Over the last year or so I?ve heard many times that people both new to the sport and those who fought alongside Custer at the ?Little Big Horn? are unable easily to get updates and news of what is going on either within the sport or around the sport. Sadly some regular publications have either failed or have disappeared and that some of the work that is already being done is under used and perhaps not even known about.
The associations websites can at times be slow to deliver up to date information and that can be frustrating. Most sites though are run by members doing so in their own time and for no pay and they have lives and priorities outside of website maintenance.
The excellent AQHA-UK journal is a quarterly publication and fills a real need and is a great source of information and knowledge. I know Jackie would like to do more but her time is given free and it takes a huge amount of effort, time and money to produce a publication of that size four times a year let alone more.....?Thanks to her, Cliff and the rest of the team who put the product together. To that end David Brindley is now producing a monthly WES newsletter and I know he has plans to keep this going and growing as the year unfolds.
Headline information on the European scene can be found at
www.qh-today.de This is a multi-lingual site with a readership of over 12000 in Europe alone. It covers all aspects of the sport and pulls together articles from all over the world. The site is aimed at national and international news including up-to-date reports on major issues such as the Olympic bid for reining to interviews with the winners and reports on the major shows around the world. It is run by Europe?s top western journalist and winner of many international journalism awards - Ramona Billing.****
As many know we started to produce our own monthly Newsletter just over a year ago to keep our customers and clients in the loop with what was going on ? its grown beyond belief to where we have over 1000 readers not only in the UK but from all over the world and are happy to have more - if you?d like to be added to the mailing list let me know. Whilst some of the content appertains to specific events and happenings here at The Mendip Stud we also publish articles by all societies, reports on UK successes and regular features by some of the top names in the industry including Tamra Kyle, Tim McQuay, Pat Faitz, Bob Mayhew, with reports from Europe by Ramona Billing.
There are also some really good UK websites that cater for western enthusiasts ? obviously Peter Schwenk and the
www.thewesternshop.com features high on the list of places to visit as does Linda Crosslands
www.westernscene.co.uk and there are others about too?
New, and as of this coming March we are sponsoring a Results and Diary service. Jo Corringham will be running this one-stop online results and diary service. Over this past year we have identified a need for a well maintained one-stop destination for western enthusiasts in the UK to see who did what, when, and with what score and when the next chance to do it again will be. The diary Service will provide a show diary section for both shows in the UK and for selected shows in Europe. Results will be posted in the month of the event to sixth place in all classes and to 10th place in national championships and classes with international status. This of course can only work with the co-operation of show organisers and secretaries and we hope that they will all join in and help to make this a success. Further details of the site and service and sponsorship opportunities will be published in the next 8 weeks.
Individuals like Terrie Heid-Brazier, Lita Pocock Judith Hubbard and others around the country write regular western articles for the likes of Equestrian Life, Equestrian Now, West Country News and other publications. Chris Kent sends out regular e-mail reports on trail rides and activities. So at the end of the day there is some information and circulation happening.
Enough of it ? ????a categorical ??NO ????and we need more not only to keep newcomers interested and enthused but also to help spread the word of all the good things that are happening to those, and about those, who are involved.
Yes, as we all have heard there are problems, yes, there have been problems and, yes, there will be problems but we need to move on ? keep pushing the good things about our hobby and sport whilst not ignoring but resolving positively the problems that exist. But let?s not always harp on about problems but rather highlight the good, positive and forward thinking things going on too ! People are investing hundreds of thousands of pounds into the sport with new arenas being built around the country, more shows being planned, more courses and clinics happening, more people taking an active interest in the sport and all this is being underlined by significant successes at World and European level for breeders, horses and individuals. So we, everyone in the sport, are part of a success story and we should go tell the world in as united a way as possible that we are growing and sucessfully too ? No one else will !
It takes time, effort and a fair chunk of hitting your head against a brick wall to get some traction with the press and with the media but the signs are that we are starting to be recognised and with growth and development they will not be able to ignore us for too long.
My appologies to those responsible for places where other information is available that I have not mentioned. I hope what's detailed above helps and let's hope 2007 is one of the significant years of growth for the sport in our country.
Enough rambling ?
a very happy Christmas to you all.
John Calder
**** [Last month Ramona asked me to handle the development of the UK side of this online news site and Jo Corringham has joined me in bringing news of European and International interest from the UK to that forum.] Please help us by sending any news of international success and merit to Jo at jocorringham@yahoo.co.uk For more information on this site please call me on 01934 751258.
