Classic Eventing Nation

How to Keep Your Equestrian Business Growing in a Standstill, from Athletux

By on Apr 17, 2020 3:33 pm -

Finding ways to keep your business’ revenue coming in may seem difficult right now, but there are lots of ways to keep growing! Check out a few tips and ideas to keep your revenue coming in as your business slows down due to Covid-19.

  • Promote your items/services you are able to sell online
    • Advertising now will be more important than ever. Many clients are going to utilizing the internet for much of their shopping, and it’s essential to place yourself in a position to be their outlet.
    • List items for sale to encourage current clients to return and create deals or offers for new clients so you are still drawing in new clients.
    • Consider offering lesson and training packages people can purchase now and use later.
  • Release videos
    • Although you may not be able to see your clients as you normally may have, there are still ways to reach out to them and to draw in new clients. Releasing videos that allow clients to continue learning and interacting with you is a great way to do this.
    • Encourage riders to sign up for a week, month, or multiple months to receive videos to further themselves and their horses. Ideas of these videos could be things such as riding tips, training tips, etc.
  • Offer Video Evaluations
    • If you are no longer able to offer lessons, an opportunity to continue those would be through video evaluations. Allow new or old clients to send you videos of them riding and after critiquing return comments to the client. This would be a great way to keep current customers and encourage new ones.
  • Ensure to maintain contact with current clients so they return after
    • Some clients will not be in a position to return to your business until things have passed. This is an important time to keep in touch with your clients so you can ensure they will return when they can.
      • An idea to continue contact points with your clients is through a weekly newsletter that allows them to keep in touch with you, and you with them. This could include updates on your business, tips for them to stay healthy, etc.
      • Stand out to them just by telling them that you are there for them. You do not necessarily need to ask for their business at this time, as just knowing you are there for them means much more.
  • Look into and take advantage of government aid if you need it.
    • The government is currently issuing small business grants for 10k and in many cases you do not have to pay them back. Consider applying here- https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/.

Equestrian Marketing Firm Athletux has recently restructured its business model to focus on three main areas: equestrian brands, athletes and events. This is a particularly exciting development for brands, who will benefit from Athletux’s wealth of industry insight to help build their image, maximize use of social media platforms and email marketing campaigns, manage sponsored riders, assist with graphic design and more. Learn more by visiting the just-launched new Athletux website here.

#EventerProblems Vol. 223, Presented by Haygain: Snooze Fest

By on Apr 17, 2020 11:00 am -

Some kind of wicked juju forces will probably strike me down for this week’s headline, but with no events in site, it can’t help but feel like a snooze fest right now. Spice things up with the latest batch of #Eventer Problems. And keep the submissions coming by sharing your photos with the tag.

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💓 💓 💓 Love love love this girl! She is so beautiful. Currently being pushed around by Foxy and pushing around Chevvy! She is dreaming of the days when she is a broken in and an experienced event horse 🤣🤣 • • 🙋🏽‍♀️ Hands up if your horse has big aspirations!!!! • • #futureeventhorse #eventhorse #eventinghorse #warmblood #warmbloodsofinstagram #eventersofinstagram #eventingrider #eventer #chestnutmare #eventinghorse #horsetraining #jedsequine #horsesofinstagram #eventingcoach #eventingnation #britisheventing #eventingponies #eventinglife #eventingpony #eventinglive #eventingireland #eventingprospect #futureeventhorse #eventersdoitbetter #eventerinthemaking #eventerproblems #eventersolutions #eventerlife #eventingaustralia #eventingteam #eventingofinstagram #eventingponies #eventingqld

A post shared by JEDS Equine (@jedsequine) on

Haygain is a science driven company with the horse’s health as the primary focus.

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Our Haygain hay steamers are recommended by the world’s leading riders, trainers and equine vets and ComfortStall® Sealed Orthopedic Flooring System is used and recommended by leading Veterinary Hospitals, including Cornell University.

