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.
Raised in Fallon, Nevada, Tia Openshaw grew up a member of the National FFA Organization and with a barnyard of different animals, from an ostrich and llama to hogs and bottle-fed calves. Though she did not live or work on a ranch, she had a strong interest in animal husbandry and agriculture.
With horses, cattle and dogs as sidekicks, this ranch hand is living her own version of Lonesome Dove. One dog is even named Newt.
Here’s how one cowboy creates comfort in his stirrups for long days of riding.
Abel and A.J. Garcia explain how to head off two heading problems in the roping arena.
Specialized equine athletes— from broncs to barrel racing horses—win accolades in rodeo for their speed, timing and skills in the specific events for which they are trained. However, there are equally athletic and highly skilled horses, their names and stories rarely known, that are often unnoticed and underappreciated.
Cowgirl Up! spotlights the works of 55 female artists whose perceptions represent the face of the modern West.
Clayton Edsall shares three drills he wants a horse to master before working a cow.
Ranch bronc riders ride to raise money for the Dickens Volunteer Fire Department in Texas.
Canyon Ranch is fit for a queen and travelers seeking solace in the Big Horn Mountains. When I…
This Oklahoma native recently realized that her dream of having her own cattle operation and producing high-quality seed-stock genetics has finally come true.
