To Benefit Equine Assisted Therapeutic Riding Centers

Message from Lisa Miller…

I became interested in documenting foal births in 2010 after a friend of mine mentioned she had two pregnant Thoroughbreds. I thought it would be fun to document a foal birth through photography, and even though the idea of hanging out in a cold barn in the middle of winter didn’t thrill me, the idea of being present during these births did.

I knew very little about horses and even less about birthing a horse, but for some reason I was really excited about documenting this. So when the time came for the first birth I was there and I did exactly what I’d set out to do, photograph the birth of a foal from the moment the water breaks until the foal starts to nurse. It was an amazing site to behold! Even more amazing was that the next day, as I sorted through the hundreds of images, I found two or three incredible shots of the moment when the mare and the foal first connected. It was electric how the images jumped off the screen and hit me like a lightning bolt between the eyes! I knew I had to do something with these images…but what?

The Foal Project by Lisa Miller

A few weeks later it was time for the second mare to give birth. Once again I managed to be there to document the event. The highlight of that evening: when I had to put my camera down and give a pull on a very large baby that had trouble getting out. I can’t tell you how it felt to facilitate the birth of that foal in the photo above. Her name is I’m A Bird, and she’s a beauty! Once again, the next day I was sorting through hundreds of images and sure enough, two or three images jumped out at me. They were of the same thing: that amazing moment when the mare and the foal first connect. Wow. I was stunned! These photos were breathtaking! And so The Foal Project was born. I didn’t know for whom, or for what, I just had a name and knew The Foal Project was going to help someone! I also knew I wanted to do a gallery show and maybe a book, but one question remained: Who would benefit?

As the summer progressed and my photography studio’s wedding season moved into full swing, The Foal Project lingered in the back of my mind. Foaling season for Thoroughbreds was over, but I could not stop thinking about documenting more births. I knew if I could just get the work done, the purpose for it would follow.

I met some great people over the summer who put me in touch with other great people and I started to line up locations to photograph births during the 2011 foaling season. When I asked these same people who could benefit from the money I could raise by completing this project, I learned about Therapeutic Riding Centers.

Therapeutic Riding Centers help children with autism and other challenges, as well as veterans with issues like post- traumatic stress disorder, through horse-related activities and therapies. I’ve always been an advocate for children, but I also wanted to do something in honor of my parents, both of whom are veterans (USAF). Doing something to support Therapeutic Riding Centers seemed to be the perfect fit!

So that’s how The Foal Project was born, and this is where I stand.

It’s now mid-March 2011 and the foaling season is underway. I’ve photographed several births so far, and I hope to make it to as many as possible over the next few months.

From there, I will choose one or two images from each birth showing that beautiful, energized connection between the mare and foal. I’m hoping to have a gallery show ready by mid-summer and it’s my intention to display and sell these images to raise money for Equine Assisted Therapeutic Riding Centers. Prints will be available for purchase at the shows as well as on-line, and a photo documentary of the images in a book form will also be created. I can see this show being used for other special events, and I really hope it will grow from there!

If you:

• know of an Equine Assisted Therapeutic Riding Center that would benefit from this project,
• would be interested in having me photograph any foal births,
• know of a person or business that would like to help sponsor The Foal Project, or
• simply would like more information,

please send me by email at: studiodiluce @ gmail . com (remove spaces)

Donations for The Foal Project are welcome! Any help toward paying for gas, tolls, image printing and other related expenses will be greatly appreciated!

UPDATE: First showing of the Foal Project will be held at the ROOT FARM, rootfarm.org, a local Equine Assisted Therapeutic Riding Center in Vernon, N.Y. at their open house on May 7th. More dates to follow!

Please check out Lisa’s website at Lisa Miller, Photographer studiodiluce.com

New Round Bale Hay Net from Texas Haynet

The Texas Haynet company, maker of the first round bale hay net, recently came into existence because of a small equine rehab facility specializing in hoof rehabilitation. Little Thunder Stables, in central Texas, had to find a way to control the sugar intake of the horses under their care for founder rehabilitation and turned to the research of “slow feeding”.

