Elite Equestrian Magazine: A Comprehensive Overview by Copilot

Elite Equestrian Magazine: A Comprehensive Overview by Copilot

Elite Equestrian Magazine: A Comprehensive Overview Introduction

Elite Equestrian magazine stands as a preeminent voice in the world of equestrian publishing, particularly recognized for its dynamic embrace of the equestrian lifestyle, relevant editorial content, and global reach. Since its founding during a turbulent economic era, the publication has not only weathered shifting industry tides but has continued to thrive—expanding its content, partnerships, digital offerings, and international influence. As of 2025, Elite Equestrian is widely regarded as America’s top equestrian lifestyle magazine and ranks among the best equestrian publications worldwide, frequently cited for its quality, distribution, and innovative approach to content creation and reader engagement.

This report delivers an extensive exploration of Elite Equestrian magazine’s history, target audience, editorial focus, signature features, notable contributors, business model, digital presence, and the unique characteristics that set it apart from its peers. Drawing from the magazine’s archives, industry evaluations, digital resources, and statements from editorial leadership, the following sections dissect each crucial aspect of the publication in detailed, analytical prose.

History of Elite Equestrian Magazine Founding and Early Vision

Elite Equestrian magazine was founded in 2008, a pivotal moment shaped by the global financial crisis. Unlike many ventures hindered by the economy’s contraction, Elite Equestrian emerged directly in response to the challenges facing the American equestrian community. Founders Bill Vander Brink and Noelle Vander Brink identified a gap in media coverage, particularly one that could both uplift the business side of the industry and embrace the elegance, passion, and diversity of the equestrian lifestyle.

Initially launched as “Bucks County Equestrian,” a quarterly publication focused on the eastern Pennsylvania region, the magazine grew rapidly. Within three issues, demand broadened geographical and editorial horizons, prompting a rebranding to “Elite Equestrian” and a shift toward national distribution.

Evolution of Format and Distribution

Elite Equestrian’s transformation into a bi-monthly, glossy 8.5 x 11-inch publication was accompanied by substantial growth in content sophistication, visual presentation, and reach. The publication moved from a niche, local offering to a comprehensive lifestyle and industry resource for equestrians nationwide and, ultimately, globally. Physical copies are distributed at high-profile venues including national horse shows, equestrian trade expos, and exclusive equestrian boutiques, while the digital edition extends the magazine’s presence to an international audience.

Shifting Editorial Themes and Global Expansion

From its inception, Elite Equestrian went beyond riding and competition coverage by embracing broader lifestyle themes—fashion, art, health, training, and personal narratives from the horse world. Notably, the magazine was a U.S. pioneer in the “equestrian lifestyle” category, setting a precedent that others have since followed.

By integrating content relevant to the global community and establishing media partnerships at major international events, Elite Equestrian has published editions for the Middle East and Europe, reflecting not only a universal appeal but a keen understanding of the equestrian world’s interconnectedness in an era of increased mobility and cultural exchange.

Milestones and Industry Recognition

Elite Equestrian’s dedication to quality and relevance has resulted in numerous distinctions. The magazine has been twice named among the top ten equestrian publications in the world by Feedspot (ranking as high as #5), and is frequently highlighted for its editorial freshness, audience engagement, and influential role in promoting both equestrianism and related industries.

Furthermore, Elite Equestrian has been an innovator in media partnerships, branding, and cross-platform content, often cited for its integration with equestrian television (notably EQUUS Television), sponsorships, and digital archiving.

Target Audience Demographics Reader Profile

Elite Equestrian magazine’s readership is composed of a discerning, affluent, and engaged audience. Demographic analysis reveals several defining attributes:

Gender: 80% women
Age: Majority between 34-54 years old
Marital Status: 63% married
Education: 62% hold a college degree
Employment: 56% employed full-time
Household Income: Average $215,000 annually
Home Ownership: Average home value $594,000; many own two or more homes
Vehicle & Farm Ownership: Own three vehicles (53% own a pick-up truck), and many own farms (with 66% having ten acres or more)
Equine Engagement: Average four horses per reader; most compete at least six times per year
Other Pets: Most own pets beyond horses or ponies
Spending: Readers spend an average of $12,000 per year on horses and equestrian activities.

