Financial Incentive Programs for Manure Composting

Are there Government programs to offset the costs of composting our horse manure?

You may want to read Josh Nelson’s article, “Horse Manure black gold goes green” to learn why you should be composting your horse manure.

Finding the money for Manure Management and Composting…

Financial Incentives: State and Federal programs are in place which can help offset the cost of these systems. This technology qualifies for cost sharing and tax credits in numerous states under both energy conservation and environmental protection programs.

First off, horse owners must recognize that the USDA and most Federal Agencies do not recognize horse farms as “Farms” unless the majority of their cash receipts are from breeding and sale of offspring, or breeding stock.

Horse stables and training facilities are recognized as “Rural Business Enterprises“, who do qualify for low interest loans from the USDA. None of the programs will cover 100% of the cost for manure management and composting but they do have cost sharing programs. In most cases these State and Federal programs will recognize an individuals’ or farms’ contribution of labor and equipment time as a “cost sharing”.

State and Federal programs
(Google for local contact info)

1. State Cooperative Extension Service which are usually managed by the State Land Grant University dealing with agriculture.

2. Natural Resource Conservation Service – NRCS (Federal with state offices). This group coordinates a national program know as EQIP, Environmental Quality Incentive Program. They have a prime directive to protect natural resources (specifically water resources) and do have cost sharing programs. Farms must sign up by a specific date every year to be eligible for the coming year. Farms are ranked based on the severity of their problems.

3. United States Department of Agriculture – USDA has several programs and the individual state agencies are there to help Rural businesses and farms make application. For example there are VAPG grants coming up soon. These are Value Added Product Grants. It is viable to argue that (aerobic composting) & conversion of manure into thermal energy, which breaks dependence on fossil and grid energy AND produces an environmentalists safe, marketable compost, IS a Value Added process. There are also renewable energy grants.

4. National Association of Conservation Districts – NACD are an excellent resource as well.

5. Each State has incentives and programs which your Cooperative Extension Agent and State USDA agency should be able to help you with.

Large stables with 20+ horses check http://www.agrilab.ca
Small facilities with 2-20 horses check http://www.washwand.com/

None of these applications are easy or a silver bullet. One must be prepared to do some serious grant and proposal writing. But in the long run, they are all seriously worth the effort.

About the Author

Josh Nelson is a Master Composter and works with private and public entities consulting on methods to increase recycling efficiency globally. His work focuses on issues relating to agricultural and environmental sustainability. He is a successful inventor and has developed several products for the horse, pet and composting industry. He can be reached at: washwand [at] aol.com (remove the spaces and add @ for the [at])

Inventor and developer of EZ STACKTM Composting Systems and WashWand

Preventing the theft of horses and tack by Alexandra Gubbins-6647

Stolen horses and tack is a real problem

Every horse rider is aware of the problem of criminals who prey on the equestrian industry. Theft of both horses and horse tack is sadly all too common and most riders have either personally experienced one or the other or know of someone that has.

All thefts are shocking but it is particularly distressing when a horse is stolen. Equestrians usually have a very close bond with their horse and when a theft occurs, it is incredibly upsetting to not know where the horse is or what is going to happen to it.

It is also devastating when bridles, saddles or other horse riding equipment is taken not only because of the expense but also because of the time that it takes to build up a set of tack that suits both you and your horse.

The following advice centers around two different methods of stopping thieves from stealing any of your property. These are reducing the opportunity for theft and making the theft not seem worthwhile.

Reducing theft opportunities

The first way to prevent someone from stealing from you is to minimize their chances of striking with relatively little possibility of getting caught.

It can be quite easy for thieves to gain access to a property but there are only restricted options for them to get a horse back out. Hinged gates that are kept padlocked, robust fencing and thick hedges can make it very hard for thieves to remove your horse from its stable or field. It is worth bearing in mind that thieves can easily cut through wire fencing so post and rail may offer better protection.

Some thieves will prey on horses that are left unattended for regular intervals each day. If possible, try to create an unpredictable routine of visiting your horse outside of usual feeding times so that the thieves cannot be sure of the times when nobody will be around. For example, visit your horse at lunchtime or arrange for a neighbor to check that all is well at some point during the day.

Opportunist thieves will happily prey on any saddles, bridles and other types of horse tack that are left out, even if someone is on the premises at the time. The best way to protect this property is by keeping it under lock and key if you are going to let it out of your sight. Install sturdy locks on your tack room and make sure that the building is properly secured.

Even if you have locked your tack room, someone wandering past the window may catch a glimpse of your expensive leather horse tack collection. It would only take a few moments for a thief to smash the window, climb in and nab your equipment. If you are planning on building a new tack room or you are about to move into a new property, make sure you choose a building that has as few windows as possible. If you have an existing tack room, install iron bars at the windows to prevent this kind of access.

Making the theft seem not worthwhile

Thieves will be much less likely to strike if they think it will be difficult to sell on the horse or riding equipment, as this pretty much negates the reason for stealing. If you can make a potential thief discount your property as a target by carrying out just a few simple steps, you could avoid becoming a victim of crime and the heartbreak that can go with it if a horse is stolen.

Freeze marking is one of the simplest things you can do to identify your horse. It is simple, quick and permanent, and its visible nature will deter thieves from stealing your horse. This is because they know it can be used to show unequivocally that it does not belong to them and it is stolen. Also, if your horse is stolen and recovered by police, they can use this distinctive mark to reunite you with him or her.

