May Issue Preview

The May/June issue is out, and with it, the hindsight observation of the labor of love it's production truly was. Perhaps a little more than usual.

For this issue contained a first for Western Horse Review – our inaugural Young Guns – Top 25 Under 25. I'm exceptionally happy with how this feature transpired. The talent and inspiration springing forth from our youth carries a strong western vibe. I know you'll love the 25 amazing western youth we chose to profile this year, and I hope this feature will become a regular part of our editorial calendar.

Raising a kid in the country in modern times is not for the faint of heart. With the appeal of mass media and the modern tech culture nipping on the heels of our western lifestyle, it becomes more difficult to convince our children that the outdoors is their playground, the merits of rising in time for a sunrise, or the rewards of land and livestock stewardship. Yet, the similar thread amongst the stories of our 25 \”young guns\” is their ultimate appreciation of a country upbringing. Echoing that thought is our 25 Things I Want My Ranch Kid to Know, written by blogger Rachel Larsen of The Sagebrush Sea, and punctuated with the gorgeous ranch photography of our own Dainya Sapergia.

Our Futurity Road series ramps up as Saskatchewan trainer Dale Clearwater relates the progress of his four cow horse futurity hopefuls. There's a few bridges to cross yet before they wind up \”on deck\” at the first of the shows.

We also begin a three-part series with Dan James, a world renowned liberty trainer and take readers through step-by-step of his \”Double Dan\” method of horsemanship.

stop smokingeview.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/mjbarn.jpg\” alt=\”\” width=\”650\” height=\”432\” />We cover some do's and don'ts to keep in mind when planning your barn. . .

. . . and, Al Dunning relates the merits of one of his favorite pieces of tack.

With a tenacity for the sport, flashy wardrobes and Colt firearms, Annie Bianco Ellett, or \”Outlaw Annie\” is a perfect fit for the position of national spokesperson for mounted shooting. She's just one of 10 revelations of the sport we reveal in this issue's 10 Things You Didn't Know.

Look as well for an indepth discussion on post-foaling considerations, as well as Med of the Month and our alternative therapy focus for this issue is equine myofascial release. Fascia is the tissue that wraps around a horse's bones, muscles and tendons, and over time it can become restricted and lead to lameness.

Deanna Buschert travelled to a small town in rural Quebec last June to take in the infamous Rodeo de Charlevoix, an event which has developed a bit of a cult following in this province. If bullfighting and extreme events such as the pick-up race are your idea of rodeo fare, be sure to check in on this feature – it's our featured Getaway of the issue.

For this issue's Food of the West column, and just in time for barbecue season, I'm sharing the keys to grilling a great steak. It's all in the prep and the finish. Plus, an easy-side dish that covers both starch and veggies and a perfect country summer dessert – Strawberry Fool.

Enjoy the issue, if you don't already, you can subscribe here, or look for it on the newsstand.