This demographic profile underscores a community of successful, passionate individuals deeply invested in the equestrian lifestyle, not just as a pastime but as a core identity and professional pursuit.

Engagement and Consumer Behavior

Elite Equestrian’s audience is distinguished by its high level of loyalty, repeat engagement, and purchasing power. Readers are characterized as “active consumers,” frequently seeking new products, services, and experiences that enhance their involvement with horses and the broader equestrian community. Many not only compete but also own and manage farms, maintain multiple horses, and invest in high-value properties and products.

Moreover, the cross-generational nature of the audience—supported by content for both seasoned competitors and newcomers—facilitates a unique level of interactivity, reflected in the magazine’s social media following (over 50,000 followers), direct event presence, and digital readership metrics.

Notable Content Features Editorial Breadth and Signature Sections

Elite Equestrian’s content is diverse, ranging from in-depth event coverage and technical training articles to lifestyle, fashion, and personal profiles. Commonly featured sections include:

Event Coverage: Reporting from major national and international shows, with behind-the-scenes features, expert analysis, and exclusive interviews.
Training and Health: Step-by-step guides, veterinarian and trainer columns, and evidence-based horsemanship tips.
Fashion and Art: Spotlights on equestrian style trends, designer spotlights, and showcases of equestrian-themed art and antiques.
Interviews and Profiles: Q&As with top equestrians (Olympians, trainers, emerging talents), industry innovators, and thought leaders.
Product Reviews: Evaluations of tack, technology, equestrian apparel, horse care products, and more.
Youth and Community: Scholarships, special youth sections, and contributions spotlighting young riders’ achievements and pathways into elite competition.
Travel and Lifestyle: Destination guides, personal narratives, and explorations of horse-related tourism.
Special Editions and Thematic Issues: Including Olympic-themed editions, “Women in Equestrianism,” and archival retrospectives that celebrate milestones in the sport.

Visual Storytelling and Cover Art

Elite Equestrian’s covers and photography are celebrated for their artistry and storytelling. Covers are often described as collectible—depicting striking imagery such as a black Friesian galloping in mist, Olympic riders in triumphant moments, and seasonal scenes interwoven with the spirit of the horse. Each cover is crafted to emotionally resonate with readers across the competitive and recreational spectrum.

Table: Typical Feature Breakdown (Sample Issue)

Section	Example Content	Notable Contributors
Event Reports		Editorial Staff, guest writers
Training Advice	Ground driving clinics, biomechanics	Lynn Palm, Tom Scheve
Fashion & Art	Spring Fashion by Equetech, equine art interviews	LA Sokolowski, Dr. Lori Verbeke
Health/Science	Breeding specials, new therapies	Alessandra Deerinck
Lifestyle	Farm management, “His & Hers” series	Kat Fuqua, Jeanne Chisholm
Industry News	Brand partnerships, business showcases	Editorial Staff, advertisers

This array of content speaks to the magazine’s commitment to broad, yet integrated coverage—where technical horsemanship meets cultural and artistic appreciation.

Interactivity and Reader Value

One of Elite Equestrian’s unique values is in providing comprehensive digital archives. Every issue published since inception is available for digital access—making the magazine as much a reference library as a periodical. The digital platform may include interactive features such as video interviews, animated diagrams, and hyperlinks to associated resources—a modern approach that appeals to cross-platform readers and enhances educational value.

Unique Differentiators Lifestyle Focus and Brand Positioning

Elite Equestrian is credited as the first U.S. publication to fully integrate lifestyle components—fashion, art, wellness, home, and business—into its core editorial vision, setting it apart from magazines focused exclusively on sport or breed. This approach has not only broadened its appeal but has established Elite Equestrian as a bridge between competitive sport and broader lifestyle branding.