Many horse riders are now getting their animals microchipped. While this is not a visible deterrent, some prefer this kind of identification instead of or in addition to the white branding of freeze marking. If the horse is stolen and then scanned at some point, the information contained within the microchip will facilitate the tracing of the owner.

On a similar note, marking all of your horse tack with your telephone number or postcode is an excellent way of putting criminals off and ensuring its safe return should it be recovered as stolen property. It is also possible to get your saddle stamped with a special identification code. Many police forces run tack marking campaigns or services so it is well worth checking with your local force on this point.

Investing in basic technology around your stables and yard can also be a very good deterrent to thieves. It can be very useful to fit CCTV, a burglar alarm and lights, as well as having large notices stating as such.

Preventing the theft of horses and tack Article Summary:

Some simple advice on the things equestrians can do to deter thieves from stealing their horses, as well as their horse tack.

Preventing the theft of horses and tack by Alexandra Gubbins of Dogwood London suppliers of leather saddles, bridles and equestrian clothing.

Article Source: ArticleCo.com

Protect your horses, tack, and property

Stolen Horse International, Inc. ~ NetPosse.com Resource information for preventing theft and finding stolen/lost horses. Listing of current stolen horses online.

Horse security

Horse Identification Learn more about: Freeze Branding, Microchiping, Lip Tattooing, Hoof Branding, and Freeze Marking.

Horse-related security – protect your riding gear and horses from thieves The theft of horses and their expensive gear is an ever-present threat. Neil Clarkson looks at ways to deter would-be thieves and rustlers.

A New Reason to Compost Horse Manure By Josh Nelson

Manure Management that saves you money and warms you

As horse ownership continues to increase, so increases the human population. We are all competing for space and need to optimally manage our environment and resources for long term sustainability. Much can be done to make stables more environmentally friendly. One of these beneficial practices is composting of manure, bedding and organic materials generated around the farm.

Compost use has numerous benefits for the soil and environment, but most importantly, converting your fresh manure and bedding to compost will help protect fresh water supplies close to or on your property. Clean water supplies are a dwindling resource upon which we all depend for life. Be proactive and look at your options to protect resources and better manage your operation. You may even find you can save or make money!

Whether you are managing a few horses at home in a rural environment, or managing a sixty horse facility in the shadows of an urban based community, horse manure is a reality that has to be addressed daily. In some regions, new State and Federal regulations mandate how horse manure, stable bedding and organic waste should be managed so as to be environmentally compliant. Lets’ look at the reasons horse manure needs to be better managed;

Why Compost?

1. The average 1000 lb. horse generates about 50# of manure and urine daily. This amounts to about 9 tons, or 730 cu. ft. of horse manure annually.
2. Non composted manure becomes a breeding ground for air borne pests and flies.
3. Composting manure and bedding kills fly larvae reducing air born pests.
4. Composted manure kills weed seeds aiding in weed control when used on pastures, fields, gardens or landscaping.
5. Leachate from untreated manure can contaminate ground and surface water sources. Horse manure and urine are high in salts.
6. Run-off often contains fecal coliform and therefore, stockpiled or raw manure should be kept at least 150 feet from well heads, creeks and ponds.
7. Horse manure contains bacteria and often parasites. Proper composting will kill these and reduce risk of transmission to horses, animals or humans.
8. Horse manure and soiled bedding takes up a considerable amount of space. If you own horses, you know!
9. Manure management requires human and equipment resources on a daily or routine basis to manage it. For larger equine facilities, this is an operating expense. You pay dearly for what goes into your horses. Why not try and get some benefit back from what comes out!
10. If manure and bedding is hauled off site, possibly the service cost is increasing due to rising fuel prices associated with vehicle operation. Processing it on-site might be more cost effective with additional benefits which are discussed below.

Well made compost is an asset, not an environmental or economic nuisance. Look at it as a resource, not an expense. Stabilized compost can be used in numerous applications or sold to those recognizing its’ benefits. It can be applied to hay fields, turn out pastures, landscape and gardens. Once stabilized and dried, it can even be used in your arena as a percentage of your footing.

Applying and using compost increases soil health and if used annually, reduces plant watering requirements. Healthy soil achieved through increased compost use will promote healthy plants which increases their resistance to drought, disease and pests.

From a gardening and farming perspective, increased compost use means less purchased fertilizer and reduced use of chemical based herbicides and pesticides which can harm you, your animals, wildlife and infiltrate ground water. Compost use helps promote a cleaner and healthier environment for all, including horses, pets and people on your property.

Hopefully many of you are composting on some level already, if you are, Congratulations! If you are not, hopefully this article will help move you in a new direction. For current and ‘wannabe’ composters, here is a great new incentive.

Better and Faster Horse Manure Composting using air Create the black gold quicker with less problems.

Reduced Operating Costs

Costs related to farm and stable operations continue to increase. Some due to escalating fuel costs. If you live in a region where it is cold several months out of the year, you have already experienced the painful cost increases associated with heating. Wow, wouldn’t it be neat if you could turn your horse manure and bedding into free heat and have a usable or marketable compost product as the end product! Well now you can. Composting technology has evolved to a new level which makes heat recovery economically viable.

The technology has been in use for over one year in northern Vermont, taking the soiled bedding from a 1000 calf rearing facility, composting it and using it to heat both hot water and channel hot water through tubes buried in the concrete aisles of a 250′ long barn using radiant floor heating. When it is -20 F outdoors, it is a comfortable 40F in the barn, making it the perfect temperature for calves and people. The same can be done for horse facilities. Various systems are in development applicable to small, medium and large scale livestock, poultry and equine facilities.

