American Paint Horse Association announces appointment of editor

FORT WORTH, Texas—The American Paint Horse Association (APHA) announced recently that Tonya Ratliff-Garrison, has been named editor of the Paint Horse Journal, the Association’s award-winning monthly magazine.

Garrison comes to APHA with close to 30 years of experience as an editor, writer, photographer and graphic designer in the newspaper, television, Internet and magazine industries. During the past six years, Garrison has worked as a writer, photographer and field editor for the American Quarter Horse Journal. She has written for a host of equine associations and organizations, including American Quarter Horse Association, National Reining Horse Association and the National Reined Cow Horse Association. Most recently, she worked for as a Marketing Coordinator for Pro Management, which markets and promotes equestrian entities and clients such as the Wide World of Horses television show, the National Reining Breeders Class, The National Reined Cow Horse Association and Rein In Cancer events. Her work has also appeared in a number of equine publications and websites, including the Quarter Horse Journal, Quarter Horse News, The Reiner, Stock Horse News and The Horse in addition to numerous newspapers and websites. Garrison’s works have earned numerous accolades including awards from the American Horse Publications, Livestock Publications Council, and the prestigious National Reining Horse Association’s Vaquero Media Publications Award and National Reining Breeders’ Classic Media Award. She has also won many Associated Press awards for her work in newspapers.

Garrison graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications from St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas.

A current owner of three well-bred reining mares who are in foal, Garrison brings an extensive background in dressage, reined cow horse and reining disciplines.

She is an active member of the American Horse Publications, American Horse Council, American Quarter Horse Association and National Reining Horse Association.

The American Paint Horse Association is very pleased to welcome Tonya as the editor of the Paint Horse Journal, said Lex Smurthwaite, APHA executive director. “Tonya’s background and experience in the stock horse publication industry will serve APHA well.  We are excited that she will be bringing new ideas and a fresh perspective to our readership.”

Garrison is up for the challenge of working for the second-largest stock horse breed registry in the United States. “The stock horse industry is my love and passion and I’m so excited to work with APHA,” she said.

“The Paint Horse Journal is an exemplary magazine with a history of outstanding editorial coverage and photography as well as an avenue of keeping our members and readers in the know,” Garrison continued. “The staff has done an outstanding job of keeping the bar high. I look forward to working alongside them.”

More about the Paint Horse Journal and APHA

The award-winning Paint Horse Journal is widely regarded as the premier magazine covering Paint Horse topics worldwide. The magazine reaches approximately 13,000 subscribers in 30 nations.

To visit the Paint Horse Journal Web site, log on painthorsejournal.com. To subscribe, call toll-free (866) 745-4968 or contact bjewell@apha.com. Learn about APHA by calling (817) 834-2742 or visiting apha.com.