As outgoing Editor Lucy Higginson mentioned in last week’s comment, there have been a few changes at the Horse & Hound stables. This is my first issue in the role of Content Director — as jobs go, I can’t think of a better one.
The role differs from the traditional and familiar title of Editor in that, as well as editing Horse & Hound magazine, I’ll also be responsible for the editorial content and overall direction of all our products — from H&H’s website to our other magazines.
The weekly magazine remains at the heart of what we do and its core values will not change. We will continue to make Horse & Hound the trustworthy “equestrian bible” our audience has come to expect over the past 130 years.
I’m determined to make H&H the voice of equestrianism on every media platform, and I look forward to hearing your views and getting to know you during that process.
What better time to take up the reins than six weeks before the World Equestrian Games? We’re excited to be bringing you all the news and analysis of the build-up to this great event.
This continues in this week’s magazine via our interview with Oliver Townend, who is back on the team after five years. His work ethic and motivation are an inspiration to young riders, some of whom appear to lack his drive. Nothing concentrates the mind like needing prize-money to pay for the diesel to get home. It’s reassuring to see a rider’s hard work rewarded with this opportunity to prove himself in Normandy.
Pulling together in a crisis
As an added challenge on my first press day at the helm, two hours from going to press we experienced a power-cut in the building. This left us with only two computers working in the office, forcing members of the team to relocate to different floors to find pockets of power, commandeering machines on other IPC Media magazines — thank you Yachting World! The fantastic H&H team pulled together and we got the job done.
As Lucy also said in her last comment, it takes more than an ashcloud to stop us getting the magazine on the shelves — we can add power failure to that list. The magazine always goes to press.