Heat Recovery from Compost

Aerobically composted materials when properly managed in volumes of several yards, or more, will generate heat in the range of 120-165 degrees (F), for extended periods (several weeks) while decomposition takes place. Reactivating of the thermophylic heat generation in the composting process occurs every few weeks during the first 30-60 day period as material is moved which results in aeration. Systematically managing the compost from beginning to end generally takes about 120 days and is then stock piled for a few weeks or longer prior to use or sale.

The heat recovery system is based on construction and positioning a series of PVC pipes
in the sub-floor of a composting pad below ground level where tractors or equipment will not hit, crush or damage the pipes. Pipes are protected below the floor level by rigid grates level with the floor. Air channels are left around the pipes so hot air vapor generated by the compost pile can be pulled down, through the pipes and into a collection chamber where the steam makes contact with a series of ‘isobars’ (sealed tubes) which instantly collect and transfer the heat energy. The captured heat is then passed through another series of isobars which are immersed in a large insulated tank, heating that water.

The resulting hot water can then be used in closed loop, radiant floor heating systems or to heat hot water tanks used for washing, rinsing, etc. In new building design and construction, radiant floor tubes can be incorporated directly into concrete or aisle floors. For larger equine facilities, radiant floor tubes can be incorporated into the base layer of riding rings and arenas, providing radiant heat up and from the footing material.
For smaller horse operations, small scale systems are under development which will accommodate hot water and space heating needs for smaller areas.

Therefore, for a large enough facility incorporating a heat recovery system into their composting process can supply all of your facilities needs and generate finished compost which will be of higher quality and value. The compost can then be used on your facility or sold locally to landscapers and regional residents who recognize the benefits and merits of good organic soil material.

Financial Incentives

Incorporating composting into your farm operation now makes more sense than ever. Take a look at what your manure handling and related costs are. Also look at what you are spending annually for electricity and fuel related to hot water and space heating needs on the property. Odds are it is a significant expense. Investing in heat recovery from compost production may just be the incentive you’ve been waiting for to make some ‘green changes’ on the farm.

As well, many State and Federal programs are in place which can help offset the cost of these systems. This technology qualifies for cost sharing and tax credits in numerous states under both energy conservation and environmental protection programs. Check with your local NRCS, Cooperative Extension and USDA offices, or, contact us and we will be glad to help.

Composting Resources:

A wide array of information is available on the internet and in book form on composting technology and techniques. Please refer to these sources for direct information.

EZ STACKTM Composting Systems & WashWand
http://washwand.com/

—-
About the Author

Josh Nelson is a Master Composter and works with private and public entities consulting on methods to increase recycling efficiency globally. His work focuses on issues relating to agricultural and environmental sustainability. He is a successful inventor and has developed several products for the horse, pet and composting industry. He can be reached at : washwand [at] aol.com (remove the spaces and add @ for the [at]) EZ STACKTM Composting Systems and WashWands
http://washwand.com/
—-

Note from Joni

Going green with black gold – use that horse manure to save money and help the environment at the same time! So we just learned that horses can warm your heart both mentally and physically. I happen to love horse manure, yep, I did say love. I don’t bother with composting it. I just collect it and use it like mulch around all my plants and I do buy composted horse manure too. I do get weeds coming up in it since my two ponies are on pasture but they are easy to pull out, hoe out, or eat out. I eat many wild pants.

I find such great horse info on the Internet. Today I even found Horse Manure Cartoons

Manure in the news…

The power of … horse manure?

In Wellington, Florida, they plan to build a plant that will burn horse manure to create energy to be sold to power companies. The proposed plant would use yard waste as well as manure to generate energy. Why not? Wisconsin dairy farms are using the same technology for cow manure.

Fun Manure facts

(It is amazing all the horse manure info I found on the Internet)

Horse manure has one of least offensive manure odor of any animal droppings.

If you blow air through your manure pile it composts faster! Better and Faster Horse Manure Composting using air Create the black gold quicker with less problems.

Manure tea is great for your garden plants.

Horse manure is good for all kinds of orchids. There is a whole site on growing orchids in horse manure — Horsemanure, the Perfect Orchid Growing Medium – Promoting horse manure as an orchid growing medium. Wonder photos of Orchids in bloom are on the site too.

Noun 1. horse manure – horse excreta used as fertilizer
manure – any animal or plant material used to fertilize land especially animal excreta usually with litter material

Horse manure clue to – First Domestic Horses – Traces of ancient horse manure have been found in a remote 5,600-year-old Kazakh villagea discovery that could be the earliest known evidence of horse domestication.
- National Geographic

Horse manure is recycled grass… unlike a plastic bag, if you leave manure on the ground, it will quickly dry out and disappear with no intervention on the part of mankind. The human excrement of debris and trash never goes away and cannot recycle itself as can horse manure.
- EnviroHorse website

I even found a web page with Horse Manure Quotes. Here is one of the quotes:’Money is like manure; it’s not worth a thing unless it’s spread around encouraging young things to grow.’ – Hartford Courant

Here is a horse quote I found: “…there isn’t a surfeit of Americans who want to shovel horse shit and scrub horse’s asses all day long.” – Andrew Leonard

Mushroom growers will only use horse manure that is mixed with straw – no wood chips or sawdust.

