In his welcome to this chronicle of Western Horseman's 75 years, current Publisher Darrell Dodds writes, "On the following pages, former Western Horseman Publisher Randy Witte has authored the most comprehensive history of the magazine that's ever been written." Even more important: "Witte also recognized that a magazine, when done well, can be magical in its ability to educate, inform, entertain and inspire."

That belief obviously focuses on the stock-horse industry. But the passion to deliver the "magic" has come from staffers themselves, horse owners as invested in the western lifestyle as the magazine's readership.

Among the magicians: Witte's larger-than-life predecessor, Dick Spencer, and longtime Editor Pat Close, who rode 40 years for the brand, and many others on the magazine staff. All, Witte says, contributed to "take the readers to places they'd never go, meet interesting characters they'd never heard of and learn things they'd never imagined."

That the magazine continues into its 75th year is testament that throughout its history Western Horseman successfully has pursued these objectives.