Time to Ride Challenge to Return with New Incentives in 2016
Read More
The grassroots competition grew by more than 60% in 2015.
Washington, D.C., February 16, 2016 – The Time to Ride Challenge, a contest offering $100,000 in cash and prizes, will take place again in 2016 by incentivizing stables, clubs, and businesses to focus on outreach to new riders. Participants win cash and prizes by introducing new, “non-riders” to riding and other horse activities, and simultaneously benefit by growing their businesses and organizations. Time to Ride is an initiative of the American Horse Council Marketing Alliance, a group of industry leading companies and organizations collaborating to grow the horse industry.
Since its launch in 2014, the Challenge has introduced over 60,000 new people to horses through fun, beginner-friendly horse experiences. The 2015 contest saw more than a 60% increase in the number of newcomers reached compared to 2014 due to the hard work and enthusiasm of event hosts eager to share the joy of horses with new people. Hundreds of stables nationwide have opened their doors to their communities and focused on holding these public horse events designed to connect horse-interested families with local opportunities. “We brought horses to host an event at our local rodeo, and we were amazed at how many rodeo fans had never actually touched a horse! After meeting us and our horses, these families then knew exactly where to go for riding lessons,” said Christine Yeasel of Diamond P Equestrian Center.
“The Challenge puts real rewards behind a cause that’s critical to our industry,” stated Patti Colbert, Time to Ride spokesperson. “These new horse enthusiasts are becoming the next generation of riding students, clients, and customers; who will eventually be owning horses, competing in shows, using the services of veterinarians, and growing our entire industry.”
Grand prize winners in small, medium and large divisions will take home $10,000 cash each. A total of over $75,000 cash will be paid out to the top ten “hosts” in each division who introduce the greatest number of newcomers to horses throughout the summer. Approximately $25,000 in product and in-kind prizes will also be awarded.
The Challenge will take place June 1 through September 30, 2016 and will be open for registration April 1, 2016. Please visit https://timetoride.wpengine.com/ and sign up for the newsletter to receive further updates and a notification as soon as registration is available.
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 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, Morris Media Network Equine Group, Purina Animal Nutrition LLC, Platinum Performance, United States Equestrian Federation, and Zoetis. Program Partners are Absorbine, the American Paint Horse Association, Equibrand the National Cutting Horse Association, the National Reining Horse Association, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, and the Texas A&M University Equine Initiative; and new for 2016 I-5 Publishing, Pyranha, the America’s Mustang Campaign, and Colorado State University Equine Sciences Program.
About the American Horse Council
The American Horse Council is a non-profit organization that includes all segments of the horse industry. While its primary mission is to represent the industry before Congress and the federal regulatory agencies in Washington, DC, it also undertakes national initiatives for the horse industry. Time to Ride, the AHC’s Marketing Alliance to connect horses and people, is such an effort. The American Horse Council hopes that Time to Ride will encourage people and businesses to participate in the industry, enjoy our horses, and support our equine activities and events. The AHC believes a healthy horse industry contributes to the health of Americans and America in many ways.
Photos and logo available upon request
Contact: christie@timetoride.com or 512-591-7811
Stables win cash and prizes for their innovative event and promotion strategies used in public outreach.
Washington, D.C., December 10, 2015 – The Time to Ride Challenge, a grassroots competition that rewards stables, clubs, and businesses for connecting new people to horses, awarded additional cash and prizes for winners of its “Best Practices” contest. Contestants submitted written entries detailing the innovative, effective, and engaging strategies they used to plan and promote fun, beginner-friendly horse events throughout the Challenge.
Jester Park Equestrian Center of Granger, Iowa took home top honors for their “JPEC Carnival,” a free, public event welcoming local families to their equestrian center. They took advantage of local “moms” groups and family bloggers in the area to promote the event. Approximately 450 visitors enjoyed opportunities including pony rides, face painting, horse-themed carnival games, a horse coloring contest, and pony painting.