The temperatures reached in composting horse manure are among the highest attained in manure composting. Horse manure generates so much heat when composing in large piles, that is has been known to spontaneously combust.

Hot-selling horse manure – Manure is the key ingredient in the recipe for Sweet Peet, a premiere organic garden mulch. A finance director turn manure queen, and her manure business did $144,000 in 2007! That is a lot of horse manure or like I like to call it black gold!

FACT: Horse manure on trails carries no disease of any danger to humans: no Giardia, no Cryptosporidium, no e coli, no Salmonella. Horse manure is all but 12 percent water. On a trail horse manure dries up and completely disappears in less than 12 days.

A ton of horse manure will supply the equivalent of a one-hundred pound sack of 14-5-11 fertilizer as well as providing valuable organic matter and trace elements. – Manure Management

My last but not least fun fact on horse manure:

“It can promote human health as well! In May 2003 I am 93 years old and still healthy after growing orchids in horse manure for more than 20 years. The manure may not be directly responsible for this but the enthusiasm caused by it’s ability for plant growth certainly helps!” – Nic van den Bosch
Note:Nic van den Bosch passed away on 29th November 2005 at the grand age of 95.

Where do you go for horse manure info? Try contacting your local Agriculture Extension Agent. You may want to request, Manure and Pasture Management for Recreational Horse Owners, Item BU-7540-GO.

Manure Videos

(Yes there are videos online about manure! Youtube.com gave 78 “Horse Manure” video results!)

Good manure makes good neighbors

Two Men In A Bath Of Manure

The ShakerThe latest innovation in horse stall cleaning

Manure! The joy of manure – how to get it, use it and spread it about!

How to dilute liquid manure correctly

Adding horse manure to the garden

Small Business Resource Guide CD by the IRS

The Internal Revenue Service puts out an Interactive CD-ROM for small business owners or people considering starting a business. The resource CD has the information you need to manage a business with topics ranging from starting a business to option plans for retirement. Packed with tax info about tax laws, tax forms, law changes and more. Link list to many other government agencies, associations, and organizations.

It is to your business’ benefit to gain knowledge in these areas and learn about tax law changes that could impact your small business.

Oder this free business resource today: The Small Business Resource Guide CD-ROM

On the same IRS website you can find…

Small Business/Self-Employed Virtual Small Business Tax Workshop

It is ten lessons and an introduction to help small business owners (new and existing businesses) understand and meet their tax obligations. You can these video lessons online of download them to your computer.

The ten video lessons cover:

1. Federal Taxes and your new business
2. Set up and run your business so paying taxes isn’t a hassle
3. How to file and pay your taxes using a computer, including Sole Proprietors
…including Partnerships
…including Corporations
…including Charities/Non-profits
4. Running your business out of your home
5. How to set up a retirement plan for yourself and your employees
6. What you need to know about federal taxes when hiring employees/contractors
7. How to manage payroll so you withhold the right amount from employees
Salaries paid to Indian tribal council members
Payments to ministers
Employees of non-profit organizations
Tips
8. How to make tax deposits and file your payroll taxes using a computer
9. What you need to know about Federal Unemployment Taxes (FUTA)
10. Where to go and who to ask when you need help.

OK so here are the links again to the two free tax business resources…

1. The Small Business Resource Guide CD-ROM
2. Small Business/Self-Employed Virtual Small Business Tax Workshop Online Classroom

IRS site order page: Small Business Products Online Ordering

A successful business depends on many things and one of the big ones is keeping good bookkeeping records and paying your taxes correctly. If you are like me and you HATE all this number work, please hire someone that is really good at it. But you still have to know enough to know if they are doing a good job for you are not. So order these and learn more about these important tax issues.

Youtube video: Free Accounting Software like Quickbooks from CPA

Youtube video: Strategies for Business Financial Management, Show Me How Vi by James Brandon CPA

More Video Resources:

• Susan Crosson
List of Links to Videos on Accounting Bookkeeping for businesses

Why a blog is good for your horse business

Blogging is good for your equine business, because it is an easy to use marketing tool to help you spread the news about what you do and why people should care. But you need to use this marketing tool correctly in order to received the most benefit from it.

I searched for a few videos for you to view on blogging for business…

Many horse people now seem to see the need to have their business on the web but are a bit slow on seeing the advantage of an interactive blog site over a static brochure style site. So here are a few videos on why blog for your business:

Why Blog; youtube Video: Blogs in Plain English

Business Blog vs. Normal Website

Everything You Need To Know About Blogging (in 4 Minutes or less)

A few videos on how to blog better:

Are You Still Blogging On Blogger? youtube Video

Blogging Blunders – #1: Not Having Your Own Domain Name; youtube Video

Blogging Blunders – #2: Not Having a Tightly Focused Niche; youtube Video

RSS Feeds; what’s that?

You should also learn about RSS feeds too!

Video: RSS in Plain English

Common horse Business promotion mistakes; are you making them?

Learn the bad news…

We all make business mistakes. It is to be expected and hopefully you learn from your boo-boos and improve. But the worst business blunders are the ones your aren’t even aware, because you can not correct a problem if you don’t know you have one.

Seven hidden boo-boos ready to drag your business down…

1. Forgetting to brand the whole herd!

Most businesses have items like business cards, letterheads, faxes, envelopes, receipts, and etc… But how many of these are you using to their full potential? Add a collar and make them into workhorses!

