$10,000 Equestrian Voices Creative Writing Contest
The 2027 Equestrian Voices Writing Contest is now open!
Please note that the theme is a guide, not a requirement. All well-written articles are eligible for award and to win.
Rules
- Authors of any age and experience level are valid for entry.
- Authors may submit more than one submission.
- No entry fee is required.
- To be eligible, entries must be works of prose, at any length. We regret we cannot consider poetry.
- Entries by generative AI will not be considered
- Entries may not have been previously published in professional media.
- All entries must be original works by the entrant, in English. Plagiarism, which includes the use of third-party poetry, song lyrics, characters, or another person’s universe, without written permission, will result in disqualification. Short stories or novelettes generated or created by computer software and/or artificial intelligence will be disqualified. Authors are welcome worldwide.
- All applicants must have an active print subscription to The Plaid Horse to be considered.
- Entries will be judged by professional authors. The decisions of the judges are entirely their own, and are final and binding.
Prizes
$5,000 Grand Champion:
The Grand Champion prize will be awarded to a single author. The prize will include a $5,000 cash prize and a featured publication in The Plaid Horse (in print and online).
2024 Grand Champion Elizabeth Woolsey elected to donated her $5,000 prize to the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine to benefit vet students.
$500 Champion – 5 awards
5 Champion prizes will be awarded $500 cash prize and a featured publication in The Plaid Horse (in print and online).
$250 Reserve Champion – 10 awards
10 Reserve Champion prizes will be awarded $250 cash prize and a featured publication on theplaidhorse.com.
Important Dates
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Submissions are due at 11:59 PM PST July 1st, 2027.
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Winners will be notified by October 1st, 2027.
Submit Your Entry
Previous Winners
2024
Grand Champion
Elizabeth Woolsey
Champions
Breanne Palmerini
Dana Ziter
Maggie Wolfe
Michaela Mangus
Sara Klimek
Reserve Champions
Ashley Kelly
Catherine Doucette
Elizabeth Straebel
Fiona Lorenzen
Kim Flynn
Mary Shelley-Snell
Phoebe Harper
Sue Ellen Marder O’Connor
Susan Gilstrap
Tracy Mask
2018
Grand Champion
Paige Cerulli
Champion
Carly Eastern
Christina Keim
Elizabeth Oness
Gretchen Lida
Reserve Champion
Carolyn Getches