National and Global Reach

Bi-monthly, national distribution at over 2,000 locations—including major horse show circuits, local retail outlets, and select international events—establishes the magazine’s prominence in the physical marketplace. Its digital readership, meanwhile, averages approximately 250,000 views per week, confirming its influence far beyond traditional print boundaries.

Media Innovation and Partnerships

Elite Equestrian is recognized for its push into multimedia and cross-industry partnerships. Articles are regularly featured on EQUUS Television, a global lifestyle network, expanding audience reach and brand influence. The magazine also distributes at highly coveted venues and is a media partner for events.

Furthermore, its integration with digital marketing, interactive online magazine formats, and robust social media presence further distinguish Elite Equestrian, making it a model for multi-platform content delivery.

Business Model and Advertising Advantages

Advertisers benefit from a highly targeted and engaged audience, multi-platform exposure (print, digital, social), and cost-effective packages, including complimentary web banner ads with print placement. The magazine is particularly valued by equestrian businesses for its reach into an affluent and motivated customer base and for fostering a strong sense of community trust and loyalty—attributes not easily replicated by other publications.

Editorial Focus and Themes Mission and Editorial Objective

Elite Equestrian’s stated mission is to “produce an outstanding media product that serves the equestrian community by offering original, relevant, and interesting editorial content.” This ethos is reflected in its commitment to:

Educating readers on best practices, history, and innovation within the equestrian world.
Entertaining through personal narratives, visually stunning imagery, and lifestyle features.
Inspiring by celebrating achievements, highlighting up-and-coming talent, and chronicling the enduring bond between humans and horses.

Core Editorial Themes

The magazine’s editorial pillars include:

Comprehensive Event Reporting: Focused coverage of North America’s major equestrian events, with an eye for both technical analysis and narrative detail.
Training and Care: Deep dives into horsemanship techniques, wellness trends, and advanced veterinary innovations.
Art and Fashion: Exploration of equestrian aesthetics, encompassing everything from riding apparel technology to interviews with leading artists in the field.
Industry Leadership and Advocacy: Addresses current debates (such as rider weight or sustainability), profiles of thought leaders, and active promotion of inclusivity in equestrian sport.
Community Focus: Youth features, scholarships, personal journey stories, and efforts to bring new participants into the equestrian fold.

Contemporary Concerns and Forward-Looking Coverage

Elite Equestrian is attuned to contemporary challenges and developments, frequently running content on industry trends (such as the use of AI in art), changing show formats, advances in horse nutrition and therapeutic care, and the impact of technology on equestrian practices.

Publication Frequency and Distribution

Elite Equestrian magazine maintains a bi-monthly publication schedule, issuing six editions per year. Each print edition is broadly distributed at major equestrian venues, select retail locations, and by subscription across the United States. Additionally:

Free at Major Events: Copies are available for free at national competitions and high-profile trade shows, maximizing real-world visibility in equestrian circles.
Targeted Retail Distribution: Available at tack and feed stores in renowned equestrian regions.
Digital Subscription and Online Access: The digital version is free to read online and accessible globally, drawing a broad international readership.
Online Archive: All past issues since the magazine’s founding are digitized and available for browsing, bolstering research and repeat engagement.

Distribution is dynamic, with new venues added regularly. Elite Equestrian also tailors special editions for show seasons (for example, a “Florida Show Season Guide”) timed to coincident with the needs of the competitive calendar.

Circulation and Readership Metrics Key Circulation Data

Elite Equestrian boasts a multi-pronged circulation strategy that maximizes both physical and digital reach:

Print Distribution: Over 2,000 locations nationwide for hard copies (tack shops, events, clinics, etc.).
Digital Reach: 250,000 digital readers per week; strong online presence with 150,000+ weekly web visitors, 50,000+ social media followers.
Global Readership: Online access brings in international readers, particularly from equestrian hubs beyond the U.S.
Search Visibility: Appeared in over 1.3 million Google searches in 2021; ranked multiple years among the world’s top 10 equestrian magazines by peer-reviewed sources (Feedspot ranking: #5 worldwide, #1 U.S. equestrian lifestyle magazine as of 2025).