Lets take your business envelope, are you just putting your return address on them? Waste not, want not – put on your marketing cap on and do a little creative thinking – visualize them as mini billboards. Add your company logo with a promotional slogan and add your website address under that. Make people want to open that envelope – stir their curiously, give them a reason to take notice.

Start to view all your business correspondence in the same light. Post your latest promotion offering on your outgoing emails, faxes, receipts, and statements. Have a one sided business card? Print an ad or coupon on the other side. It is prime advertising space – don’t let that space go to waste.

And please don’t go another day without adding a business signature with all your contact info and latest ad to your emails. I cannot believe how many business owners don’t do this. Some don’t even sign their whole name.

Email signature setup suggestion:

Full Name
Company Name
Email Address
Website Address
Company Tagline

Company Address
Phone and Fax Numbers

——————–
List you our latest promotion ad or up coming event here
with a link to web page with more info! A thank you gift for
reading the email in the way of a free PDF e-report is also
a great idea!
——————–

Passing up Free Advertising Avenues

Come on people, your business cannot grow without promotion, you know that bad nine letter word – Marketing. You might have a new business and not much in the way of a marketing budget, which is to be expected, but don’t pass free business promotion opportunities through articles and press releases. Yea, I know, I just hit another nasty thought – Writing.

2. Skipping the promotional possibilities of Articles

You can write an article around something pertaining to your business service or product that people would like to know more about or learn how to do. For instance, if you run a horse stable you could write and article on ‘how to choose the best boarding for your horse’ or ‘horse bedding that saves you time and money’. If you train horses you could do an article on ‘horses learn by the release of pressure’ or ‘dealing with horses that spook’.

Articles can build positive word-of-mouth free advertising. If you have a website or blog you can post your articles there and seek out other Internet publications that draw your target audience – your future customers. Many Internet news sites and magazines are looking for suitable content and are happy to run your articles.

Contact the editor and pitch your article. You could even try getting your piece into the paper by sending it as a letter to the editor. Did you know that letters to the editor are always well read? Did you also know that more people now reading their news online?

And that more and more social networking and bookmarking sites are popping up all the time. Don’t have a clue what I am talking about? Then go view this video – it will wake you up and shake you up. Interactive online community sites are really hot and some are actively looking of people to post helpful articles; sites like, HubPages and Squidoo.

Learn more – Do a google search for: top social networking sites

3. Not sending out Press Releases

Are you guilty of this because you are afraid you will not do it right? Or because you think you have nothing news worthy to tell? Do you have any events planned for the year, what about contests, noted any changes in your industry for your area? Won any awards, wrote any books, added a new building, or expanded your services or product line? News, news, and more news! What are you waiting for? Use this news to gain some free publicity!

You can mail out your press releases or send them online. Don’t forget to make a page on your website where you post your press releases.

Don’t know how to write a Press Release?

I signed up for the Joan Stewart’s The Publicity Hound¬Æ Newsletter to learn more about business promotion. Horse business owners can get thousands of dollars in free publicity by following her tips, tricks and tools. Joan is a former newspaper editor, a small business owner, AND she was tapped by Entrepreneur.com as its public relations expert. Click here to read all the columns she wrote for Entrepreneur.com and check out her educational tools for business owners.

4. Not keeping in contact

Learn to keep records – oh no, more work. Yes, it is not sexy, it’s work, but can pay off in a big way. Make a note who runs your articles, press releases, and who posts what about your company on their websites and blogs.

First off, thank them! People never get tired of sincere thank yous and people seem to do it less and less, so when you thank someone you make an impression.

Next, make a note to send them more news again. They demonstrated that they are interested in your subject, that makes them more more likely to post another. If last year they ran a story about your charity horse show event then send them the info about this year’s show!

This is just plain common sense, but many people miss this, they keep looking for new people and forget about the importance of staying in touch with the connections they have already made.

People whine about not being able to afford advertising and then waste the avenues they already built by not staying in contact and resending updated info or new news. Don’t make is boo-boo – keep good records and be consistent with re-contacting (is that a word?).

5. Going it alone!

Don’t be riding off into the sunset by yourself. You don’t have to be alone in your business venture. Make friends with other business owners (doesn’t have to be in the same business) and start a MasterMind group.

When committed people get together new ideas and excitement happens. It can renew your business commitment and energy. Each person adding to the group mind – a synergy of challenging brainstorming that just doesn’t happen when you try to go it alone.

We all need support from business colleagues in an atmosphere of respect, honesty, and goodwill. Others can help you create and implement business goals.
Start a MasterMind group and participant in regular sessions – gain the power of a focused team.

Mastermind youtube videos


I found this first Mastermind video posted on this blog

Mastermind tip: short weekly meetings are more effective than longer monthly or bimonthly meetings.

GoodSearch results for: how to start a mastermind group

6. Not taking Action

I hear you, you saying, “most of these are not mysteries to me, I read about a lot of these before”. BUT are you taking ACTION! Are they in your business plan and are you working your plan?

“Trust only movement. Life happens at the level of events, not of words. Trust movement.”

- Alfred Adler

“An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied.”

- Arnold Glasow

“Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.”

- Peter Marshall

“Remember, people will judge you by your actions, not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold – but so does a hard-boiled egg.”

