Arizona’s K4 Ranch has built a horse program around producing horses that go from the ranch to the rodeo arena.
Jennifer Denison submitted her first article and photographs to Western Horseman in 1991 at age 18. To her chagrin, the article was returned with many red marks and a rejection note. She took the edits to heart, though, and pursued her passion for writing and photographing horses and the Western lifestyle throughout college. After more than 20 years in the equine publishing field, 17 of which she has worked for Western Horseman, she likes to think both her storytelling and photography abilities have improved, but she still has a lot to accomplish.
Growing up in Woodland Park, Colorado, Jennifer developed diverse interests in art, music, hunting and horses. She competed in 4-H and youth rodeo, helped on a family ranch for 14 years and rode all over the Colorado Rocky Mountains with her father, who was an avid hunter and packer.
Jennifer was the 1994 recipient of the American Horse Publications Student Award, which jumpstarted her career. After graduating from Colorado State University in 1995 with double majors in equine science and technical journalism and a minor in art, she was hired by Horse & Rider magazine as assistant editor, and throughout her six years with the magazine she advanced to senior editor. In 2002 she joined the Western Horseman staff as senior editor and continues to hold that title. She also serves on the AHP Board of Directors.
Known as the staff’s “road warrior,” Jennifer takes pride in continuing Western Horseman’s legacy of taking readers to remote areas of the West and documenting the colorful cowboys and artists who share their stories with her. She thrives on finding the humble horsemen hidden in the sagebrush and sharing their experience and knowledge, or immersing herself in a small-town event celebrating horsemanship and the Western lifestyle. Her favorite subjects to cover are vaquero traditions, sustainable ranching, family ranches, art and music.
At home she has two horses and two dogs. In her limited free time, she is developing her ranch roping skills and continues to roam the mountains of Colorado or in the red rocks of northern Arizona.
Meet the Todd’s, Etbauer’s, and Bushaw’s. Three sets of siblings who know what it means to grow up “the cowboy way.”
Northern Arizona’s iconic O RO Ranch has a reputation for producing generations of tough horses, cattle and cowboys.
The Davis Ranch is building a breeding program that produces competitive working cow horses with correct conformation and eye-catching color.
Woody Harney set out at 12 years old with a goal of working on big ranches. Now he is a respected cow boss.
Four-time world champion barrel racer, Sherry Cervi, has overcome tragedy to triumph in and out of the arena.
Jaimie Stoltzfus is among a growing number of ranch wives finding their niche through marketing ranch-raised beef direct to consumers.
Becca Gagan is committed to her family’s cattle operation and raising quality horses that can be used on the ranch of in the roping arena.
Costa Rica’s Rancho Margot is a self-sustaining piece of paradise and a model for a new age of ranching in a country driven by eco-tourism.