JPEC staff member Lela Mullen describes the promotional strategy they used to make this event a standout success: “I believe that one thing that was creative about our strategy throughout the Challenge was two-fold. We set up a calendar of Time to Ride Events in May, and we also set up a different horse-related “theme” for each event. This allowed for us to plan well in advance and to give us plenty of time to promote the events. We did have to cancel one event due to severe weather, but all other events ran smoothly. Setting up different themes for the events, and also utilizing holidays during the timeframe to help with this aspect, gave us opportunity to market to different groups of newcomers. Some of our events catered towards the younger crowd with pony rides, and kid-related activities. Other events were marketed to new horse enthusiasts and featured ride demonstrations, and safety topics. We also formulated plans to draw in school crowds, military veterans, and other community-based groups. Finally, once we hit it off with families in the area- we realized the benefits of marketing to ‘moms’ groups and family bloggers in the area and promoted our events as “family friendly” weekend activities- which helped us tremendously as the events progressed. All in all, we loved participating in the Time to Ride Challenge, and enjoyed introducing newcomers to horses and our facility. We hope to participate again next year and help to keep our industry alive and growing!” Jester Park Equestrian Center won $300 plus prizes provided by Time to Ride Alliance Members.
Shepherd Youth Ranch of Franklinton, North Carolina won second place. Their success was a result of directly contacting local Girl Scout troops and YMCA Guides groups and inviting them to visit the ranch and earn their respective horse badges. The two-part event began with worksheets, fun facts and learning in each group’s regular meeting. Then the groups visited the ranch for hands-on grooming, safety, leading, saddling, and bridling to earn their badges. Staff member Amy McCabe reported, “Not only did this give us an opportunity to share our horses with 60 people, but also gives us a platform to reach out to the other five Heritage Girls groups in our area. This event allowed us to create a template that can be repeated for Heritage Girls, Girl Scouts, Y-guides and more! We will see many of these girls again as volunteers and clients.” Shepherd Youth Ranch learned first-hand the effectiveness of contacting club leaders and parents directly to involve youth groups. Shepherd Youth Ranch won $200 plus prizes provided by Time to Ride Alliance Members.
Winning third place is Cooperstown Equestrian Park, Ltd of Hartwick, New York, which invited the local summer recreational program kids to their farm and promoted the event with a “Boarder Challenge Week.” All boarders were invited to participate; whoever could attract the most people to the farm won a free riding lesson. On the day of the event, over 50 kids and adults enjoyed a barn tour, petted the horses, met the farm’s Fjord pony, Lude, and learned how to groom. Farm owner Cody Pritchard explained, “the whole summer was geared toward introducing people to horses… people loved being able to come to a farm, they loved being able to meet a horse, they loved that the horse was available! My students really enjoyed the challenge too – they all became excited and started helping to promote the farm when our ranking went from 5th to 2nd. This is when the Boarder Challenge idea came about… once we started promoting the Challenge and that the prize went back into the farm – the public, friends and family have all stepped up to come help us out. We had a wonderful summer and plan to implement a few of these programs in the following summers.” By involving current clients and spreading excitement about the Challenge, Pritchard was able to amplify her outreach efforts. Cooperstown Equestrian Park, Ltd won $100 plus prizes provided by Time to Ride Alliance Members.
Honorable mention awards go to Allegheny County 4-H Club (North Ridge Riders) of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania; Cross Road Stables of Elverta, California; and Tri-County Trail Association of East Sparta, Ohio.
Award winners will receive gift certificates, vouchers and/or magazine subscriptions provided by AHC Marketing Alliance Members including Dover Saddlery and Smith Brothers, SmartPak, Purina, AQHA Outfitters, USEF, Active Interest Media, Morris Communications/Cowboy Publishing, and more.