- Author Unknown

7. Not taking Consistent Action – repeating the effective actions

“A path cannot be made with one pass, but is guaranteed to be made with repeat passes”

- Joni Solis

“The great composer does not set to work because he is inspired, but becomes inspired because he is working. Beethoven, Wagner, Bach and Mozart settled down day after day to the job in hand with as much regularity as an accountant settles down each day to his figures. They didn’t waste time waiting for inspiration.”

- Ernest Newman

Horse Business Marketing Lessons

Selling 101 for Equestrians – How to Quickly and Safely Sell Your Horse

Covers advertising and marketing, about how to write advertisement, adding pictures, pricing, and other things to do to sell your horse, local and off line actions.

“The Law Of Attraction” For Equestrians Teleclass
Why You Get What You Get With Your Horse And In Your Life

PR for Equine Businesses Teleseminar with Sherry Busch, of RiskOutWest.com.

Horse Cents Infiltrate and Dominate Your Local Equine Market Using Pre-Equestrian Classes ‘Simple, No-Holds-Barred System For Filling Your Horse Business With New, Paying Clients – As Well As Taking Care Of Your Current Ones!’

Resource links…

Another blog posting of mine: 37 Power striding business tips on getting known, remembered, digital marketing, and presentation!

Free Press Release Tips

Social Marketing – There are NO Secrets (Video)

Free & Low Cost Advertising Tips For Freelancers, Home-Based Small Businesses (Great list of links to more articles at the bottom of this web page!)

MasterMind Manifesting Group Guidelines

MasterMind Self-Confidence Formula

Note from Joni: A few of the links on this page are to my affiliate sites. I only affiliate with sites that I feel give real value and will benefit my readers.

Now you can use your voice to work more effectively

Horse people are busy people. You have your business / job, family, and horses to deal with each day. Anything that can make your overflowing day easier is a good thing. I found that most of us can talk faster than we can type or write and it doesn’t take two hands to talk so you can be doing other things like driving a car, riding a horse, or mucking a stall while you talk. So how would you like to be able send email messages, add a posting to your blog, or capture your brilliant ideas while it is still fresh in your mind while you are working or driving? What am I talking about? Well I just discovered two websites that help you get more done faster and easier through the use of your voice.

Jott – voice-to-text transcription services

You sign up for the Jott service at their site and then you can use your cell phone to send yourself messages that are transcribed into text and made into an audio file that is emailed back to you. You can also use Jott to send emails or text messages to friends, family, or all of your horse business clients. Now you can be on the road to a horse show and still staying up with your email replies, blog postings or or send messages to Twitter.

Jott youtube video

Another video: Jott: Email, Blog, Twitter straight from a voice call

While you are on the road you can use Jott to send yourself notes on business expenses. Jott gives you the ability to automatically create Google Calendar entries / appointments by phone. You can also use Jott to add to your Toodled to-do list or make reminders. New ways to use Jott are continuing to pop up so please go check out their site for the full up to date info of what you can do with Jott.

Don’t worry about the security of the cell phone numbers Jott doesn’t give them to anybody and Jott doesn’t have an online directory.

To get the best use from Jott it is best to use a hands-free Bluetooth headset so you can keep both hands free and busy working or driving.

EVOCA – use your voice to spread news

Evoca is a web based service where you can use your phone to create, organize, share, and search voice audio recordings. You can use Evoca to add your voice to your website or blog. You can record info about your horses for sale or your product of service and post it on your website. Produce and listen to podcasts; dictate, transcribe, and translate; and more.

If you have a horse business site you can offer your your customers an easy way to record their comments, reviews, and testimonials right from your web page – it lets them call your website from any phone – landline, mobile, and Skype‚Ñ¢. Then you can post the contents you choose online with branded Flash players.

Why add audios to your business site?

Because the human voice has power and appeal! It feels more real than just reading the words on the page – it adds more authenticity to your message. Use your audios to inform and educate from your heart about your business passion. When people listen to your voice they begin to feel more familiar with you and your company. Your audios can help possible clients learn about what you and your company do or sell. They can cause others to perceive you and your company as an expert in your field.

You want your audios to help prospects believe that your company understand his or her specific issues and can solve them – become a trusted adviser. Your recored voice can cause people to start to like and trust you enough to want to work with you. The bottom line is that the sound of the human voice can help you will gain more sales.

Marketing Tip Article: Lead Nurturing – Ripening the Right Bananas

Evoca youtube video

Here is another youtube video: Evoca and Online Audio and Podcasting This is a screencast tutorial made by Julie Lindsay showing how to use Evoca to record and upload audio for online sharing and podcasting.

Here is a blog posting EVOCA – The newest technology to use your voice and spread news.

So work smarter and faster with your voice!

Even if you don’t have a cell phone (OK, I admit it, I don’t have a cell phone yet) you still can use your voice to help your business run smoother. I use a small portable digital audio recorder on my daily walks with my dogs. This way I can record my ideas when the ideas seem to be flowing well. It works so much better than carrying a pen and pad and trying to write while walking or running. I can upload my audio file to my computer later and listen while I type notes. But Jott sounds like it would be easier as it does does typing for me from the audio.

If you use these services to help your business or life please leave a comment about them below. We would love to hear your thoughts.

voice recording, recording audio, voice to text, talk to type, multi tasking

Becoming an Internet Spy is vital to the success of your horse business!

To be effective in today’s Information Age you must become great at collecting, storing, understanding, and using information. And some of the most important information to gather is info on your business competition!

Did you know that one of the best and easiest ways to discover information on your type of business is by doing Internet searches to check out your competition?