Restricting access to cut grass hay by way of a grid or net resulted in slower eating and better nutrition for all horses, but is especially important to sugar sensitive equines. It is said that “necessity is the mother of invention”! Since there was no way to economically feed the animals at Little Thunder Stables other than using round bales, the Texas Haynet company was formed after 2 years of testing many different forms of netting material and designs.

Texas Haynet Round Bale Hay Net

No Waste – Slows Eating – Reduces Stress – Calms Aggressive Behavior
- Excellent for Insulin Resistant Horses
- Better for the Digestive System as it Mimics Natural Grazing

If you are not satisfied with the net, it may be returned for a full refund (less shipping) anytime in the first 90 days with proof of purchase.

Texas Haynet is a small company owned by Leslie Davis of Kingsland, Texas. Leslie has been involved with equine rehabilitation since 1997. Leslie and her husband, Joe Schedler worked for a large Texas horse rescue for several years before focusing on just hoof rehabilitation. Little Thunder Stables is committed to making sure the Texas Haynet company continues to produce quality hay nets for round bales.

Feeding cut grass hay is a challenge for all domestic horse owners and is the staple food for all equines. Researchers still do not fully understand “why” a horse masticates hay more completely when they take smaller bites rather than large bites, but it has been proven that if you feed most cut hay through a hole that is 2″ or less, the horse has better digestion. With improved digestion, nutrients are fully extracted and sugars, starches, heavy metals, toxins all are handled better by the horse’s liver more efficiently.

Economically round baled cut grass hay is the best choice when feeding multiple horses, so Texas Haynet’s design for a round hay net to fit over a large round bale of hay is truly a product born out of necessity. It certainly serves the purpose for which it was designed, but one of the best benefits of using a slow feeder hay net over a round bale has been the fact that the hay bale will now last much longer, thus saving time and money!

Square Bale Hay Net in the Works!

Another need in the market of slow feeding is an easy-to-apply net to fit over square bales of hay and Texas Haynet is currently testing their newest design for this and hopes to have it in full production before the end of the year.

You can contact Leslie at Texas Haynet http://www.txhaynet.com or at 325-388-2727

This article is a guest post from Hayley at Anything Equine (http://www.anythingequine.co.uk) who runs an online store selling equestrian clothing and equine wear.

Horse Care

As any horse lover knows, there is no better feeling than tucking your horse in to bed (so to speak) at the end of the day, knowing that they are comfortable, content and safe.  There are a few hints and handy tips that can help all horse owners do the very best by their horse.

Stick to a routine

Horses are creatures of routine, keeping them in a daily routine can be so rewarding for both of you.  The following is based upon a single horse owner and their horse being stabled at night and turned out when possible.  Despite this, the practices detailed can be followed by most,  it may just be the timings that differ.

Morning greeting

In the morning if you visit your horse daily at the same time they will become accustomed to seeing you at this time, in turn they will realize their breakfast will also be arriving at this time.  They will not only become potentially more vocal and say hello when greeting you as you arrive, but the risk of them becoming stressed by being stabled for a longer period of time will be reduced.  This helps you and your horse begin your day together on a pleasant and happy note.

After breakfast you can set about grooming and generally spending some time with your horse.  Grooming, cleaning and taking care of your horse is an important part of building and maintaining a happy relationship together.  Horses in herds in the wild spend part of their day grooming each other, essentially by doing this you are developing your friendship together.  As well as this, it also gives you the opportunity to possibly find any knocks or bruises that may have happened during the night.  Any of which can then be treated to prevent it from becoming a problem.

Once clean and their breakfast has had time to digest, you can then enjoy your daily ride.  Whether this is exercising in the school, practicing for that all important next competition or taking a leisurely hack, this is up to you.

On return from your ride, post exercise routine may vary slightly depending on what you did together.  It is essential that horses that have become sweaty and hot during their exercise be cooled off, washed off if the weather and temperature allows and a wicking rug be put on to prevent the horse from getting a chill.  If this is not the case and your horse has had time to cool off on your way back to the yard, be sure to brush off any dried on sweat and mud.