Challenge: Donate a Would-Have-Been Entry Fee to the Frangible Fence Fund

By on Apr 17, 2020 9:00 am -

Fundraising for frangible fence implementation in the U.S. took a massive step forward this week. Between the USEA Foundation’s Frangible Fence Research initiative and a GoFundMe effort, eventing supporters have raised a little over $100,000. Now, the Manton Foundation has agreed to do matching funds for what you have raised up to $250,000. A $500,000 fundraising goal suddenly seems well within reach — especially if we all band together to get there. EN’s good friend and three-star eventer Michael Willham has a brilliant idea about how to achieve that goal. 

Photo courtesy of ERA International.

So I’ve been thinking… (I know, that’s scary!)

We’ve all been negatively affected by this point with cancellations to competitions we were planning on going to. What if we had a way of turning that negative into a positive?

Eventing and the frangible fence fund have taken a back seat to everything that is going on right now, mostly for good reason, as we have bigger priorities to take care of.

However, that doesn’t mean that we can just forget about it.

So here’s my challenge to all of you:

For those of us in a situation where we are still working and/or those who are fortunate enough to not have to worry about finances in this current day and age of the economy, but are missing out on your competitions because they’re canceled, how about we donate at least one of our competition entry fees to the frangible fence fund?

We’re saving the money since we’re not entering in the competition, why not put that money to good use and promote the future of the sport? You were planning on using it for eventing anyway — this is just a slightly different path that you’d be taking.

By now, I think almost every eventer will have at least 1 competition they’ve missed out on. I know I will have missed a minimum of thre right now, but I’m assuming everything in May will most likely be canceled too, so that’ll be the fourth competition I will miss.

I know some of them are rescheduling, but let’s face it, we’re just not going to go to the same number of competitions this year as any of us had originally planned. We eventers are super careful of our horses, and we aren’t going to run them twice as often just because we missed the first part of show season.

So think of it. If all of us (again, only if you’re not facing hardship because of the quarantines and whatnot) took that money and donated it to the frangible fund, we’d hit our first $500k target easily!

Say an average of 300 entries at a competition, with perhaps an average total entry/stabling fee of $350 (this is probably super conservative, because it isn’t accounting for FEI price premiums, and also doesn’t include any of the gas, hotel, food, etc that any of us would be spending).

If just the people from ONE canceled competition all donated just their entry fees to the frangible fund, that would be $105,000! Over 1/5th of the way to the first goal.

Now just imagine if we took even just one month’s worth of events and did this. I don’t even know how many that is, but if it’s even 10 competitions, we would double our goal and not only be able to outfit tables with frangible tech, but also begin on all of the other jumps.

I have sent in my donation, and I challenge all of you to do the same.

Professional riders, please consider proposing this to your owners. Amateur riders, if you aren’t financially being affected by the virus, please consider this too.

Let’s turn this negative into a positive for the sport.

How to Donate

Donations to the USEA Foundation are fully tax-deductible. Donate today by going to https://useafoundation.org/donate and selecting “Frangible Technology Fund” from the dropdown menu.

Friday News & Notes from World Equestrian Brands

By on Apr 17, 2020 12:03 am -

Dramatic spring in VA. Photo by Sarah McGovern.

My thoroughbred has an unerring ability to get a stupid injury on the few days surrounding his birthday every single year, and sure enough, his birthday is in two days, so he’s got me a lovely abscess this year! Last two years they were scalp lacerations though, so I suppose this is progress. And at least he’s not missing a competition because of it! He can take his sweet time with this abscess, and keep his shoe off for a week if he pleases.

National Holiday: National Bat Appreciation Day

News From Around the Globe:

Ah, Shetland ponies. Both a gift from God and a curse from the Devil all wrapped up in one extremely hairy, tiny little mischievous package. I myself started on a Shetland at the ripe age of 3, and she was everything a tiny tot could have dreamed of, and also quite skilled at dumping me. Here are some ridiculously adorable fancy show Shetlands that rocked the competitive world last year. [7 Charismatic and Cute Shetland Ponies]

With the 2020 World Cup Show Jumping Finals canceled, we’re taking at trip down memory lane with some fantastic previous winners. Even the eventing folk surely remember Shutterfly, who won in 2005 with Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, despite only jumping two cross rails in warmup and then becoming unraveled due to the close proximity of other horses and unable to continue. Notoriously delicate in the mind, but brilliant in the ring, Shutterfly was Meredith’s horse of a lifetime. [Shutterfly The Brilliant Spook]

Considering a career change within the horse industry? You don’t have to be a groom or a rider to have a lifelong career in horses, as there are many other essential jobs that require just as much expertise. From broodmare manager to bloodstock agent, there are lots of ways you can fit into the equestrian world from the ground. [5 Equestrian Jobs You Might Like]

Featured Video: Brentina, Debbie, and Aretha …what more could you ask for?