Internet Search Engines – the best way to spy

Lets say you are young Horse Sitter business that could benefit from more knowledge about this type of business. Start off by heading over to a top search engine like google.com, yahoo.com, msn.com. or one of the other top search engines. Then you put in a Keyword to search. Maybe one like, “Horse Sitter”, “Equine Sitter”, “Pet Sitter”, “Professional Pet Sitter”, “Animal Sitter” and even “How to start a pet sitting business” or “How to run a horse sitting business”.

You should also check out Amazon.com (or other Internet book sites) to see if they have any books, ebooks, and/or tapes/videos on this business type.

You can also check for e-groups at groups.yahoo.com and groups.google.com. Egroups are online and email discussion forums where you can gain opinions, advice, and resource information on practically any subject.

Have a note book and pencil ready to take notes. Also make a few new Bookmarks or Favorites folders to save web page addresses to as you search.

What to search for? Plenty! What are the important areas of your horse business? You can learn from what your business competition is already doing or not doing. Check out the top ten sites that show up for each search. These are the companies that are doing some things right or they wouldn’t be showing up in the top spots.

• Services: what kind and what are they charging for them?
• What type of info are they posting?
• What forms, if any, do they use?
• What type of sales letter copy are they using?
• What type of logo, if they have a logo?
• Do they show photos, if so, of what and of what size?
• Which web site was the easiest to use and find info on?
• What special skills and/or experience do they have? Like:(emergency veterinary tech skills and experience) (Specializing in equine care for 24 years!)
• Are they posting a guarantee? If so, what kind?
• What about insurance? What kind?
• Do they have a blog, forum, or articles on their site?
• Do they use paypal buy it buttons?
• Do they have case studies or white sheets to read?
• Which site do you find the most interesting and why?
• Which businesses would you be tempted to do business with if you needed their service or product and why?

Google Alerts – working as your spy delivering info to your mailbox

This is one of the coolest tools to keep you abreast the latest news on your business subject! You can set Google Alerts to spy on your business competition by having it send you the most up to date news posted to the web on whatever business keywords you find useful. Have daily email notices sent to you on any subject! I Love this!

Sign up for Google Alerts at: http://www.google.com/alerts Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic.

Some terrific uses of Google Alerts include:

1. monitoring a developing news story
2. keeping current on a competitor or industry
3. getting the latest on a celebrity person or horse or equestrian event

If you are running a horse boarding operation you might have Google Alerts like these:

• Horse Boarding
• Horse Law
• Horse Contacts
• Horse Business
• Horse Marketings
• Horse Care
• Horse Feed

Collect, Store, Analyze, and Learn from:

Once you start gathering all this info you need to put your mind to work on how you can make your business the best of the best — what can you improve upon? What can you do that will make you stand out from the rest, now that you have a better picture of what the rest or doing?

Make a new favorites folder and save the links to the top business sites you have found. This way you can check back from time to time and see if they make changes and if they stay in business. The ones that are there year after year and keep their web site updated are the ones you need to study more closely.

You should also make a new folder on your computer named, ‘My Competition’ where you store text and word files on info you have collected, like sample forms, ideas, notes, etc…

Now diligently and consistently collect and go over this info so you can get a better overall feel for what your competition is up to and what seems to be working or not working for them and how you can do a better job than they do.

You should also surf and check out equestrian forums. Reading them can give you great ideas about what people with horses are seeking in the way of services and what they like or don’t like about the horses businesses they are already dealing with.

When you can help someone with a question do so, and always post your business contact info and web site address at the bottom of your message.

I know if you take the time to study your Competition you will start to discover ways you can gallop to the head of the herd.

P.S. You could read this and think it is a great idea but then never take the time and effort to actually do the action it calls for. You maybe so busy working in your business that you never have the time to work ON your business. Hey, I have the same trouble too. That is why I set up recurring Appointments with Alarms in my Chaos Intellect program to help keep me on track.

Come on, you know that a lot of what you get busy with each and every day is not the most important stuff! Prioritize your life! Figure out what actions give you the best return and do them more consistently and cutout or hand over to others the time stealing stuff that doesn’t really lead you or your business forward.

I found this audio helpful to me: NEW audio: Secrets to personal success and personal growth in 2008 It talks about how your health and working on improving it can lead to improves in all areas of your life. I find this true. You can work your business well if you are always feeling sick or tired or just a bit fuzzy minded.

Happy New Year! Wishing you the best with your horse business for 2008!

Software programs to help your horse business

Free Office Software

OpenOffice

OpenOffice is a multiplatform office suite and an open-source project. OpenOffice is compatible with other major office suites and is free to download, use, and distribute. I bought Microsoft Office 2007; but if I could go back in time I would NOT buy it again. I would go with Openoffice.
Youtube video: Microsoft Office 2007 (DON’T GET – BAD) recommend OpenOffice

OpenOffice video tutorials on youtube…

• OpenOffice Tutorial
• How To Use Open Office To Create PDF-Files
• OpenOffice Tip

Google Docs

Google Docs Create documents, spreadsheets and presentations online. You can save and export your documents and spreadsheets to your own computer in DOC, XLS, CSV, ODS, ODT, PDF, RTF and HTML formats. Google Docs is great if you are working with other people on a project; like sending written lessons to your riding students or your coaching clients.
Youtube video: Google Docs in Plain English

PDF File Software

You can use OpenOffice to make PDF files from your word files or Google Docs to make and save files to PDF files. Or if you already have and use Microsoft Word and you want to make PDFs from your word documents check out PrimoPdf a Free PDF creation tool. This free software allows you to create PDF files from within virtually any program that allows you to print. Or try PrimoOnline a Free online conversion to PDF. Zamzar is another free online file conversion site. No software to download or install. Convert files to many different types of file formats – PDF and Zip are just two of many options. LOOP is a free web-based application that allows you to upload, convert and combine files to PDF even web pages. No need to install software or be working from your desktop computer. PDF files on-demand and available 24/7 through a web browser.