When suitably dry and comfortable you can turn your horse out into the field.  Be sure to check the water supply is fresh and readily available and all fences are safe and secure.  Once you have done this you can head back and muck out your horses stable.  Many people, knowing they will be back again in the afternoon to bring their horses in, will muck out the stable and leave it up against the sides of the stable.  This gives the stable a chance to dry out and air out over the course of the day.  This is up to you.  One small hint is not to do the horses water until you bring them in. This helps the water stay fresh and clean, rather than getting dusty and stale over the course of the day.   You can also choose whether to put your horses hay / haylage in the stable ready for later or do it when you come back.

Afternoon routine

In the afternoon on arrival to the yard you can complete your horses stable, put the bed down if applicable, fill their water, put their hay in and make up their dinner.  Then you can go and fetch your horse from the field.  Many will have enjoyed a roll, so it is important to ensure you are putting your horse to bed comfortable.  This requires you to pick out their feet, brush off any dry mud, wash off any wet mud and change from outdoor rug to indoor rug if you have decided to rug them.  Once all this has been done you can put your horse in their stable (if you have been doing this on the yard) and feed them their dinner.  Once you are sure they are settled and comfortable you can leave them to their nightly slumber.

This is a very basic, yet applicable routine that most horses will find easy to become accustomed to and happy involved in.  Of course each horse owner will know their horses and variations of this will suit their days and their horse better.

Related articles

• Feeding and Caring for Morgan and Clydesdale Horses (brighthub.com)

Equine Classified Site with More

Tradehorses.com – horse related classifieds web site!

Tradehorses.com focuses mainly on horses and stallions; featuring horse trailers, saddles, real estate and products. You can also post ads and search among job offers, job seekers resumes, services, business catalogue / directory etc.

With Tradehorses.com you can:
- Register as a Private User, Business User or a Job Seeker; Free!
- Get advanced profile features with Business User account type; Free!
- Add classified ads in 7 main categories: horses, trailers, saddles, products, properties, services and jobs; Free Photo Ads!
- Use quick search, keyword search and advanced search forms to find exactly what you are looking for; Free!
- Contact other users – receive and send messages in real time; Free!
- Save search queries and compare lists, add listings to your favorites; Free!
… and much much more.
» Find out more about features

The Impression
Tradehorses.com aims to meet the requirements and needs of a modern internet user who is aware of a small but in the same time very important fact – it’s all about the impression. We can help You make Your impressions memorable by wrapping up Your ads in style and elegance.
» Browse listings

Free Photo Ads
If You want to buy something, You may want to see it first. Especially when we are talking about internet and online classifieds sites. Nowadays taking a picture is as simple as tying a shoelace. You can do it with almost anything – cam recorder, photo camera or a mobile phone. Forget basic text ads, bring Your listing alive by adding a picture to it. Tradehorses.com offers free photo ads to make selling online even more easier for You!
» View our listing plans

Share Your ads to the world
Facebook, Twitter and Orkut are only few channels that can help You to introduce Your product or sell Your horse or property. This is very useful option and gives You opportunity to market Your own ads. Every listing has a printable data sheet version. You can use Google Translation when using print preview. Two sets of search forms – advanced and quick – lets You find exactly what You are looking for. Tradehorses.com offers You the possibility to share and promote Your ads worldwide!
» See our features list

High expectations
We hope that You enjoy Your visit and our site meets Your expectations. If You explore further You will find that Tradehorses.com can be very helpful tool when selling or buying horses online. We are confident that You’ll find our ad sections well crafted, professionally designed and logically built.
» Search horses for sale

Communicate with others
If You are planning to sell a horse, horse trailer, saddle, horse related equipment; sell or rent out real estate; find a job or a worker; list Your services or just find other horse lovers and communicate with them through forum – please visit: www.tradehorses.com for further information.
» Go to Tradehorses.com Forum

Discounts with Coupon codes
We have Coupon code system that enables discount price in certain categories when submitting Your ad. Until the end of April we offer huge discounts in every listing category – up to -70%! Tradehorses.com offers premium listing submission with lowest prices!
» Get Your coupon codes!