This broad and growing footprint underpins the magazine’s attractiveness to advertisers and industry partners, reinforcing its status as a leading authority within the equestrian publishing sector.

Significant Contributors and Editorial Team Leadership

Bill Vander Brink: Publisher and owner, with a background in both equestrian business and media entrepreneurship. Bill is often the public face of the magazine and lead on strategic growth, partnership acquisition, and business development.
Noelle Vander Brink: Editor-in-Chief, co-founder, passionate horsewoman, and central to shaping the magazine’s editorial voice and expanding its thematic reach.

Editorial Staff and Regular Contributors

Elite Equestrian’s editorial team is comprised of specialists in writing, photography, art direction, and legal/industry issues. Notable members and columnists include:

Dr. Lori Verderame: Art & Antiques Editor, renowned for expertise in equine-related artwork and collectibles.
Jeanne Chisholm: Equine Art Editor, with a focus on fine art and artist interviews.
LA Sokolowski (LA Berry): Fashion Editor and acclaimed freelance contributor, widely awarded for her journalism within and beyond Elite Equestrian.
Avery S. Chapman, Esquire: Legal Editor, covering the intersection of law and equestrian sports.
Contributing Writers: Lynn Palm (legendary trainer and Western dressage specialist), Tom Scheve (noted for technical articles), Kat Fuqua (youth perspective), Alessandra Deerinck (welfare and training), and others.

Editorial Honours

LA Berry, in particular, has won repeated recognition at the American Horse Publications (AHP) Equine Media Awards—for both Elite Equestrian and other leading magazines—including first and second prizes in equestrian lifestyle journalism categories in 2024 and 2025.

Guest Experts and Features

Elite Equestrian frequently features guest experts and leading trainers, Olympic equestrians, veterinarians, and innovators, ensuring its coverage is both authoritative and fresh. The diversity of its contributors underlines the magazine’s industry standing and editorial depth.

Major Partnerships and Media Collaborations Event and Institutional Partnerships

Elite Equestrian’s influence is amplified by its partnership portfolio and status as an official media partner for some of the sport’s most important circuits and events:

These collaborations ensure Elite Equestrian content reaches highly targeted audiences in concentrated, event-driven settings. The magazine often sponsors, covers, and distributes at associated events, maximizing its exposure and symbiotic value to the industry.

Media Innovations

Elite Equestrian’s articles are syndicated on the EQUUS Television Network, enhancing global visibility and cross-platform brand recognition. This partnership, initiated in the early 2020s, allows the magazine’s editorial content to reach audiences on streaming platforms such as Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and more—a progressive strategy for the modern equestrian audience.

Business and Brand Collaborations

The magazine regularly profiles and partners with leading industry brands in tack, veterinary medicine, training, fashion, and equestrian technology. These relationships are visible not just in editorial and advertorial content, but in professionally curated product reviews and feature placements within show guides and special theme issues.

Awards and Industry Recognition

Elite Equestrian magazine has been the recipient of several important awards and distinctions:

Feedspot Rankings: Ranked #5 globally among equestrian magazines and #1 U.S. equestrian lifestyle magazine (2025 and earlier).
Media Innovator Award 2020: Recognized by Corporate Vision as “Best Equestrian Lifestyle Publication.”
Frequent AHP Equine Media Awards: Staff and regular contributors, including LA Berry, have earned multiple first- and second-place finishes in equestrian journalism.

Such honors affirm the magazine’s editorial quality, industry impact, and leadership within the equestrian media sector.

