2015 Time to Ride Challenge Under Way
GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND HELP YOUR INDUSTRY Please share this notice
with others. If you are a horse organization
or club, please share this with your members! The American Horse Council's Time to Ride Challenge has returned for
2015. Now is the time to sign-up to
compete for $100,000 in cash and prizes. The Time to Ride Challenge
returns in 2015 as a grassroots campaign to grow the horse industry by
introducing new enthusiasts to horse activities. The Challenge will take place from
May 30 to September 30, 2015, but now through May 26 is the time to
sign-up. This is a unique opportunity
for horse professionals to grow their business while competing for $100,000 in
cash and prizes. In 2014, its inaugural
year, the Challenge provided more than 25,000 people with first-time horse
experiences through 702 beginner-friendly Time to Ride Hosts in 49 states. This year's Challenge promises to be even bigger
and better. Registration for the Challenge
began March 1 at www.timetoridechallenge.com
and is open to anyone in the horse community, including stables, horse clubs,
veterinarians, feed stores, horse shows, race tracks, horse fairs, equine
centers, equine businesses, organizations, and other "hosts" dedicated to
welcoming newcomers to horse activities. Hosts will be organized into small,
medium, and large divisions and are encouraged to be creative in providing fun,
safe, and educational horse events that encourage newcomers to become further
involved in riding and horse activities. The Hosts that provide an introductory
horse experience to the greatest number of newcomers will win prizes of up to
$10,000. Even if you don't win, you will
have gained new clients and friends, new connections in your community, new
ideas, and tools you can use to grow your business. Last year, Hosts offered a
variety of fun, beginner-friendly horse experiences, including riding, meeting
and petting a horse, grooming, and educational activities. Veterinary practices can host tours and
health events at their clinics or with local stables. Clubs can do riding demonstrations. Feed and tack shops can have horses or ponies
visit for a "meet and greet." Facilities
can also work together or with another horse business, if it wants to
participate but lacks the space, facilities, or horses. Creativity is the way to win. In 2014, 81% of the families who
attended a Challenge event were at some point in the process of researching and
beginning horse activities. This
provides a prime opportunity for stables to offer a great first experience to
interested people. 68% of participating Hosts
saw an immediate, positive impact on their business in the form of new contacts
and clients. 94% felt their outreach
efforts were well-worth the time and effort.
And some won cash and other prizes to boot!!! Industry studies show that
current horse owners are an aging population and that moms with children hold
the greatest potential for campaigns like the Time to Ride Challenge. Last year, many of the stables held events to
introduce children to horses and to offer parents information on how to get
their families involved in riding. A
post-Challenge survey found that 92% of the 25,281 newcomers who attended a
Time to Ride event said they wanted to participate in more horse activities. New features for the 2015 Challenge
include more cash prizes, with grand prize winners in each division receiving
$10,000, and cash awards given through tenth place in each division. The
Challenge also features a completely redesigned user-friendly website. Participating Hosts will receive free
marketing resources, including a toolkit, guide for event ideas, customizable
ads and posters, media templates, and more. Registration for the Time to
Ride Challenge will be open until May 26, 2015.
So don't delay. To learn more
about the 2015 Challenge and sign up to participate, please visit www.timetoridechallenge.com, or email
info@timetoride.com, or call
512-591-7811. The American Horse Council's
Marketing Alliance
Time to
Ride is an initiative of the American Horse Council's Marketing Alliance,
formed to connect people with horses. It is designed to encourage horse-interested
consumers to taste and enjoy the benefits of horse activities. The AHC
marketing alliance is made up of the following organizations: the American
Association of Equine Practitioners, Active Interest Media, the American
Quarter Horse Association, Dover Saddlery, Farnam, Merck, Merial, Purina Animal
Nutrition LLC, Platinum Performance, SmartPak, United States Equestrian
Federation, and Zoetis. Program Partners are Absorbine, the American Paint
Horse Association, Morris Media Network Equine Group, the National Cutting
Horse Association, the National Reining Horse Association, Rood and Riddle
Equine Hospital, and Texas A&M University Equine Initiative.
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