Thanks to Carla Peacock for providing this good-news PR story from the Dal-Worth Club:
The Dal-Worth ApHC tried a new marketing approach to try to get new youth into our breed and shows. Much like the “bring your kid to work” program, we tried “bring your barn buddy to the show.” There are plenty of youth and non-pro horses that are “packers” at the shows and whose owners agreed to make available for the “guest” riders to utilize for the show.
We offered an iTunes gift card to the person bringing the barn buddy IF the barn buddy joined the ApHC. If they joined the ApHC, we gave them a free Dal Worth membership and allowed them to ride in the youth classes for $5 per class. We figured we would accomplish several things with this: the guest rider would join the ApHC (revenue for the ApHC) and they would be an additional entry in the class. Although they would not earn national points because they would not own the horse, they would count for entries and points for those youth chasing points.
The purpose of the entire deal was to get the kids that rode (either in a lesson program or in another breed) to our shows and competing in our events. We wanted them to experience the fun family atmosphere that is present at the ApHC shows (you have to admit that you won’t find a nicer group of people that the ApHC people!) and get hooked on the friendly and fun competition there. That would hopefully lead to a possible lease of an Appaloosa or even better yet the purchase of an Appaloosa!
Well, it was only one person, but this story has come full circle. There was a young girl named Brooked Dryden that was riding at the barn where Debbie Ryan keeps her horse. Debbie decided to use this program to introduce Brooke to the wonderful Appaloosa people. She arranged for Brooke to utilize her seasoned show horse, JB Fine N Dandy at the Dal Worth Spring Spectacular held in April in Glen Rose, Texas. Brooke joined the ApHC and we gave her a free Dal Worth membership. She showed in several classes for only $5 per class. Brooke had a great time and was in love with JB! Almost as if it was perfectly choreographed, Brooke leased JB and actually went to the Nationals! She had so much fun and was making so many new friends that her family bought her their own Appaloosa while they were in Tulsa!
It was only one new youth member, but it led to a purchase of an Appaloosa and what will hopefully be a long time relationship with our breed. If every club could generate just one new youth per year, think about how many new youth that would bring into our industry! The Dal Worth club liked the response so much that we are going to continue to offer the incentives and run the promotion in the hope of introducing more new youth to our wonderful Appaloosa every year!
The Appaloosa Horse Club wants to be the club that cares! We are hosting Get Your Pink On, a Susan G. Komen Passionately Pink event, at the National Show on the evening of July 14. We will be taking donations at the door and in exchange for a donation the donor will receive a raffle ticket for some great prizes. And if you show up wearing pink we will give you 2 raffle tickets!
If you are unable to attend but would like to make a donation in our Team Name, please click on the Team URL http :// www.info-komen.org/goto/Appaloosas Our team id is 10354923. Please include this important number on all your donation forms.
“Your horse is a mirror to your soul, and sometimes you may not like what you see. Sometimes, you will.” So says Buck Brannaman, a true American cowboy and sage on horseback who travels the country for nine grueling months a year helping horses with people problems. BUCK, a richly textured and visually stunning film, follows Brannaman from his abusive childhood to his phenomenally successful approach to horses. A real-life “horse whisperer,” he eschews the violence of his upbringing and teaches people to communicate with their horses through leadership and sensitivity, not punishment. In this film, the animal-human relationship becomes a metaphor for facing the daily challenges of life. A truly American story about an unsung hero, BUCK is about an ordinary man who has made an extraordinary life despite tremendous odds. Opens nationwide today – June 24th. Watch the trailer at www.buckthefilm.com.
Oklahoma horse owners should take great relief that the EHV-1 outbreak has been contained. The entire horse industry should be commended for cooperative response in alleviating the disease threat. Due in part to the good communication between horse owners, facility and show managers, veterinarians and state health officials people were made aware of the situation and facilities were appropriately quarantined if necessary. One premise in Oklahoma is under quarantine from a confirmed EHV-1 positive horse that attended the Utah event. The horse is now normal and all remaining horses on the premise are healthy. No horses from this premise have attended an event in Oklahoma during the past few weeks and movement will be restricted until the situation is completely resolved.
Since the initial outbreak of EHV-1 at the National Cutting Horse Association’s Western Nationals Show in Ogden, UT from April 29- May 8, 2011, the disease has been contained to the greatest extent possible. The numbers available indicate that the spread of the virus has been contained. During the first week there were 86 suspect/confirmed new cases, the second week showed 62 suspect/confirmed new cases, the third week showed 10 suspect/confirmed new cases and the fourth week after the occurrence showed 0 new cases.