Try us out – register at Tradehorses.com – it is absolutely free
We are extremely glad that You are reading this text. It means that You didn’t delete our message, You really care and You want to do something differently, maybe even better than before – You aren’t afraid of changes and You are willing to try new things. This tells a lot about someone. For Tradehorses.com team it means that You are an ideal person for us to give You this invitation: PERFECT – this is basically a coupon code that You can use when submitting ads at Tradehorses.com. It will give You 100% discount on “Premium Photo Ads” – premium photo ad listing plan lets you upload up to 6 photos and add a video link.

We are always there for You if You need any information or help regarding our web site.

» Click here to Register

Sincerely,
Raivo Vaikla
Tradehorses.com team

John Medeiros, CEO and designer of the John Medeiros Collection, has long harbored a love of horses. As a young child, he had horses, and would ride them and change the horse shoes. Ever since then, John Medeiros has thought that horses are powerful beings and that the horseshoe symbolizes strength, power, luck, and success. In fact, the shape of the horse shoe naturally inspires his creative process. The anvil collection, currently in the line, uses horseshoes as does the new Laurea bracelet, not yet available in stores.

[picasa width="400" height="400" autoplay="0" showcaption="1"]http://picasaweb.google.com/horselogos/HorseInspiredJewelry[/picasa]

The Laurea bracelet is a cuff that features interchangeable ends. The bracelet comes in four different styles, one of which is the horseshoe symbolizing luck. The LAUREA bracelet was created as a combined effort between father and daughter, John and Nina. The two wanted to create a piece that would be easily customized to its wearer and the momentous event she was marking by its purchase. The LAUREA bracelet was named for the Italian word meaning graduation and new beginnings, and comes from the same root as Laurel, which is often used to commemorate achievements. This piece is perfect not only for a literal graduation, but to mark an anniversary, wedding, promotion, birthday, or any momentous occasion.

John Medeiros Jewelry is all hand made in the United States by jewelry artisans. All designs are registered, trademarked, and backed by a lifetime guarantee program. The pieces are rhodium and 14kt gold plated and use cubic zirconium, sea shell and freshwater pearls, and Austrian crystals as stones. John Medeiros Jewelry is the fine jewelry alternative–real jewelry hand crafted from non precious metals.

Business: John Medeiros Jewelry
Jewelry Collection: John Medeiros Collection
Sara Hawley – Marketing Coordinator 
Email: shawley @ johnmedeiros . com (remove spaces) 
Phone: 401.435.4114 ext 16
Fax 401.435.4664 
Website: www.johnmedeiros.com

State of California claiming herbal blends for horses are categorized as – remedies – and therefore have to be registered as – veterinary drugs – !

by Jessica of Earth Song Ranch November 2008.

I am not sure what the State Department of Ag is up to, although it is apparent the new director wants to make a name for herself! I am sure it is in conjunction with the FDA and trying to stop us being able to use as well as manufacturer products that treat – disorders – in a natural and cost effective manner.

They, the State of California Department of Ag, are now targeting any and all companies doing business in the state using any kind of herbal blend for animal use to register that blend as a – veterinary drug – at the cost of $180 per product including Earth Song Ranch products yet that is not a guarantee of being able to sell that product, they have decided to interpret their regulations in a new manner and more broadly then they ever have and have decided that herbs are – remedies – and therefore come under the class of – drug -.

So unfortunately I am in the process of registering The Herbal Wormer, and possibly a couple other products as such, as I cannot afford to register them all at this time, I am not a Uckele or an Alltech, Silver Lining Herbs, Wendell or Hilton Herbs and feel that this is one step closer to the government taking away our rights to treat ourselves and our animals with alternatives including herbs, supplements, etc. They have targeted Wendell Herbs, Hilton Herbs, Silver Lining Herbs, and many more. There are only two categories in the state – feed additive – and – remedy – to sell livestock products there is no such category as supplement, so many companies are being hit with this new TAX if you will to do business in the state including companies like Hilton Herbs who are international!

If you need anything specific for your horses, please phone me, as I do have some of the blends still, and can help you with Cushing, EPM, Joint (yes any joint product is also considered a drug! Because there is no category for supplement!), Mare-Zyme etc. The Pro-Zyme, Pro-Zyme +, Colostrum, Beta Glucan, Kelp, and all other products

The above news report was posted in Earth Song Ranch November’s Newsletter and Jessica give me permission to repost it here for you. Please visit her Earth Song Ranch website or you can contact Jessica by email at: Jessica [at] earthsongranch . com (remove spaces and replace [at] with @).