Event Cancellations: Seneca Valley PC, Riga Meadow CT, Apple Knoll Farm

By on Apr 16, 2020 9:26 pm -

The following events have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

May 10: Riga Meadow at Coole Park Combined Test – Canceled

May 10: Apple Knoll Farm Horse Trials – Canceled 

June 12-14: Seneca Valley Pony Club Spring Horse Trials – Canceled

“After extensive consideration of our options, the management and organizers of Seneca Valley Pony Club Horse Trials are sad to announce that, because of COVID-19, the Spring Horse Trials scheduled for June 12-14, 2020, will be canceled. This was a very hard decision to make. We are not requesting a rescheduled date, but will instead put all of our efforts into preparing for our September event.

“Once the stay-at-home orders are lifted, we are hoping to open Bittersweet Field for cross-country schooling (following any government guidance limiting the number of people at gatherings) twice a week through June and July; details regarding this plans will be posted on our website (senecavalleyponyclub.org) and our Facebook page.”

You can view a complete list of canceled USEA events here.

Go Eventing (someday!)

Thursday Video from FLAIR: Learn How to Braid with Horse & Hound Groom of the Year Amy Phillips

By on Apr 16, 2020 6:30 pm -

Supergroom Sunday – Episode 1

✨🐴✨#SUPERGROOMSUNDAY – PERFECT PLAITS COMPETITION!✨🐴✨

When I posted about our Team plaiting/bandaging/etc training last week a few people requested some masterclass videos to give everyone something to work on whilst they're stuck at home. Because we aim to please(!) I'll be posting a series of videos with my very own supergroom, Amy Phillips, the reigning Horse & Hound Groom of the Year and the best in the business.🤩🏆💪

This first video covers plaiting and all the kit you need for the perfect plaits with both thread and bands. I'd love to see some of your own efforts so do post them in the photos below and I will offer a small prize for the best plaits. No excuses now – practice makes perfect!🦄💃👌

Going forward, the #supergroomsunday videos will be posted every Sunday to give you all a new skill to learn or an old one to perfect in the week ahead. This video is a day late because the internet was too slow to upload it yesterday evening! Anyway, we hope you find them useful and that it can help people get something positive from our time in lockdown. If there's any skill you'd particularly like to learn do post it in the comments below.🤔✅⬇️

Dodson & Horrell Devoucoux Lincoln Horse Care Protexin Equine Premium Animalife Vetro Collection – Feel The Difference TruckEast Ltd. Parlanti Roma British Eventing Official Equestrian Team GBR The Pony Club

Posted by Piggy March on Monday, March 30, 2020

There’s no better time to put some polish on the skills we all neglect from time to time. After much popular demand, Piggy March (neé French) and her super groom, also known as the Horse & Hound Groom of the Year, Amy Phillips put together a new masterclass all about plaiting (braiding, as we term it here in the U.S.).

Look for more of these great videos to come from the March team. These resources are wonderful ways to help fill up the newly acquired (and very strange) gaps in our schedule — keep an eye on Piggy’s Facebook page for more to come!

Get Your Dressage Test (Virtually) Judged by Peter Gray

By on Apr 16, 2020 12:53 pm -

Every day we’re blown away by the innovation and positivity from all of you out there in the Eventing Nation during these difficult times. We’ve got another fun opportunity for you —- get your dressage test judged by Peter Gray! His Remote Centerline Workshop will give you scores and feedback from a FEI five-star judge. Here is a video of Jon Holling giving it a go.

This service is available for any test. Email [email protected] to sign up.

Go (Virtual) Eventing.

Got the Itchies?! What to Do?! Brought to You by Banixx

By on Apr 16, 2020 11:00 am -
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Got itchy skin? Photo courtesy of Banixx.