Horse owners should still be cognizant of the situation but also be aware of the facts regarding the virus. The EHV outbreak has only affected horses attending two events and horses directly exposed to that group upon returning home. The two events are the NCHA Western National Championship in Utah and the Kern County Cutting Horse Event in California. Affected and exposed horses in all states are under state quarantine or movement restrictions.
Acting State Veterinarian, Dr. Michael Herrin recommends horse owners and event managers remain at a heightened level of awareness, consider the current facts of the situation, and make an informed decision based upon actual risk. Events in Oklahoma that host horses of an unrelated type have no increased risk of disease exposure now than before this incident began. There have been no changes in import regulations and no recommended event cancellations issued by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (ODAFF).
The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry encourages horse owners to implement and practice proper preventative measures. ODAFF also encourages horse owners to consult their local veterinarian for review and advice on an appropriate vaccination schedules for EHV.
Regional Clubs and their relationship with the ApHC are on the list of strategy priorities. Assuming there’s no additional money to invest in “incentives,” what two or three things would be mutually beneficial to the partnership? Hint: Communication, workshops, approved classes, rules, schedules, online services, joint dues, deadlines, awards, co-sponsorships, territory shows, etc.
As part of the strategy discussion leading to the development of a more focused business plan for the ApHC, we need your help and your insights. More than personal preference or personal opinion, we need your best understanding of what’s going on in the equine industry generally, and within our breed in particular.
Today’s question(s): How do we address the needs of the “entry-level” horse person? How do we attract them and how do we keep them excited about owning an Appaloosa? As the movie actor might ask the director: what’s my motivation?
Seems to be a wide range of information – and speculation – about the Equine Herpes Virus situation. It’s always a good idea to consider the collective wisdom of the professionals who probably have a better handle on the facts.
We’ve noticed the addition of several resources and links on the American Association of Equine Practitioners Web site, www.aaep.org. The “frequently asked questions” page and guidelines for horse owners might be especially helpful. There are also state-by-state reports and info from USDA as well as Cal-Davis and others.
The following Appaloosa Year Books can now be purchased online:
2010 Appaloosa Horse Club Yearbook
Yearbook will be mailed 2-5 weeks after the 64th National Appaloosa Show/2011 World Championship Appaloosa Youth Show
2009 Appaloosa Horse Club Yearbook
2008 Appaloosa Horse Club Yearbook
2007 Appaloosa Horse Club Yearbook
2006 Appaloosa Horse Club Yearbook
Limited quantity
2005 Appaloosa Horse Club Yearbook
Limited quantity
To purchase a yearbook simply click on the “Online Services” link at the top our main webpage, Click on the “Appaloosa Yearbook” link on the left hand side of the screen, then select the yearbook(s) that you would like to purchase.
ApHC members now have the ability to purchase DNA and HYPP test kits online for Registered Appaloosas and Non-appaloosas that exist within our database.
The kits that are available online are as follows:
DNA TEST KIT
HYPP TEST KIT
HYPP & DNA TEST KIT
To purchase a test kit simply click on the “Online Services” link at the top our main webpage, Click on the “DNA/HYPP TEST KIT” link on the left hand side of the screen, then select the test kit that you would like to purchase.
Users will be required to enter additional information associated with the horse for which they are purchasing the kit. Once the kit request has been processed via the work order system, staff will create the kit and send it to the appropriate recipient.
Entering the Riverside (California) Black History Parade for the first time, the Calizona Appaloosa Horse Club won the “Equestrian Sweepstakes” Award as well as Best Indian Group. The Parade was held Saturday, February 12, 2011 and eight CZ members rode to honor and promote the Appaloosa Horse with regards to its ties to the Nez Perce and other native cultures riding colored (and non colored) Appaloosas dressed in traditional heritage parade horse trappings and regalia. The parade was themed, “The Gift of Legacy” and what better than to show off the legacy of the Appaloosa!