Earth Song Ranch
Horse Nutrition, Equine Per-Biotics, Pro-Biotics & Digestive Enzymes; Hoof & Joint Care Supplements, Herbal Wormer, Natural Fly Spray and Natural Equine Supplies

NOTE from Joni: Personally I have been reading and learning about natural health since I was about twelve years old and over and over again since then I have heard about the FDA and the large drug companies trying to restrict and regulate the our use of natural herbs, supplements, and vitamins.

Is the FDA totally corrupt like so much of our government? Keep your mind open and learn, but also be aware of who you learn from. Mainstream media is owned by the largest companies. Watch who is padding who’s wallets – who will the they want to protect?

Latest Youtube videos about possible poison food that the FDA is not testing or telling you about…

Deadly Candy 4 Halloween?. . . Candy Product Review 2008 of Potentially MELAMINE Tainted Treats, A SERIOUS Warning My Mike Mozart of JeepersMedia on You Tube

USA Food Supply TAINTED? . . . . .Halloween Candy? Melamine + Toxins? Mike Mozart of JeepersMedia

Melamine Poison now in USA foods? . . . Kidney Stone News Report by Mike Mozart of JeepersMedia

FDA Pharmaceutical Evil Pt.1
FDA Pharmaceutical Evil Pt.2

Fight For Your Health Part I

Genetic Foods/Monsanto Revealed 1/3

Milk The Deadly Poison WATCH THIS!!!

Art and Photographs of Horses on RedBubble.com

I just discovered RedBubble.com and all the wonderful horse art they have to view and to buy. Page after page of delightful horse pics and art. Many of which you can buy on greeting cards, tee shirts, or prints.

Equine Art and Photography Group on RedBubble.com dedicated to those on RedBubble that specialize in equine art.

Horse Wall Art at RedBubble.com

Some of my favorite horse art and horse photos…

Horse Photographs

Might and Power Artist: meerimages; Photo of a white horse leaping into the air.

The sky’s the limit Artist: Squealia; Photo of a white horse jumping clouds in the sky.

Playtime Artist: Hazel Moore; Photo of two horses at play in the spring.

Wanna Piece of Me? Artist: Gene Praag; Photo of Wild horses in Utah’s west desert.

Run For the Money Artist: Deri Dority; Horse photo – A push for time after turning the last barrel. St Paul Rodeo. Sorrel horse with woman rider – action shot.

The Storm of Passion: Collaborative Effort of Geno Praag & Sande Elkins Artist: Sande Elkins; Horse photos combined to create a dramatic image.

Horse Art

Equilibrio
En la playa
Both by Chelin Sanjuan

Thunder n surf
Evening Star
Gentle Giant
All by heartco

Lusitano
By BarbBarcikKeith Horse art – 9√ó12 watercolor enhanced colored pencil.

Fuego By Melissa Mailer-Yates; Horse art – Enormous Dutch warmblood. The painting is soft pastel

Painted Horse art by LinMorin

Grey Horse in Coloured Pencil Artist: Laura Barber-Riley; Horse art of a grey horse with flying mane.

Friends Artist: Laura Barber-Riley; Horse art of a shiny bay horse and a women standing in shallow water.

Art from the Horse and Rider Group

Horse Business Tip: Let these wonderful horse photos and art inspire you to check out the photos you have of your horses and consider using some of the best ones to make some postcards to send out to your business clients to remind them about your horses, horse products or services.

Check out my past articles on Printing for Less and Color Printing Pros. Both offer great full color printing. I have been pleased by the printing I had done by both of them.

Cholla the Horse artist in Grand National Art Show and Sale April 4th April 12th

Reno, NV artist, Cholla The Horse, has been invited to participate in the prestigious annual Grand National Art Show & Sale. More than 500 pieces of western & equestrian themed art will be displayed from over a 100 Artists From Around the World (sorry, but most will be human and not equine).

Cholla the Horse artist

Youtube Video of Cholla the horse artist painting. 15,231 hits posted 7 months ago!

