The 2021 Heels Down Spark Awards are officially open to creative individuals making their mark in the equestrian industry.
The Spark Awards is an international competition for inspiring individuals to recognize the creative talent brewing in the horse world. Hosted by Heels Down Media, the Spark Awards are open to equestrians, entrepreneurs, writers, graphic designers and more – basically anyone with a cool idea that touches the equestrian industry in some way.
The winners will be selected by a panel of expert judges (75%) and a public vote in the Heels Down Spark, our daily equestrian newsletter (25%). Apply by May 30. To get all the contest details, click here.
The writing category is open to bloggers and writers on any platform [social media, personal websites, columns published in professional outlets, authors of books, poetry, etc.] Content must be/have been published at the time of submission. Only online links to available content accepted as submissions.
And now, to introduce our panel of expert judges for the writing category.
Writing
Natalie Keller Reinert is a novelist and writer specializing in the equestrian lifestyle. Her novels have a popular following around the world, and sport several award nominations and wins, including the 2020 American Horse Publications’ fiction award for The Hidden Horses of New York. With an eclectic background spanning many disciplines, Natalie is always looking for her next adventure on horseback.
Rebecca Didier has worked for Trafalgar Square Books, the leading publisher of equestrian books and videos, for 19 years. She currently serves as both Managing Editor and Graphic Designer, and her role in the small company spans acquisitions, editorial, design, and marketing. She has worked with top riders, trainers, and equine experts from around the globe to bring their books to print. In addition, TSB publishes a specialized list of craft titles, and a limited number of canine and nature books. The book Naturally Curious: A Photographic Field Guide and Month-By-Month Journey Through the Fields, Woods, and Marshes of New England by naturalist Mary Holland and conceived of and edited by Rebecca, is a winner of the National Outdoor Book Award. Rebecca has designed more than 200 book covers for the non-fiction, biography, memoir, and fiction genres, as well as packaging for videos, including the Telly-Award-Winning series 7 Clinics with Buck Brannaman, from the director of the international hit feature film Buck. She is co-author of the book Dressage with Mind, Body & Soul with world-renowned animal behaviorist Linda Tellington-Jones.
Justine Griffin is an award winning journalist who has written about everything from horses to high profile CEOs to her ovaries. (She donated her eggs once.) She’s the media director at Heels Down Mag where she writes, edits and is a host of the Heels Down Happy Hour podcast. In her day job, she serves as a breaking news editor at the Tampa Bay Times newspaper in Florida.
Get the recognition you deserve. Enter the Spark Awards by May 30.
