AHR, membership and funds.
First and foremost, I am not a breeder and don't ever intend to breed. I am
a consumer. But I feel I need to support the organization that helps provide
my breed of choice for my program. So even if you have a gelding or a mare
you will never breed, they came from a breeder who is part of this (or one
of the previous) registries. By keeping the registry going, you are keeping
the breed going - without the registry, unless I'm missing something
somewhere, you can't have registered Haflingers.
Gelding should be registered for a paper trail. I have one grade Haflinger
mare - my friend has one grade Haflinger gelding. We are sure hers is pure
Haflinger - but without papers, is he? Does it matter? Yes, for age and
genetic diseases - he tested acute EPSM. I'm not sure how old my mare is -
the vet feels she's much older than we were told and that she is not a pure
Haflinger. Hmmm. I'd like to know.
As someone else posted, the Arabian, and if I'm not mistaken, the Morgan
registries now have a half-registry. Does that dilute the breed? I don't
think so. But it does offer other marketing opportunities.
Haflinger Horse Magazine - it's member written - so write an article for it.
Don't expect compensation - it's member written. Heck, I know of several
mainstream magazines that don't offer any compensation for publication. But
it does give you something for your portfolio. Personally, I would like to
see the participants of the Rose Bowl Parade write a behind the scenes
article for the magazine - in their spare time, of course, because it sounds
like they are very busy - promoting the breed!
Marketing! Yes, we - that would be everyone of us who owns a Haflinger -
should be marketing the breed. Don't confuse marketing with advertising -
two separate though closely related entities. IMO - the Rose Bowl and the
Equine Affaire and whatever else Jennifer and the group are doing in
California is marketing and promotion. They are getting their horses in
front of the eyeballs of people who probably don't own a Haflinger.
Haflinger only shows are not marketing or promotion unless you can verify
that you had more non-Haflinger people in the audience than Haflinger
people. We need to get and keep getting these horses out in front of people
in events that include other horses. But it takes a long time and a big
commitment to get the horse trained enough to go to the bigger events. (What
ever happened to Don, Team Sam, and the CDE events?) So start small and
local. We did a few schooling dressage shows last year with one horse; 2010
will have two horses and a few more riders. If we keep winning the ribbons,
don't you think some of those other riders will start to notice?
If you are not happy with AHR, then get involved and do something about it.
It may take YEARS to have an effect, but, again, here's that work again -
commitment. Don't try once or twice, then pick up your toys and go home.
Cost - always comes up. Maybe there can be a Senior discount, maybe not.
Maybe if there was a grade section it could be less than "regular"
membership - don't know. I knew a woman once who complained about the cost
of joining horse organizations - at that time I only belonged to one local
trail group and Michigan Horse Council. I asked her what she meant, since I
didn't think it was that bad. Oh well, she belonged to 20 or 30 groups! I
told her to prioritize <g>.
AHR - take notice of what the members are asking for. Without members, you
nave no organization (see first point). Having been involved in many
non-profits and volunteer based organizations over the years, I have notice
one trend. New blood comes in, old blood notices but does not take
advantage, new blood leave, old blood complains that no one wants to get
involved. At our farm, when we get a new volunteer, we put them to work even
if we don't have any work for them to do <VBG>. We make them feel important
and glad that they came. If someone offers to do something, take them up on
it. If you can't do it at that moment, do it later, or ask them to do
something else that is important at that time.
If you got this far, then I have some questions.
In relationship to other organizations, what PERCENTAGE of non-breeders
belong to the registry. It's one thing to say the AQHA or some other big
breed association has more members - if they have more horses and breeders.
Has anyone compared this - apples to apples?
Also, where's the WIIFM? If I don't breed why should I join?
Are there activities that other organizations do that AHR can do? I know the
Arabians and Morgans are big on getting people to member farms to experience
that breed of horse. AQHA has great programs for kids (ask me, I know, I use
their books all the time <g>).
Does AHR have a marketing plan? Not a business plan - but they should have
one of those as well. If so, how close are you to your goals? What are your
membership goals?
Some great leader - whose name escapes me - told his constituents not to
come to him with a problem unless they also had a solution. Smart person!
I always told my kids - you are either part of the problem or past of the
solution - pick one.
I have offered before and will offer again - because someone at one time
asked about inspections - to video tape and document what to expect in an
inspection. (I am a multimedia specialist - with video, Web design, and
Instruction Design as my specialties.) My only constraint is that I have to
do it in/around Southeast Michigan because of health issues in my household.
I can write an article or a series of articles on marketing in a down
economy - I have written several courses on this - my own riding program had
an increase of 50% riders last year - in Michigan.
Anybody else want to add what they can do to help promote this breed and the
registry?
Linda W - southeast Michigan * who needs to go back to the barn and do some
more mucking *
Pretty Pony Pastures www.prettyponypastures.org
Readin' and Ridin' - http://prettyponypastures.wordpress.com/
Find us on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/PrettyPonyPastures
"When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt." (Henry Kaiser 1882 -
1967)
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