This show is a not-to-miss-event for the serious art collector, art gallery that is looking for artists to represent, or for the individual who wants the opportunity to see superb Western & Equestrian art. Artists from Europe, Russia, South America, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Venezuela, and all over the U.S.A. will have their work available for viewing and for purchase at the Cow Palace.

There will be a wide variety of media and styles ranging from monument sized sculptures to small pencil sketches, and prices from $90 to $110,000 at this Western/Equestrian themed art show. This will be one of the most prestigious and successful western/equestrian themed art show and sales anywhere.

Artists participate in this show on an “Invitation Only” basis. Each artist, and each piece of artwork being submitted, has been specifically selected to offer you an unparalleled selection of Western & Equestrian art. This show has been a great success for 8 years and this 9th year looks to be the most exciting, largest, and best ever.

Summery:

Show Event dates: April 4th trough April 12th

Location: Cow Palace, San Francisco (Daly City), California

Description of event: Grand National Art Show and Sale. This is a world-class international art show. Renown esteemed artists from all over the world, from our neighbors in Canada, and from throughout the U.S.A. will be sending in equestrian and Western themed original pieces for display in our large gallery setting.

Discounted Hotel Suite Accommodations Available. For additional information, contact the Cow Palace in Daly City (San Francisco), U.S.A., at cowpalace.com, Phone: 415-404-4100

Show Coordinator Deena Barton, deenabarton (at) yahoo . com (remove spaces and add @) Phone: 951-675-2944

Renee Chambers (Cholla’s Humane), Renee (at) ArtistisaHorse . com (remove spaces and add @) Phone: 951-675-2944, Nevada, USA 775-544-8106, www.ArtistisaHorse.com

What’s Stacy’s success factors that has made her the bareback / bridleless reining Queen?

Stacy Westfall, the champion reiner, is in equestrian news, on TV, and people are searching for her on the web. I attribute her equestrian success to her goal magnifying actions, a few of which I will expose here so you can follow her lead and ride your equestrian dreams to greater heights.

But first a little introduction on Stacy and reining…

Stacy’s Accomplishments

In 2003 Stacy Westfall won the National Reining Horse Association Freestyle reining competition riding with with no bridle, not even a neck rope. For two years Stacy was undefeated in major freestyle reining competitions and in 2006 she won twice while riding bareback and bridleless.

Stacy Westfall, the first women contestant, competed and won the 2006 Road to the Horse Colt Starting Challenge and the sold out crowd loved her. The 2006 Road to the Horse DVD with Stacy is now completely sold out! Many horse people feel Stacy’s relationship with her horse is inspiring, beautiful, and total amazing.

Reining

Reining developed from the moves a ranch horse had to perform as part its regular cow horse duties. The American Quarter Horse dominates the reining field, but any horse can be trained to rein. Reining is is one of the world’s fastest growing horse sports and is growing in popularity around the world becoming a rising star in the horse industry.

A winning reining horse must be trained to a very high degree in its controlled movements. It has to go forward, stop, turn, spin, and back all to soft cues given by its rider. Only obedient, supple, and relaxed horses make it to the top. Reining is a partnership effort between an well trained horse and rider. The rider must be able to guide the horse and control his every maneuver from spins, sliding stops, to cantering. Reining is not the easiest horse discipline to train a horse well for.

Freestyle Reining

Freestyle reining is similar to freestyle dressage in that the riders are allowed to create their own patterns with some required movements, and choreograph them to music in a way that entertains and show off the horse and rider’s skills. Some freestyle reining competitions also allow the riders to ride bareback (without a saddle), or without a bridle, which increases the difficulty.

Stacy is the first women to win in the freestyle reining competition at Quarter Horse Congress. She is a NRHA champion freestyle reiner and 2006 Road to the Horse Champion that trains her own horses.

Horse Training

Stacy Westfall uses natural horse training methods she learned on her own and through other horse trainers to start her young horses. She and her training partner, husband Jesses own and operate the Westfall Training Center. She is also a mother of three young boys which makes her equestrian accomplishments even more astounding.

