Changing Leads

If you’ve been following us for a while, you know Horse Rookie is all about helping you navigate the joys and challenges of equestrian life. We’ve spent the past six years bringing you expert insights, practical advice, and countless tips to make your equestrian journey smoother. 

A little idea that began with one article has grown to 900+ free resources that have reached millions of readers around the world.

But, as with everything in horse life, things change and we need to adjust. So today, we’re excited to share how Horse Rookie is evolving to bring you even more value, connection, and support—straight to your inbox.

The Digital Landscape is Shifting

In the past, we relied on Google's Search Engine to reward our high-quality educational content and readership with visibility—and they did, for six years straight. That all changed last summer with their ironically-named "Helpful Content Update." 

This algorithm update manually elevated forums like Reddit (in which Google has a financial stake) and rolled out ‘AI Overviews ‘ (that scrape info from source sites like ours without permission or compensation).

The result? 

Virtually overnight, thousands of trusted publishers like Horse Rookie stopped showing up in Google searches the way they used to. For us, we've seen a 93% drop in traffic and an 80% decrease in revenue. We had to lay off most of our freelance equestrian writers and slow new content creation. 

But equestrians are resilient, and we get back in the saddle!

We see this as an opportunity to connect more closely with you, our loyal community. So we’re taking a more personalized approach, putting our 10,000 email subscribers front and center to deliver more of the content you want most.

What’s Next for Horse Rookie?

For the first time in six years—and after providing over 900 FREE articles to equestrians like you—we’re asking for support to keep Horse Rookie going strong.

We're introducing a premium email subscription model called Inside Rein that delivers exclusive content crafted just for you. For the cost of a single riding lesson, you’ll get access to curated resources, budgeting tips, educational downloads, course discounts, and expert advice, all delivered straight to your inbox.

This change will allow us to keep growing, creating, and expanding Horse Rookie for the long run—and all in the direction that matters most to you.

But that’s not all! To make sure our content is as useful as possible, we’ll be sending out a quick survey to better understand your equestrian life and the topics you’re most excited to see. You’ll be helping us shape the future of Horse Rookie, right down to the topics we write about and the resources we create.

A Special Treat for Subscribers

We’ve put together a one-of-a-kind resource just for Inside Rein subscribers—The Rider's Wallet: How I Spent $82,000 on Horses in Four Years. based on my personal horse expenses (yes, every dollar!). 

This exclusive, 38-page case study will give you an inside look at:

• Expected Expenses: A breakdown of the typical costs associated with horse ownership, including examples of surprise expenses.

• How to Save with Bartering: Real-world tips on lowering costs through smart bartering without compromising quality of care.

• The Financial Side of Expanding Your Herd: Insights into budgeting and planning for multiple horses, plus strategies for balancing your finances.

• Projections on Rising Costs & Adjusting Your Budget: Tips on how to stay ahead of price increases and keep your equestrian goals achievable.

Become an Inside Rein Member

Thank you for being part of the Horse Rookie herd and for helping us continue supporting and educating equestrians around the world!