Pivoting into Change
It’s hard to imagine how much things have changed since I started The Northwest Horse Source in December 1995. Sitting here some 30 years later, I’m grateful for the journey I’ve been on with my readers and advertisers. My dream of working with horses was realized!
As with any business there are ups and downs, disappointments and celebrations. The part I’m most grateful for are the people and horses I’ve met during the three decades of the Horse Source adventure.
My business started out as a 16-page newsletter with 1,000 copies. These humble beginnings really taught me about tenacity and keeping the vision of connecting the horse community alive. I’ve had incredible support from our writers over the years who’ve generously contributed quality articles on a variety of disciplines, training, equine health care, and wonderful stories of many businesses that support horse owners in the Pacific Northwest.
My favorite part of this journey was going into my community and listening to horse owners talk about their challenges and successes as well as hearing about the businesspeople who keep the horse industry supplied with goods and services. The horse expos, especially, gave us the opportunity to network with top clinicians and companies who supply us with products to care for our horses. The reward was meeting new friends on a similar journey.
I started off with The Northwest Horse Fair & Expo in 2000 and enjoyed serving alongside John and Judith Chloe for over 20 years. This expo was a great event that brought so many of us together. I’m saddened to see these types of events getting smaller and disappearing. I struggle daily with the transition from the familiar to the growing online meeting place where people now gather. The cost of travel, lodging, and expo costs have become too much for many exhibitors and businesses. I still think it’s one of the most effective ways to meet people, but social media has taken on this role.
I’ve enjoyed many other expos such as the Washington State Horse Expo, The Idaho Horse Expo, and even Cal Expo many years ago. I even brought my beloved mare April to the Washington State Horse Expo one year so I could participate in clinics while still running our Horse Source booth. I’ve learned so much and met some of the kindest, most helpful people imaginable.
In 2021 I got the bug to move to Colorado. Drier weather, more sun, and an opportunity to grow another regional community appealed to me. Since moving here, we started the Colorado Horse Source and joined the Colorado Horse Council. I attended local events and became entrenched in the horse community here while keeping the Northwest Horse Source my main business and staying connected to the Northwest community that I love.
January 2026 marks the first month with no magazine. We stopped the print magazine two years ago and went to digital only while continuing to build our online community with articles, business profiles and the birth of HorseSource.org, a national directory serving the horse industry with over 1900 business listings, real estate, event listings and just recently horse listings. It’s been an exciting adventure to get off the ground!
In addition to building our social media presence, we plan to cultivate and expand our horse community by building a platform to share ideas, learn from experts, and continue to be a solid, trusted resource for years to come. I have an amazing team that puts everything together each month, most who’ve been with me over 20 years.
I look forward to your comments and connection. Please tell us how we can continue to serve you, and how we can most be of help. Send comments to karen@nwhorsesource.com
“You were born with the ability to change someone’s life, don’t ever waste it.”
– Dale Partridge, Author
Owner/Publisher Karen’s lifelong love of horses began at a very early age when she wore out a couple of rocking horses before convincing her parents to get her the real thing. That ill-tempered bay gelding, Brandy, was a challenge for the young horsewoman, but it drove her ambition to become a horse trainer. After attending Canyonview Equestrian College’s Horsemanship Program, Karen realized she needed work that was a little more lucrative than training, so she took a job with Customs Brokerage to pay the bills. There, she discovered an affinity for computers and a talent for creating informative, entertaining newsletters. The Northwest Horse Source began as such a letter in December 1995, with a distribution of 1000 copies for its 12 black and white pages. Now 25 years later, it’s an online magazine and website with a reach of over 10,000 per month and growing! Not bad for the results of one woman’s dream to work with horses!
Today, Karen remains involved with every aspect of the magazine and treasures the community of thousands who share a common passion. Now excited to start a version of her original magazine in Colorado!