Paint Horse Journal: APHA Profile, Awards, Content and Editor
Profile updated November 2026
Paint Horse Journal is the quarterly flagship magazine of the American Paint Horse Association, the Fort Worth registry for stock-type horses with distinctive white and colored coat patterns. Mailed to members in the United States and Canada and emailed in full to members worldwide, it covers breeding, horse care, competition and the people of the Paint world, and it has collected a long list of national journalism awards.
| Publisher | American Paint Horse Association (APHA), founded 1962 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 122 E. Exchange, Fort Worth Stockyards, Fort Worth, Texas |
| Frequency | Quarterly |
| Distribution | Free with adult APHA membership; print in U.S. and Canada, digital worldwide |
| Sister title | Chrome, APHA's lifestyle magazine |
| Editor-in-Chief | Jessica Hein |
| Official website | APHA.com |
History of Paint Horse Journal
The American Paint Horse Association was founded in 1962 to register and promote horses of stock-horse type with Paint coat patterns, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012. The association describes itself as the world's second-largest international equine breed association, with more than a million horses registered in 59 nations and territories.
Paint Horse Journal grew up with the registry as its official publication. It has long been a regular winner at the American Horse Publications awards: in 2012 it won General Excellence for association magazines with circulation under 15,000, a title it had last taken in 2004, and judges praised its balance of show and non-show coverage. Writer Jessica Hein won first-place article awards that same year, and she now leads the magazine.
In recent years APHA has moved the Journal to a quarterly schedule, delivered free with adult memberships, and added Chrome, a lifestyle magazine that is also the official publication of Mule Alley in the Fort Worth Stockyards historic district, where APHA's offices sit.
Paint Horse Journal Today
The Fall 2026 issue carried features including a profile of the American Junior Paint Horse Association president, a piece on high-tech horse care and an article busting the myth of the moody mare. Print copies are mailed to members in the U.S. and Canada, while all members worldwide, including youth, receive the full digital issue by email, and past issues sit in a digital archive.
At the 2025 AHP Equine Media Awards, Paint Horse Journal won a championship for consumer service journalism with a Spring 2024 article on ICSI breeding technology by Abigail Boatwright and second place for cover design, while Chrome took several honors of its own.
What Paint Horse Journal Is Publishing Now
Breeding and science
Articles explain reproductive technology, genetics and color testing, such as the award-winning guide to ICSI.
Horse care
Practical pieces on health, technology and behavior help owners manage horses from weanlings to retirees.
People and programs
Profiles of youth leaders, professional horsewomen and amateurs, plus association news and Share Your Story submissions from members.
Paint Horse Journal Editors and Staff
APHA's award announcements and magazine pages name these editors and contributors:
- Jessica Hein - Editor-in-Chief and APHA Senior Director of Communications
- Abigail Boatwright - Contributing writer
- L.A. Berry - Contributing writer, Chrome
- Jody Johnson - Designer
- Ron Bonge - Designer, Chrome
Who Reads Paint Horse Journal
Readers are APHA members: breeders, trainers, amateur and youth exhibitors, and ranch and trail riders who favor a colorful stock horse. Texas is home to more horses than any other state, and land-grant extension programs, including those at the University of Arizona and the University of Kentucky, publish research-based guidance on the nutrition, health and pasture topics the Journal also covers.
Paint owners never tire of hearing that their horse looks like a cow, a map of Texas or a spilled can of paint. They will find kindred spirits at farm.FM, where farm satire and ranch humor are delivered with Stockyards swagger, along with the farm humor every boarding barn runs on. The farm jokes there are good fodder for the next color-class warm-up pen.
Readers who want the full experience can pair the jokes with Tractor Tunes, the country music for farmers that farm.FM, the nation's first satirical farm site, plays between stories. This author page is a fine starting point.
Paint Horse Journal Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- APHA: Paint Horse Journal - current issue, subscriptions and archive.
- APHA: Chrome and Paint Horse Journal win 2025 AHP awards - the latest journalism honors.
- eBarrelRacing: APHA magazines rise to top - coverage of the 2012 General Excellence award.
- University of Kentucky Equine Extension - land-grant horse health programs.
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension: Horses - extension resources for horse owners.
Paint Horse Journal FAQ
Who publishes Paint Horse Journal?
The American Paint Horse Association, based in the Fort Worth Stockyards in Texas.
How often is Paint Horse Journal published?
Quarterly, free with adult APHA membership.
Who is the editor of Paint Horse Journal?
Jessica Hein is editor-in-chief and APHA's senior director of communications.
What is Chrome?
APHA's lifestyle magazine and the official publication of Mule Alley in the Fort Worth Stockyards.
Colorful horses deserve a colorful magazine, and Paint Horse Journal has been winning awards for delivering one.