From The Publisher

From The Publisher

 

From The Publisher

 

If cowboy consumer activities in Las Vegas during the 2009 National Finals Rodeo were any indication of cowboy spending trends for 2010, I would have to say that the icy cap of one of the worst recessions in American history is starting to melt.
Although all of us focus on the mounted shooting sports, our segment falls among the many equine industry activities which we all share and support.

 

Tack, saddle, protection and safety equipment are cornerstones. We also support the Western apparel industry with boots, jeans, and shirts.  Then there is the transportation segment of trailers and haulers. Like the other performance horse sports, we back trainers and we acquire new horseflesh. Our market broadens out beyond all this to firearms, gunleather and materials to care for and maintain those items.

 

All of these industries were battered hard by the recession last year. And while the many folks without jobs cannot contribute fleeting dollars to the mix, spending is up and the markets are beginning to rebound with new incentives and marketing efforts to try and smash the ice cap and get back to business as usual.

 

Western Shooting Horse staffers attended Las Vegas in force this year. From our booth at the South Point Casino Arena—where a spectacular EquiGames World Series of Mounted Shooting took place—we hit the different shows and were impressed by the vigorous spending for all of the industry equipment and accessories mentioned above. Sales reports from those we spoke with were up and confidence was high. Even Western Shooting Horse witnessed a large number of subscription sales in an otherwise uncertain environment.

 

The interest in mounted shooting was greater than I have witnessed in all the years I’ve been involved. The CMSA booths at both the South Point and the Convention Center were consistently crowded with people interested in joining the sport—and Western Shooting Horse Magazines disappeared from both our booths in record numbers.

 

You will see many new advertisers in this issue and upcoming issues of Western Shooting Horse. They are here because they see the tremendous growth of the mounted shooting sports and believe it is a good idea to support this segment, learn more about it and make it part of their business plans.

 

If your personal ice cap is melting and the purchase of new equipment or services is in your future, give these advertisers a shot at your business. It is a two-way street, and we need each other to break out of this recession and get back to an easier lifestyle of horses, guns and friendship.

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