Advertising, Business Model, and Community Engagement AdvertisingOpportunities and Business Model

Elite Equestrian’s revenue model is based on a blend of advertising (print and digital), subscriptions, event partnerships, and sponsorships. Key features include:

Range of Advertising Formats: From full-page display ads to banner ads with hyperlinked content in digital editions.
Discounted Rates and Packages: Special offers for multiple insertions, annual contracts, and bundled print-digital options.
High ROI for Advertisers: The magazine’s distribution in high-end venues, targeted demographic, and strong brand loyalty make it an attractive vehicle for both established and emerging equestrian brands.
Community Trust: Reader and advertiser testimonials affirm the magazine’s positive impact on business growth, community reputation, and industry influence.

Community and Educational Initiatives

In addition to commercial partnerships, Elite Equestrian promotes community values:

Youth Scholarships and Initiatives: The magazine offers support for young riders, including scholarships, educational content, and platforms for youth voices.
Reader Participation: Through contests, reader submissions, and feedback loops, the magazine fosters a sense of belonging and engagement.
Philanthropy and Advocacy: The publication supports and highlights equine welfare, sustainability, and broader social causes within the horse world, further differentiating itself as an ethical industry leader.

Digital Presence and Global Reach Multi-Platform Digital Strategy

Elite Equestrian’s digital presence is both extensive and innovative:

Website: Offers free access to all current and archived issues, searchable features, advertiser links, and interactive elements.
Digital Edition: Fully featured, hyperlinked online magazine with multimedia content and rich archives—making it both a publication and an equestrian library.
Social Media: Active and growing presence on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest with over 50,000 followers, driving both engagement and discovery.
Broadcast Integration: Featured content aired via EQUUS Television expands reach to connected TVs and global audiences.
Analytics: High search visibility, impressive weekly page views, and an email subscriber base that mirrors its affluent demographic.

International Engagement and Adaptation

With editions and digital access in the Middle East and Europe, and broad international event coverage, Elite Equestrian engages a global audience, adapting content to regional trends and interests while maintaining editorial consistency.

Archive and Special Editions Historical Archive

Elite Equestrian maintains a full digital archive of every published issue since 2008. This collection is available for both print purchase and online reference, making the magazine a valuable resource for researchers, educators, and enthusiasts interested in the cultural evolution of equestrian sports and lifestyle.

Special and Thematic Editions

The magazine regularly produces special issues—such as Olympic features, “Women in Equestrianism,” and show season guides for Florida and the Northeast—that address timely themes, industry milestones, and community-driven interests. Archived covers double as collectibles and visual histories, with thematic photography and design celebrating key moments and personalities from the sport.

Comparative Position in the Equestrian Publishing Landscape

Compared to other major equestrian magazines, Elite Equestrian is unique for:

Its positioning as a lifestyle publication rather than a sport- or breed-specific periodical.
Its integration of both high-end and accessible content, appealing simultaneously to competitive riders and lifestyle enthusiasts.
Its dynamic distribution model, combining wide-scale print outlay with open-access digital platforms and global event-based partnerships.

This perspective cements Elite Equestrian as a hybrid leader—combining the in-depth analysis of legacy sport publications, the aspirational focus of luxury magazines, and the community-building ethos of niche industry periodicals.

Conclusion

Elite Equestrian magazine’s trajectory since 2008 has been characterized by visionary leadership, editorial breadth, community connection, and an embrace of both tradition and innovation. Its readership is affluent, informed, and deeply loyal; its content is both authoritative and approachable; and its distribution, partnerships, and digital strategy have given it a global stage.

Its unique identity as an equestrian lifestyle publication broadens the horizons of what such a magazine can achieve—appealing to professionals and amateurs alike, and functioning simultaneously as an educational resource, industry news outlet, cultural touchstone, and community hub. Its awards, industry rankings, and enduring partnerships further reinforce its reputation for excellence.

In a publishing landscape that has seen both contraction and technological disruption, Elite Equestrian stands as a case study in adaptability, leadership, and editorial innovation—a champion of the equestrian spirit and a testament to the enduring fascination of the horse-human bond. For professionals seeking industry insight, newcomers seeking inspiration, or businesses aiming to reach a highly targeted audience, Elite Equestrian remains not only relevant but essential.

www.eliteequestrianmagazine.com