Horse Back Riding

Stacy started riding ‘Misty’, a Shetland Pony that was trained to rear on command. She trained her first colt at the age of fourteen. Like most horse crazy girls while growing up she rode any horse she could get her hands on.

Read more about about reining champion Stacy Westfall on her website www.westfallhorsemanship.

Stacy Westfall’s Blueprint to Success

Now on to Stacy’s Success Secrets and what you can learn as an equestrian and horse business owner to improve your chances of success.

Stacy has consistently taken actions that have lead her closer and closer to her goals. There did you catch the first success secret? ACTION! The repetition of the right actions is the golden key, knowing exactly what you want, planing the steps, then taking action on those steps time and time again. The power is in taking consistent action!

Since this blog is specially for horse business owners I will talk here about the actions Stacy has taken to build her equine business. If you want to learn her horse riding and horse training secrets then visit her site and buy her horse training DVDs and check her event calendar.

Equestrian Business Marketing Strategies

I discovered these marketing strategies Stacy is employing…

• Professional Help

She has a beautifully made and easy to use website that’s obviously professionally designed. People like to buy products and services from companies that look successful and professional.

You can not be expected to know everything so hire experts in areas where it really matters – like your business website creation and marketing. This is one of your best business investments. Your site has to do more than just look good, people have to be able to find what they are looking for fast and easy on it too – good usability!

I see too many horse businesses with websites that look like their child made it, and there is no excuse for this when you can have a professional looking website up in minutes with a free blog at WordPress or Blogger. But I do recommend that you go with WordPress on your own domain site. What first impression does your website say about your equine business?

• Quality products

Stacy sells Horse Training DVDs, Pocket Reference Cards, Rope halters, and Horse Lead Ropes on her site. If you have a horse boarding business you can sell some horse health and care products to your clients. You business’ long-term success involves selling quality products or services that meet the needs and desires of your customers. Don’t sell anything you would not be willing to purchase and use.

• Events Calendar

Her events page is more stuffed than a Clydesdale’s hay net! What a schedule! Dates, locations, and links to event websites. Do you put on any events? If not, why not, consider a few events that you can hold and then post them on your site. You don’t have to do it alone, you can join forces with other horse businesses or a charity to put on an event and make sure to get a few commercial sponsors.

• Media Gallery

You can find links to photos, videos, and article files on this page. But strangely missing is a link to her Press Release page where she should have posted the stories about her that have been published in the past and new press releases for current use. Maybe the press releases are posted on another page of her site that I missed. But don’t you miss adding Press Releases to your horse business site.

Don’t know how to write a Press Release?

I signed up for the Joan Stewart’s The Publicity Hound® 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.

Short videos posted on your site and other video sites like YouTube can also help your business in multiple ways acting as sales brochures, and customer educational tools. The Road to the Horse website http://www.roadtothehorse.com does have a nice Media page http://www.roadtothehorse.com/media.shtml you can check out. They have past news articles posted and articles and hi-res photos and the Road to the Horse logo images for print use. This is another nicely designed website you can lasso web design ideas from.

Learn about what videos can do for your business. Hey it is 2008 and more and more people are watching videos online on a daily basis, so start making and posting videos for your business! One of Stacy’s reining videos has received more than 100,000 views!

• Newsletter

News from Westfall Horsemanship http://www.westfallhorsemanship.com/index.php?page=newsletter

Too many horse business really miss show ribbon on this marketing strategy. It is so important to collect the names and email addresses of your site visitors and have a way to stay in contact with them. Most people will not buy from you on the first contact – in fact it takes many contacts before most people make a purchasing decision.

• Members Only Content (Build a community)

You can sign up for, “The Herd” her members site for training tips and a weekly contests where you can win some of her Westfall products. Master mind and come up with your own membership site.

• FAQ Page

On Stacy’s site you will find a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ page where you can find the answers to common questions on company location, horse training by Stacy, her products, clinics, apprenticeship course, and about her horse Roxy. In fact that page goes on and on stuffed full with more interesting info about Stacy, her company, and her products.

Not enough business sites add a FAQ page and it can be so helpful to your site visitors and help you gain more sales. Study Stacy’s FAQ page and start designing your own. It will save you time in the long run. One reason people search the Internet is because they are looking to research products. Give them the info they are looking for.