The Time to Ride Challenge awarded a total of over $70,000 cash to winners through tenth place with the remainder of incentives including gift certificates, feed, apparel, stable supplies, event tickets and other in-kind products provided by Time to Ride Marketing Alliance Members. To see full results, please visit https://timetoride.wpengine.com/news/. To see photos from Challenge events, please click here.
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 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, Morris Media Network Equine Group, Purina Animal Nutrition LLC, Platinum Performance, SmartPak, United States Equestrian Federation, and Zoetis. Program Partners are Absorbine, the American Paint Horse Association, Equibrand, i5 Publishing, the National Cutting Horse Association, the National Reining Horse Association, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, and the Texas A&M University Equine Initiative.
About the American Horse Council
The American Horse Council is a non-profit organization that includes all segments of the horse industry. While its primary mission is to represent the industry before Congress and the federal regulatory agencies in Washington, DC, it also undertakes national initiatives for the horse industry. Time to Ride, the AHC’s marketing alliance to connect horses and people, is such an effort. The American Horse Council hopes that Time to Ride will encourage people and businesses to participate in the industry, enjoy our horses, and support our equine activities and events. The AHC believes a healthy horse industry contributes to the health of Americans and America in many ways.
Attract new lesson clients – Earn gift certificates from Dover Saddlery, Purina, SmartPak and others!
Discounts are the number one motivating factor that encourage new riders to take their first riding lesson or trail ride. Help encourage the newcomers you connected with through the 2015 Challenge return to your stable or business for MORE horse activities and become frequent riders by offering a $10 Horse Bucks discount that is valid for an introductory riding lesson or trail ride!
Here’s how it works:
Dover Saddlery
Smith Brothers
SmartPak
Classic Equine (Equibrand)
AQHA Outfitters ($25 value)
Purina feed coupon ($20 value)
Morris Media Network: Subscription to Western Horseman, Equine Journal, Barrel Horse News, or Quarter Horse News ($25 value)
In effect, you will be offering a discount without losing any revenue!
list.
Please contact info@timetoride.com or 512-591-7811 with any questions!
CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED
$500 cash prize awarded to freelance writer Megan Arszman.
Washington, D.C., November 9, 2015 – Time to Ride’s freelance writing contest, inviting entries focused on a first-time horse experience that made a positive, lasting impact on someone’s life, has concluded by awarding the grand prize to writer Megan Arszman. Earning honorable mentions and a Time to Ride prize package are Cathy Thacker and MacKenzie Waro. Time to Ride received dozens of thoughtful and beautifully written pieces exploring the magic experienced when one connects with a horse for the first time.
Arszman’s piece titled Not Your Standard Medication explores how one woman overcame clinical depression with horses by taking up riding for the first time as an adult. “Depression is like a dark hole, and there are days that you struggle just to see a glimmer of light. For some it can be crippling, but others find a way to fight through. They might do it on their own, with medication, or with the help of angels around them. For Marlise Langenhoven, her angels just came in the form of horses,” begins Arszman’s piece. Arszman explores how riding lessons, initially a request of the subject’s daughter, proved to be much more than a hobby. Langenhoven’s connection with horses helped her “end the victim cycle” and move forward with her life by providing a unique path to healing. Langenhoven is quoted: “My time at the barn was the joy of my life.” Click here to read the piece in its entirety.
Honorable mention writer is Cathy Thacker, a CHA- and PATH-certified instructor whose piece, Dear Feedbag Fairies, describes the heartfelt letters summer camp riders write to their horses. Thacker writes “the connection between girls and horses can be hard to explain to outsiders; our letters help us explain and illustrate that connection and unconditional love.” Thacker writes, “It could be argued that a lot of activities inspire children to overcome their fears and gain confidence. I would argue that there is a strange and special alchemy that takes place only at the barn.” Click here to read the entire piece, including an excerpt from “an emotion filled and tear stained declaration of love for our miniature donkey, Jenny.”