Bugs, heat, humidity, shedding, gunk, all sorts of situations can cause your horse to be itchy. What can you do? Of course, we see someone else’s horse that never seems to be bothered, yet your horse is rubbing out every inch of mane and gouging his skin to hamburger via scratching!

We’re in shedding season and that can make your horse itchy. A good grooming session will reveal any small abrasions, bug bites and troublesome spots and it’s your first defense. Put that rubber curry or glove to work! Additionally, good airflow is important for your horse’s health; muggy conditions with no airflow can be uncomfortable for anyone, and especially your horse, add to his ‘itchies.’ Parasites can cause your horse to itch, so fecal checks and deworming are important protocols to maintain.

Regular grooming and air quality still not fully relieving your horse’s discomfort? A good bath with a quality product like Banixx Medicated Shampoo may be in order. Wet your horse and massage in the shampoo, then let it sit for about 10 minutes before rinsing. The chlorohexidine in Banixx Medicated Shampoo helps kill bacteria and fungus while the marine collagen soothes, moisturizes and heals the skin. And it’s a soap-free shampoo that does NOT contain parabens, sulfates, alcohol or steroids. No harsh detergents, so it will not dry out your horse’s (or pet’s) skin or coat.

After your horse dries from his bath, spray Banixx Horse & Pet Care Spray directly on the troublesome spots. Then follow up with an application of the Banixx Wound Care Cream for a horse that is hyper-itchy. This step is helpful as a daily maintenance as well.

Some areas to pay special attention to while grooming and washing:

  • Ears – If your horse has bug bites or sores in his ears wipe them out with Banixx Horse & Pet Care Spray, then apply a thin layer of Banixx Wound Care Cream.
  • Under the dock of your horse’s tail – These areas get dirty and can get itchy from dirt and dander build-up. Ticks also seem to like this area.
  • Clean your gelding’s sheath – some start scratching at their flank area when they are dirty.
  • Clean your mare’s udders – important and often overlooked; that area can get dirty and itchy too.
  • Little bugs like to bite your horse’s sensitive belly line, so cleaning and protecting that centerline should not be overlooked.

Various fly sprays and bug deterrent products are out there to keep the bugs at bay; however, they need to be ‘swapped up’/rotated as something might work for a bit then it stops working. Perhaps the bugs change or become immune? For horses with sensitive skin, be careful not to burn your horse with fly/bug repellents!

On a final note, if the issues can be resolved with good horse husbandry, then you are doing your horse a favor (and yourself) – quality grooming time and less ‘stuff’ (medication/herbs/etc.) flowing through his system.  Medications and herbal solutions can have side-affects that outweigh their good, and/or may be banned for competition horses. The use of medications and herbal remedies should be carefully discussed with your veterinarian and used sparingly.

Brought to you by Banixx – the #1 trusted solution for equine and pet owners! Learn more about Banixx  by clicking here:

A Letter to Me — Natalia Gurmankin

By on Apr 16, 2020 9:00 am -

If you could write a letter to your younger self, what would you say? That’s the topic of a new series by Equestrian Marketing Firm Athletux. Today four-star eventer Natalia Gurmankin shares her letter. 

Previous letters: Tamie Smith, Jennifer Wooten, Katy Robinson

Photo courtesy of Natalia Gurmankin.

Dear Natalia,

Keep going! That sentiment will ring true throughout everything in your life, but especially as it applies to your career in horses, just keep going!

You’re really focused on the destination right now, wide eyed and new to the east coast, but man just wait until you can see the journey that unfolds. You have already done some pretty incredible things, though you won’t recognize how cool they are quite yet.

Who knew horses would get you a ticket to travel the world? Your time as a groom/working student will yield some of your most valuable memories. You will find yourself in Greenwich Park grooming at the London Olympics and head down south for a memorable Pan Am Games. You’ll dance the night away in the tent at Burghley and drink one too many Pimms at Badminton!

At every venue you will picture what it would be like to find yourself here someday, and who knows someday you just might. You will gain lifelong friends on these trips, have the best inside jokes, and more importantly you will gain a wealth of knowledge in taking care of equine athletes at the highest level of sport.

