Appaloosa Journal: History, Appaloosa Horse Club Profile, Content and Editor
Profile updated November 2026
Appaloosa Journal is the official magazine of the Appaloosa Horse Club, the breed registry for America's best-known spotted horse. It began in 1946 as a single mimeographed page for members, and today it is a printed and digital magazine covering shows, breeding, trail riding and the people who keep the breed going. This profile traces its history, the club's recent move from Idaho to Oklahoma, and the magazine's current editor.
| First published | 1946, as the Appaloosa News newsletter |
|---|---|
| Founder of the newsletter | George Hatley |
| Publisher | Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC), founded 1938 |
| Headquarters | Stockyards City, Oklahoma City, since 2026 (formerly Moscow, Idaho) |
| Format | Print magazine with a digital edition for subscribers |
| Editor in Chief | Heidi Nyland Melocco |
| Official website | Appaloosa.com |
History of Appaloosa Journal
The Appaloosa Horse Club was incorporated in December 1938 by Claude and Faye Thompson, Dr. Francis Haines, Ernest Kuck and Frank Dick, who set out to preserve the spotted horses associated with the Nez Perce people of the Palouse region. The club first operated from the Thompsons' home in Moro, Oregon.
In 1946 George Hatley offered to produce a newsletter for members and published the first Appaloosa News, a single mimeographed page. The following year the club office moved to Hatley's home in Moscow, Idaho, which remained the registry's base for decades. The newsletter grew into the Appaloosa Journal as the breed expanded; more than 630,000 Appaloosas have been registered since 1938.
In April 2026 the club began moving its headquarters to Stockyards City in Oklahoma City, closing a long chapter on the Palouse. Club president Lori Wunderlich said the organization honors its Idaho roots while its future lies in Oklahoma, a city that already hosts major Appaloosa shows.
Appaloosa Journal Today
Appaloosa Journal publishes in print and online through a digital magazine library for subscribers. The Fall 2026 issue, arriving in late October, carried the World Show program and national results, a breeding issue, Stud Club listings and a photo essay on the Chief Joseph Ride, the long-distance trail ride that follows the route of the Nez Perce in 1877.
The magazine has been recognized by American Horse Publications. In May 2026 it won first place for a horse-care single article in the association publication class, for a piece by Kristen Pitzer, and first place for a human-animal bond photograph by Melocco.
What Appaloosa Journal Is Publishing Now
Breed history and versatility
Features explain the breed's history, coat patterns and its use in everything from halter and western pleasure to racing, ranch work and trail.
Heart Horse News
A members' section shares milestones, stories and photos of readers' own horses, and members are invited to submit ideas.
Shows and breeding
World and National Show coverage, Stud Club listings and breeding-season issues serve breeders and exhibitors.
Appaloosa Journal Editors and Staff
The Appaloosa Horse Club's magazine page and press releases name:
- Heidi Nyland Melocco - Editor in Chief, Appaloosa Journal
- Kristen Pitzer - Contributing writer
- Lori Wunderlich - President, Appaloosa Horse Club
- Todd Branson - Media contact, Appaloosa Horse Club
- George Hatley - Founder of the Appaloosa News (1946)
The club's printed address for magazine story ideas and submissions is journal@appaloosa.com.
Who Reads Appaloosa Journal
Readers are ApHC members, breeders, exhibitors, youth riders and trail enthusiasts across the United States and abroad, since the club charters regional, national and international affiliate clubs. Many are small-acreage horse owners who rely on land-grant extension programs, such as those at the University of Arizona and the University of Missouri, for practical advice on pasture, feeding and horse health.
Appaloosa owners spend a lot of time explaining to strangers that, yes, the spots are real and no, the horse was not painted. They will get a kick out of farm.FM, which serves up farm satire and ranch humor with the same straight face, plus farm humor for the whole barn aisle. The farm jokes there travel well on a long Chief Joseph Ride, from one campfire to the next.
farm.FM got there first as the nation's first satirical farm site, and it backs the writing with Tractor Tunes, country music for farmers. Here is one contributor's collection of farm satire to start with.
Appaloosa Journal Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Appaloosa Horse Club: Appaloosa Journal - the official magazine page, editor and subscriptions.
- Wikipedia: Appaloosa Horse Club - founding and early history of the registry.
- American Horse Publications: ApHC moves to Oklahoma City - the 2026 headquarters move.
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension: Horses - land-grant horse care resources.
- University of Missouri Extension: Equine - extension guidance for horse owners.
Appaloosa Journal FAQ
When did Appaloosa Journal start?
It traces back to 1946, when George Hatley published the first Appaloosa News newsletter for Appaloosa Horse Club members.
Who publishes Appaloosa Journal?
The Appaloosa Horse Club, the breed registry founded in 1938.
Where is the Appaloosa Horse Club based now?
In Stockyards City, Oklahoma City, after moving from Moscow, Idaho, in 2026.
Who edits Appaloosa Journal?
Heidi Nyland Melocco is editor in chief.
From a one-page newsletter on the Palouse to an award-winning breed magazine, Appaloosa Journal has followed the spotted horse wherever it has gone.