Second honorable mention honors go to MacKenzie Waro for her piece titled Just a Dream and a Challenge. Waro details how witnessing a powerful connection between one of her horses and a young girl caused her to consider her lifelong relationship with horses in a new light. “I have been riding for 22 years, and it took a newcomer with a dream for me to see that horses are more than a teammate; they are our soulmates.” Click here to read the entry.
“We are amazed by the touching entries and thank all the writers who entered pieces,” stated Patti Colbert, Time to Ride spokesperson. “These pieces are further proof of the horse’s amazing capability to connect with and change humans unlike any other animal. It’s why we call ourselves horsemen and why we are so dedicated to helping new people discover the joy of horses.” Time to Ride will be publishing excerpts and entire essays from the contest at timetoride.wpengine.com. Please visit the website to learn more about connecting new people to horses, and find a map of stables and other equestrian resources for newcomers.
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 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, Morris Media Network Equine Group, Purina Animal Nutrition LLC, Platinum Performance, SmartPak, United States Equestrian Federation, and Zoetis. Program Partners are Absorbine, the American Paint Horse Association, Equibrand, the National Cutting Horse Association, the National Reining Horse Association, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, and the Texas A&M University Equine Initiative.
About the American Horse Council
The American Horse Council is a non-profit organization that includes all segments of the horse industry. While its primary mission is to represent the industry before Congress and the federal regulatory agencies in Washington, DC, it also undertakes national initiatives for the horse industry. Time to Ride, the AHC’s marketing alliance to connect horses and people, is such an effort. The American Horse Council hopes that Time to Ride will encourage people and businesses to participate in the industry, enjoy our horses, and support our equine activities and events. The AHC believes a healthy horse industry contributes to the health of Americans and America in many ways.
Congratulations to our two honorable mention entires in the fall 2015 Time to Ride writing contest. Each writer receives a Time to Ride prize pack!
SmartWaiver is a digital waiver that can be signed at your location or online from any computer, tablet, or mobile device. It takes the place of a paper release form. The Newcomer’s information is automatically added to your Time To Ride® account – no need for you to manually enter each attendee.
Smartwaiver can help you save a lot of time, money, and effort, make the process of competing in the Challenge easier, and make participant data management easier, more accurate and secure for you.
No, but it will save you a lot of time, money and hassle.
You’ll need to spend a lot more time on the computer after your event entering Newcomer data to get credit towards the Challenge.
Definitely! Time To Ride will set it up for you, and your visiting Newcomers will be able to sign the waiver using their smart phones. All you have to do is show them the link.
Yes. Every Newcomer who has a smart phone can sign the waiver.
Yes, if you have WiFi. You need either WiFi or cell reception to access your SmartWaiver.
When you sign up for the Challenge, Time To Ride will automatically create your unique SmartWaiver and send you the link to use. No effort is required on your part.
Time To Ride recommends hanging a few signs or posters with the link clearly printed. You can simply greet visitors and ask them to type the link into their browser.
Yes. A copy will automatically be sent to you, the Newcomer, and Time To Ride as soon as it’s completed.
You can either ask each newcomer to show you the “confirmation” page that displays at the end of the signup process, or you can look in your own email account for the copy that’s automatically sent to you. It’s important to make sure Newcomers are completing the waiver so you receive credit.
You can make SmartWaiver accessible on your own laptop, tablet, or mobile device. Simply open a browser and enter your waiver’s link.
Yes! SmartWaiver makes it very easy for newcomers to complete one for him/herself and his/her child at the same time. They’ll simply enter the minor’s name and birth date, and an individual waiver for each minor will automatically be created with mom or dad’s address and contact info.
No. Whether it’s a hard copy or SmartWaiver, all waivers MUST be signed by a minor’s parent or legal guardian. The benefit of SmartWaiver is that a teacher can send the link home to parents ahead of time, and every child whose parent has completed the waiver can participate in your event and be counted towards the Challenge.