, saw a demand for greater attention to the horse section within the journal and felt that the readers’ demand for greater Saddlebred coverage would be best met if they left the newsprint format of The Farmer’s Home Journal in favor of a modernized "magazine" format. The print quality was greatly improved and the amount of material dealing with Saddlebreds grew enormously. The name THE NATIONAL HORSEMAN was used to describe the magazine’s new focus and scope: national attention to the Saddlebred.

In anticipation of this great event, the Spencer brothers announced that to those to whom "the horse is not only a thing of joy in itself, but an expression of a nation’s sportsmanship and a source of glory to America...to these people THE NATIONAL HORSEMAN is dedicated." They went on to say that "above all–there will be a lasting and vital monument to the noblest of animals–the American Saddle Horse!" This continues to be the magazine’s foremost aim.

In December of 1943, Phelps Spencer, who had purchased THE NATIONAL HORSEMAN from his brother, died on the battlefields of Italy. The magazine had followed the war closely, so to see its figurehead fall was a blow to the publication. Phelps was only 33 years old, but he had brought the magazine a firm direction. He had expanded the modest horse section within The Farmers’ Home Journal to a nationally published magazine focused solely on the American Saddlebred. It was his dedication which brought the magazine to the attention of the nation’s horse lovers. He has been given credit for introducing the sport to those who would otherwise never have taken part.

His other great contribution to horse enthusiasts came from a concern he had for horses who were not quite performance caliber but were still good horses. He found a market for these horses by encouraging localized riding clubs, trail riding and overall good health through riding for both juniors and seniors. In his short eight years as head of the magazine, he had managed to greatly expand THE NATIONAL HORSEMAN and the Saddlebred world at large.

His successor as publisher of the magazine was Henry Brown who was married to the Spencers’ sister. Henry had grown up in the Kentucky countryside and was familiar with Saddlebreds. When taking on the responsibility of the magazine, Henry stated, "My purpose is not only to continue what has been done, but to develop and surpass what has gone before." In his 12 years leading the magazine, Henry expanded readership, brought greater organization to the correspondent system being used and left THE NATIONAL HORSEMAN with an even greater tradition of devotion to the American Saddlebred.

Ray Sheffield had been advertising manager and a columnist for the magazine before taking over for Henry Brown in 1955. His dedication and knowledge of the industry earned him recognition as 1984’s UPHA "Man of the Year" and an award of merit from the ASHA. Ray was an outspoken proponent for professional trainers through his support of the United Professional Horsemen’s Association and, along with others, helped to give Pleasure divisions a giant boost in popularity.

Ray served as publisher of THE NATIONAL HORSEMAN until 1994 when the current head of the magazine, Karen Anthony, took on that role. As the first woman publisher of the magazine, she reflects the preponderance of women exhibitors in the sport. Karen has been a part of the horse show industry since 1985. She has met the challenge of leading a 130-year-old magazine by staying strongly focused on the foundations set by her predecessors. Hers is an endeavor based on commitment to the sport and its history and dedication to the magazine’s role as a vital part of the Saddlebred’s promotion.

The future of THE NATIONAL HORSEMAN lies in its capacity to change so that it can remain consistent with the goals for which it was first established. It is an extension of the sport itself, an indication of how much the sport has changed over the years and how much it has remained the same