John Strassburger, the editor of The Chronicle of the Horse since 1986, will be retiring to pursue other, but related, interests on May 26. Strassburger, 46, joined the Chronicle’s staff in June 1982, immediately after graduating from Dickinson College (Pa.).
The Rolex Kentucky CCI****, on April 26-30, was Strassburger’s final news assignment for the Chronicle. It was also the first competition he covered, in 1982.
He and his wife, Heather Bailey, will be moving to Healdsburg, Calif., to establish a breeding and training stable and to start their own writing and editing business. He’ll write a new monthly column for the Chronicle, starting in July.
“It’s the realization of our dream,” said Strassburger.
“I definitely have bittersweet feelings about leaving the Chronicle. After all, I’ve been here more than half my life!” added Strassburger. “But I’m very excited about what we’re going to be doing, and I’m also very pleased the people I trained and have worked with for years and years will be taking over for me. I know—and all our readers can be assured—that they’ll keep the Chronicle to the high standards that our predecessors established almost 70 years ago. In fact, I’m sure they’re going to do things with the magazine I’ve never even thought of.”
Tricia Booker will be the new editor; Beth Rasin will be the new managing editor; Molly Sorge will be the assistant editor; and Sara Lieser will be the website coordinator. In addition, Josh Walker, who was the Chronicle’s intern in the fall of 2005, will join the editorial staff.
Booker has been managing editor since 2000 and a member of the staff since 1991. She started at the Chronicle as an intern in 1987. She’s an experienced competitor in hunters and jumpers, but she’s also competed in endurance riding, eventing and dressage. And she hunted as child and as an adult.
“It’s hard to believe John’s really leaving, but I’m happy that he’s realizing a dream he’s had for many years,” said Booker. “Throughout my time at the Chronicle, now more than 15 years, I’ve learned from and worked closely with John, and I plan to move into the editorship with his influence as my guide.
“While my first loves are the hunter/jumper disciplines, I’ve always admired and enjoyed competing in many of the other sports we cover,” added Booker. “And the Chronicle’s traditional role as the industry leader in news coverage of eventing, dressage, combined driving and steeplechasing will not change.”
Rasin has been assistant editor since 1998, having joined the staff in 1995, after also starting as an intern. Sorge joined the staff in 1998, and Lieser joined the staff in 2004 after also starting as an intern.