The parade group included riders: Leslie Foxvog, Paul Foxvog, Danie Foxvog, CJ Brooks, Joe Brooks, Kristal Mead, Diane Dodd and Laura Rinard as well as two carrying the Club banner: Brian and Ashley. Other support team members included Debbie Herzman, Evon Owens and Chuck Collins. We also wowed the California State Horseman’s Association (CSHA) judge with our knowledge of the Appaloosa and detailed costumes! The Judge stated that in his past experiences, other groups could not explain their costumes or history of their horses. Calizona enjoys and takes pride in promoting the breed, and reaching out to the public to share the Appaloosa experience.
Leslie Foxvog
Might be a good time for a regional club to reach out to a local chapter and make some plans for a get-together this spring or summer:
February 19th through the 26th is National FFA Week, a week set aside to spread the word about agriculture, agricultural education and the FFA. Anna Peissig is from Colby, a small town in central Wisconsin and serves as Wisconsin State FFA Reporter this year. She first got involved in FFA when she moved to a new school as a freshman. Her cousin at the school got her into the Creed Speaking contest “and my career just kind of took-off from there.”
Now a college student majoring in elementary education, Peissig says people are constantly surprised by how much agricultural education has changed. “It’s actually a large, science-based industry because there is so much that goes into making those farms productive.” As a result, there are over 27 million careers in agriculture today and the FFA is constantly evolving to prepare members for those careers.
Today there are 523,309 FFA members in 7,487 chapters across 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Of that membership, 27% live in rural farm areas, 39% live in rural non-farm areas and 34% live in urban and suburban areas.
Source: Brownfield Network
A recent media release from the American Horse Council cites a few statistics that you need to be aware of. In outlining challenges and opportunities related to the new Congress, AHC President, Jay Hickey has this to say:
“Like most industries, the horse industry’s legislative concerns don’t break along partisan lines. The industry must work on a bi-partisan basis with Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle,” said Hickey. “The AHC and the horse industry have been working with Congress for four decades. This is a new Congress with more than 100 new members. The AHC has already called on its Congressional Cavalry to welcome both the new and returning Members of Congress and to explain the importance of the horse industry to the nation’s agricultural, economic, sporting and recreational life.”
“The horse industry has a $112 billion effect on the economy and supports 1.5 million jobs. Every state has a horse industry. Forty-five states have more than 20,000 horses. The equine community must continue to ensure that the 112th Congress recognizes that,” said Hickey.
While returning from the Idaho Horse Council annual meeting, I couldn’t resist a photo of this view along the highway above Whitebird Canyon and historic battlefield. Doesn’t have a lot to do with the meeting, but hey, it represents part of the mystique of the horse industry and our heritage.
Council members had a good discussion about topics relevant to all parts of the country…health regulations, animal identification, noxious weeds, trail preservation, ways to reinvigorate the racing segment, competition for time and dollars, abandoned horses, animal welfare, slaughter, etc. I mention all this as an excuse to encourage all ApHC members to consider joining, or at least getting acquainted with, their respective state horse councils. The “power of association” really works and our community can’t afford to let others make policies and laws without us.
We received this note from Muffie Harvey, Forestdale, Vermont:
Just wanted to share with you folks that I rode my 6 year old appaloosa mare the length of Vermont to raise money for breast cancer research and raise awareness. We left Bennington Vt on June 22 2010 and arrived in Burlington Vt on July 2 and my little spotted horse was amazing!!! It took us 71/2 days, we traveled 150 miles and so far have raised about 15k. “Molly” and I will continue to do this ride for the cure every year and she is an amazing example of the traits we look for in our spotted horses. For more press you can google me-Muffie Harvey!!
Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) announces the new ApHC International Appaloosa Directory. This directory is an innovative way to expand your Appaloosa market. The ApHC will distribute the directory at international equestrian events throughout 2010 and 2011. It will include breed information, explanation of ApHC events and programs, as well as the benefits of ApHC registration and membership translated into multiple languages.
If you are looking for a new and exciting way to market your stallion, breeding program, or services this is an excellent way to be seen. In fact, over 26% of total registrations are international, with the top three countries being Italy, Canada, and France. There will be full page color and black and white business card opportunities available for $500 and $100 respectively.
With new technology available to ship semen and import/export horses, don’t be left in the dust and miss out on an opportunity that could make your stables or farm known worldwide. The reservation deadline has been extended to August 1 and all advertising material must be in by August 20th.
Download the information sheet and reservation form here http://www.appaloosa.com/pdfs/InternationalAppaloosaDirectoryAdvertisingForm.pdf
For more information contact the Marketing Department at (208) 882-5578 ext 235 or email marketing@appaloosa.com
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