You’ll drive big rigs up and down the coast, become an expert tire changer (well not really, but you’re really good at finding someone to help), it’ll take you a long time to figure out backing up a truck and trailer (lets face it, still not your strong suit), you’ll even get your CDL. And through all this, every long ass drive, flight and ferry you will find that when it comes time to consider doing this on your own, it all just seems a little less scary.

When it comes to your riding, you think you know what you’re doing, you don’t. You’re still learning something new every day- the good, the bad the ugly. Keep aspiring to be the best student in all things. You will work harder than you think, the days will be longer than you want and the lows will be lower than you realize but in those never-ending days, those low points you will find one of your greatest successes; the bonds forged between friends.

You will find a family that you didn’t realize you had, fiercely loyal friends that will continue to push you beyond what you think you are capable of, and out of the times that seem so dark, they will drag you back into the light. They will remind you of what is important and push you not only to be a better rider and competitor everyday but also to be a better person.

You will be lucky enough to ride some really incredible horses, and they will all teach you something different. Perseverance, patience, focus and perhaps most importantly humility!

When you lose your dad, you will think the dream is over. It’s not, it’s just the beginning of something different! Out of that tragedy you will find grit you didn’t know you had, and you will be hungrier to keep going. You will miss seeing him at the in gate, but you know he really has the best view, and that will bring you tremendous joy. You will find a group of incredible people who want to support your career, and you will start to build a business that you are very proud of.

Your greatest achievement will come in October 2019 and it is not a win, or a medal, it’s your son Jay. He will enrich your life in a way you didn’t think possible. You will load him up every day and take him to the barn with you and he will remind you why you want to keep working hard, plus he makes it so much more fun! You will be super nervous about returning to the sport as a new mom, don’t be! The days will look a little different, but you will come back and be hungrier than ever to continue as a competitor.

My advice to you, just keep going and don’t focus so much on the destination. Stay present, your only goal should be to be better than you were the day before. Be a student of the sport always. Keep learning and adapting, don’t worry about things not going perfectly, you are gaining experience!

Most importantly don’t lose sight of what is most important. Stay ambitious and KEEP GOING! Repeat that to yourself over and over. You will be more than you ever knew you could.

Love,

Natalia

Equestrian Marketing Firm Athletux has recently restructured its business model to focus on three main areas: equestrian brands, athletes and events. This is a particularly exciting development for brands, who will benefit from Athletux’s wealth of industry insight to help build their image, maximize use of social media platforms and email marketing campaigns, manage sponsored riders, assist with graphic design and more. Learn more by visiting the just-launched new Athletux website here.

Rolling Updates: Equestrian Events Canceled Due to COVID-19 [Updated 4/29]

By on Apr 16, 2020 1:00 am -

Photo via Creative Commons.

The following equestrian events have been canceled or modified due to coronavirus concerns. This page will be updated daily (last update: April 29, 5 p.m. EST).

Due to the sheer volume of events being canceled worldwide, we are now only listing canceled USEA/USEF North American events and major international CCI events.

🇺🇸United States🇺🇸

The USEA has suspended all recognized events through May 3. In accordance with the FEI, the USEF has issued a recommendation that all competitions be suspended through May 3. 

Eventing:

🇧🇪Belgium🇧🇪

🇨🇦Canada🇨🇦

All EC sanctioned competitions and activities are suspended until April 12, 2020.

🇨🇳China🇨🇳

🇫🇷France🇫🇷

France now restricting gatherings to 10 people, so all competitions are canceled. 

🇩🇪Germany 🇩🇪

🇮🇪Ireland🇮🇪

🇮🇹Italy🇮🇹

🇯🇵Japan🇯🇵

🇳🇿New Zealand🇳🇿

March 17: Equestrian Sports NZL Announces 3-Month Cancellation of All Events 

🇵🇱Poland🇵🇱

🇬🇧United Kingdom🇬🇧

As of 3/16, all British Eventing shows have been canceled with immediate effect.

Please send canceled/modified equestrian event listings to [email protected]. We will keep you posted with further updates as they develop.

Shelby Allen and Sally Spickard contributed to this report.