I need your views peeps!

Views on my question really please...

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Marilyn

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I would value your opinions on this- would it be useful to have more lectures/demos/clinics and educational events aimed at the horseowner- reasonably priced of course
 
I've answer "No, absolutely not" but really because this type of thing is of no interest to me personally. Don't want to skew your results but wasn't the option of "not of interest".

Just a happy hacker horse owner with fab local instructor so don't think they would be of benefit.
 
That's fair enough- would you not be interested in talks on winter feeding/worming or things that relate to day to day horse ownership?
 
No, not really. I talk to my vet about worming & that type of thing when they come out and vaccine each year.

Feeding wise - mine don't need hard food due to low work levels / breed. They are out at grass 24/7 during summer & stabled overnight only during winter. Just feed haylage over winter with a handful of dengi to put a general supplement & hoof supplements in.

To be honest I've grown up with horses, my grandfather's had them all his life and worked them on his farm & as well as my fab instructor my aunt is a BHSI & my father was a feed merchant so all in all I'm very lucky to have access to a wealth of knowledge when I need it.
 
That's fair enough- sounds like you've got a brilliant network of people to speak to and lots of knowledge too...thinking of other riders you know, do you think this type of things could appeal? Thanks
 
I've answered that there's a lot in my area as i live near Hall Farm (WHW Head quarters) and they have a lot of talks and demonstrations. wouldnt always say its always reasonably priced though or held on practical days, so often miss out on going to them.
So in all maybe something else on offer would benefit someone like me...
 
We have a few demos, lectures around where i live as i live in a very horsey place, luckily. However, a lot of them are boring, we never have any Showjumping or Showing lectures/demos. Its always dressage or vetinary, this seems to be the case in many places.
So more lectures and demos which are fun for the younger generation?!:D
 
Sorry, me again, for those who say that they aren't sure, can you let me know why- have you been to them before and found them boring? Would it be very dependent on cost?
 
Yes, the more reasonalbe the price is the more it tempts people to pop along and see what it's all about.

Anything that helps improve the knowledge and the social side of things too, is nothing but a great benefit if you ask me.
 
That's a good point, events like this should be social. We have got a few definitely nots so that can't be a good sign!
 
It would depend what was being covered, and what qualifications the person doing them had. Emergency equine first aid is a good one, but I would only attend if run by a vet. How to ride a dressage test is another popular one around here, but again only useful if taken by a dressage judge.

If it was general stable management by a general someone, I probably wouldn't bother. I think most people would agree that we have enough know-it-all people already telling us how to keep our horses on the average livery yard, without paying for it!
 
Depends on:

Why/What - is the lecture about.
Where - what's already organised in the area.
When - time of day.
Who - is doing the lecturing. I can't even say if I'd be interested without knowing who I was going to listen to.
How much it cost
 
I think it would be great. Nobody knows everything and there is always something to learn and new ideas coming out, so updates on new ideas/treatments for illnesses/injuries would be great. I have only ever been to two. One was run by my vets and was fantastic. Covered injuries and what to do and whether to call the vet, and how to look after geriatric/veteran horses, and someone from Topspec feeds as well. It was well aimed and didn't talk at a level that only vets can understand!
However I went to one by another vets and it was just too complicated and serious. It covered the horses' digestive system as one of the topics and to be honest unless you had a doctorate in science was impossible to understand for most people. They didn't use everyday terms, they were using the medical terms, so there were quite a few glazed eyes.
Even talks by product suppliers would be good. Everyone seems to stick to the same brand of things because that's what they have always done, but it would be interesting to hear from people from different companies to hear what they can offer as things are improving and changing all the time.
I would definitely be interested.
 
Thank you.
Tinypony- there are, at present, no specifics but if people want clinics with celeb riders, that could be arranged, if people wanted an evening aimed at event horses and their riders, that could be arranged too...it's more the concept really :-)

Thanks
 
I think your question is a bit vague to start - if you don't own a horse, you're *reasonably* unlikely to visit any sort of clinic/demo in the first place in my mind ;)
However by 'horse owner' I took it to mean just your general owner/rider, who doesn't compete, just basically owns a horse, maybe is a happy hacker or does the odd bit of schooling or farm ride, wants to have fun & enjoy their horse.

In that case, I'd say
- clinics/demos with either a very good instructor or competition rider (dressage?) who can show people how to use things like shoulder-in to help with spooky horses, and other schooling exercises that would increase the riders control of their horse, but probably a bit more 'fun' included as well and maybe even progressing on to draw some people into the idea of dressage? But mainly focusing on people who hack, and gaining more control of the horse etc.

- General vetinary talk thing, simple but factual, explaining about things like laminitis & obesity which everyone knows are big issues, how to spot them & sort them out BUT also a large focus on HOW THEY OCCUR. ie. ideas about the horses digestive system/how it works & feed for obesity. I think that understanding WHY something happens is what is most likely to effect people and make them do something about it. If they don't understand, they're less likely to act.
Also, covering how to deal with common injuries/when to call the vet could be good.
- similar to the first one in a sense, but how about a 'fun' clinic type thing, showing people what other things they can do with their horses to give them some variety, have fun, increase their confidence, increase their/their horses skill level?

I also think a few people have hit the nail on the head with the social aspect, think this would be something to focus on :)
 
All comments welcomed Sol and the question was vague- half deliberatley, half not...basically, my idea would encompass lots of different aspects- some for more advanced riders, some for happy hackers. I think that the two things I have learnt is that the social aspect is important and the 'fun' element too- all subjects can be fun if you get the right teacher I think.
I also thought a supporting website too would be good- with added extras if you attend the event of lecture...
 
What are your views on the fab supporting website- podcasts/notes, etc. from the event? Perhaps money off and special offers too?
 
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