• Valuable Content

Content comes in many different forms from articles, videos, photos, case studies, press releases, FAQ page, product reviews, testimonials, to resource information and links. Keep value in mind when adding these.

• Contact Page

A contact form also helps stop you from receiving so much email SPAM when you post your email online. Full contact info and a contact page help build trust and confidence in your business.

• Belief

Last but not least, she believes in herself and is willing to take chances. You can see this by the actions she has taken. Stacy wouldn’t have attempted any of the actions that has helped her become a success if she didn’t believe that the chance of success was possible in the first place. But guess what, taking the right action steps helps you strengthen your belief as you build on one tiny success after another.

Summary

Success came to Stacy because she believed in her goal, made a plan and worked her plan. Taking consistent action is the key! She hired professional people when she needed help in areas beyond her expertise. Her website is well designed and has many of the items that helps build a business.

Are you ready to follow her lead? Study her site and work on yours. Get educated in marketing and design your own marketing plan. Then take action!

Another article on Stacy: Stacy Westfall First Woman Competitor at Road to the Horse

Stacey Westfall Bridleless Bareback Reining YouTube Video:

Stacy Westfall YouTube Video Search results – 65 Videos Listed!

You should also read my past post: Seven marketing boo-boos costing you business

P.S. Visit Stacy’s website to study it and take notes, then let me know what you plan to take from it to better your horse site. Please leave a comment below.

Resources for Business Building:

Free Press Release Tips
Strategies for Getting Media Coverage
Selling 101 for Equestrians – How to Quickly and Safely Sell Your Horse
The SEO Success Pyramid

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.

Free Audio Replay: Equine Problem Solving

If you missed this free equine teleseminar call, Equine Problem Solving, when it was live on March 2, 2008 you have about 30 days to listen to the replay audio file.

If you’d like to re-listen or for those of you who couldn’t make it, you can go to:

Free Call Replay: Equine Problem Solving.

Both the telephone number and access code to call back, as well as the audio file are on the page. You can simply phone in or click and listen right on your computer!

The Equine Problem Solving call covered so much great horse info…

• A horse’s brain: how it works
• What we humans do that make equine problems worst
• Horse’s Primary Instinct
• Important clue you should teach your horse
• and more…

If you couldn’t make it to this last call I hope you’ll be able to join us on March 9, 2008 at 8 pm Eastern Time to discuss: No Hoof – No Horse: Basic Hoofcare

Please check my past blog post: Free Horse Courses to learn more and check out the other scheduled informational calls specially for equestrians.

Gwenyth Santagate who is putting on these equine calls would love to receive feedback on the fist free info call. Did you learn anything new? Was it easy and comfortable to listen to the seminar? Is there anything you could suggest to make things even better? Was the handout easy to follow and was it helpful to you? Questions? Comments? All invited.

Feel free to email Gwenyth Santagate at caballus (at) charter . net (remove spaces and replace (at) with @) with the Subject Header reading: Call feedback on Equine Problem Solving.

If you would like to learn more about solving problems with your horse or even just how to clarify your communications or deepen your partnership with your horse be sure to check out our PENZANCE PROGRESSIVE EQUINE PARTNERSHIP TRAINING (PPT101) course.

This class will be held for 10 weeks; “live” online in a chat/classroom once a week; all materials for assignments and studying are inclusively ONLINE and there for your easy access at any time, night or day. You get PERSONAL support via email or telephone when you need it.

Spring class begins April 10th at 8 pm Eastern time. But, register soon before the class fills up!

For less than it costs to buy a cup of coffee every day you can get expert instruction that is guaranteed to positively influence your relationship with your horse:

• Better Communications
• Improved Performance
• Greater Harmony
• And Partnership…

Please seriously consider enrolling in this class. It is the ONLY class like this anywhere! Online or even off-line.

PENZANCE PROGRESSIVE EQUINE PARTNERSHIP TRAINING (PPT101) course

Where can you get expert advice, personal support and excellent equine educational instruction for just $12.50 a WEEK???

Horse Courses CHECK IT OUT TODAY!!!

PENZANCE Equine Solutions