LOOP video tutorial on youtube: Convert Files to PDF for Free with LOOP.

Other helpful software you should consider…

Free Serif software — A collection of free Serif programs (early versions) for photo editing, documents/flyers, website creation, drawing/art, and creating 3D art/worlds.

DrawPlus, PagePlus, PhotoPlus, WebPlus and 3DPlus

Not the latest versions, but fully functional earlier versions. Also more to buy at great knock down prices. And as a registered Serif user you will are can buy their lastest software versions at a reduced price!
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/

Photo and Image Software

GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program that is free and useful for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. An alternative to Adobe PhotoShop.
Youtube video: GIMP: Free Alternative to Photoshop

Free Serif PhotoPlus

Why use image software? Brighten, sharpen, add contrast, crop, resize, and re-save your horse photos to post on your web pages, blog or for printing in your marketing ads or business brochures. I use Irfanview for most of these image adjustments. Irfanview is $12 for commercial use or free for personal nonprofit use.
Youtube video: How To Resize Photos Using IrfanView

Drawing Program

Inkscape, the free vector drawing program or graphics editor, similar to Adobe Illustrator, open source.
Youtube videos about Inkscape to give you a idea of what you can use this program for:
Inkscape-Screencast5 – Photo Popping Fun, How to Use Inkscape to Design a Logo

Free Serif DrawPlus

I use Serif DrawPlus X2. It is not free but it is inexpensive, easy to learn and use, and full featured. DrawPlus X2 is Serif’s Vista-certified vector-drawing and graphics software that puts the power of a professional design studio on your PC. It can create high impact Flash animations and you can create PDF files. I use it for my horse logo design work, creating logos, business card, letterhead, postcard, ads, and business envelope designs.

Website Creation Program

NVU – free, open source Web Authoring System to rival programs like FrontPage and Dreamweaver. Now anyone can create web pages and manage a website with no technical expertise or knowledge of HTML.
Youtube video: How to create a website with free software

Free Serif WebPlus

Presentation Software

OpenOffice makes digital presentations like PowerPoint with a full-featured presentation tool named Impress. With Impress you can create Flash (.swf) versions of your presentations.
Preezo is a website you can build free presentations, much like the kind made with PowerPoint. Create, access, reuse, collaborate, and share professional quality presentations over the web without software or plugins. You can also used Google Docs to make and share Presentations.

Audio Software

Audacity: Free Audio Editor and Recorder, open source software for recording and editing sounds.

Anti-Virus Software

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

Free Ftp Software

FileZilla, the free FTP solution
Youtube video: Free Ftp Software

Spell Checker

I use and love tinySpell which helps you check your spelling in applications that do not have a spell checker – like in a text or a drawing program or while you are filling out forms online. tinySpell has a free and a pay version. I have the pay version but used their free version for a long time before upgrading.

tinySpell 1.6 – a tiny spell checker for Windows. Checks text in the clipboard and/or on the fly, small and easy to use and sits in your system tray.

Free Video Lessons Online…

• Lesson on creating Business Cards in Microsoft Word
• How to Make a Good PowerPoint Presentation
• Camstudio Quick Lesson – Create Your Own Video Lessons with Video Capture Open Source Software – Camstudio
• Use Google Docs for business research
• Improve Sound Quality of your Videos with Audacity a Free software
• Video Narration Using Audacity
• Recording an Audio Podcast mp3 with Audacity

TOP 300 Freeware software!

Do you know of any free or inexpensive software that small business owners would find useful? Please leave a comment. Thanks!

P.S. Here is a video about the top 12 sites to find…
How To Get Free Software,Games, Music, Movies legally

Customers demand better service and are willing to pay a higher price for it.

I just read, “Satisfied Customers : What Do Customers Want? and it spills the beans about what is really important to your customers.

We all love a bargain but this article says we love good service even more and are willing to travel a little farther and pay a bit higher to get it.

So how can you make your horse business more successful – give your customers more of what they want. Most businesses have room to improve their quality of customer service.

Aim to improve…

• Attitude – remember honey beats vinegar and courteous counts! You have to mean it and live it.
• Know your stuff – do you know the facts? Keep your knowledge updated. Share your knowledge in clear communication and visuals. Case studies and videos are convincing.
• Add Value – consider the whole picture and see what you can do to make it brighter.
• Think Convenience – what makes it easier, simple, and more comfortable?
• Speed – well we all wanted it yesterday and we are all moving through the day with a long to-do-list.

“A sale is not something you pursue, it is something that happens to you while you are immersed in serving your customer.”
- Unknown

“Being on par in terms of price and quality only gets you into the game. Service wins the game.”
- Tony Alessandra

“Customer service is awareness of needs, problems, fears and aspirations.”
- Unknown

“Here is a simple but powerful rule: always give people more than what they expect to get.”
- Nelson Boswell

What are you doing to improve your business success? Marketing though improved service may help you keep more customers. Please leave a comment. Thanks!