open house event

[Pinto Paso]

What type of activities would draw your attention to a farm's open house?

What is more important to you:
a) Fancy barns, grounds and house
b) well fed, cared for and sensible animals
c) free draws and give aways

What would be your reasons for going
a) to buy a horse
b) learn about the breed
c) see what others farms are doing
d) networking


We are in the midst of planning a fall open house, while we have a number of things planned it would be interesting to find out what others may expect to see/do or hear ideas that have worked for them in the past.

[paintedhorizon]

What is more important to you:
b) well fed, cared for and sensible animals

What would be your reasons for going
c) see what others farms are doing
d) networking

I would also like to add test rides. that always draws them in.

[Pinto Paso]

test rides are a given at an open house - at least as far as I've ever known.... :D

Here is a list of our activities
Meet and greet (hand outs, introductions)
on going video displays
stallion exhibits
test rides (depending on level of skill) round pen, arena or trails...
snack/lunch bar open and handled by 4H or another organization
discussion - QA session
afternoon exhibits
test rides
sales parade
pig roast - dinner
Dance

[Abejita]

What type of activities would draw your attention to a farm's open house?
Draw my attention would be the giveaways etc , a short clinic possibly or seminar/talk on a subject that interested me.Of course if I was interested in that particular breed...

What is more important to you.
Well what is more important to me might not be the same thing that gets people to stay/buy

What is more important to you:
a) Fancy barns, grounds and house Important to an extent.Not necessarily big and fancy BUT I also want to see organized, clean and kept up.If not I would think that maybe the horses also got treated the same way as the barn and grounds..whether they were or not.First impressions are important.I alsway get comments by people who come here because the property is so big and the barn is so nice etc BUT I have also worked smaller barns and they were just as nice because of how well kept they were.Plus I know all the problems and design flaws this barn has so
b) well fed, cared for and sensible animals Very important to me.
c) free draws and give aways This goes more under what would draw my attention

[Abejita]

OHH when is it..Maybe I will just deliver this package sitting in the back of my truck LOL..forget UPS...

[Pinto Paso]

Well it's not till this fall, but I need my package - so you'll just have to come for the heck of it instead of combining the package delivery.... I will be posting as it progresses.... barn has to be built first though....

[moonrize]

Also depends on just what audience you want - aiming for sales? boarding? training? lessons? all of the above?

I'd have a short session on a typical day at the farm, a short presentation of a lesson (could draw for this from audience), a short training session of a young horse. I would keep it casual and friendly - be really open to new people and make it a point to greet each person. Have sales sheets ready and boarding/training/lessons rates. Then let your horses sell themselves - allow potential buyers to ride them. :D

It will take lots of people to help out, but it sure will be a fun day.

[Pinto Paso]

No we are not an equestrian center - just simply raise Paso Finos.
The open house is a breed event/intro. we may have one or two for sale but often we dont have horses available as they have sold earlier in the year..
No boarding
lessons are private
so it is promotion of our stallions and mares and the breed in general.
We are more interested in promotion of the breed and a "party" atmosphere than sales...

I should add that in the past it is hard to stick to any kind of "script" because you never know who is coming through the gate and are too busy meeting each person and explaining the breed to stay with a rigid program...

[DSDECKERT]

I'm in - make sure you post the dates asap so I can schedule for it.

I love open houses at PF farms....went to one at Barb Priess's a few years ago.

[Barbwire]

Free food and booze is what I go for, oh, and hot little Latino barn boys. ;-)

[PLEASURE PASOFINO]

BOOZE!!!!,Be carefull, look what happend to your dancing KING!!!!!!

[Pinto Paso]

evening "grown up" time is dance to live band (hopefully) booze - and chat.. sorry no Latino barn toys but I can have a few of the Southern locals bring their set of johnsons if it would make you feel better hotwire er uh - I mean barbwire

[Barbwire]

Hmm, let me see what I can do, I'd love to come.

Hey, Deb! Do you need anything done around the farm that week? ;-)

[Abejita]

ok Let's start by taking note that BARB said "hot Lationo barn BOYS..and Pinto Paso retorted with "sorry no Latino barn TOYS" and the B and T are no where near each other on the keyboard.... :lol:

So who is REALLY the wild child of the BB??????

Cool idea Stef.

I like to see the horses. Don't give a rip about the barns unless they are so horrible they make you focus on them, as in filthy or along that line. You don't have any problems in that area.

Don't give a rip about give aways, unless it is some thing or things that are really valuable, like saddles, or horses. You will have a HUGE crowd there if that is the case!

I would love to meet others from that part of the country who are into Pasos. Love to see you demo your animals. Still got Freesa? Use bailer twine this time!

If you need help, just let us know!
Jennifer

[Pinto Paso]

Latino barn TOYS" and the B and T are no where near each other on the keyboard.... :lol:

Oh crap - did I type that out loud :oops:

[Carol Nelson]

Is Calibur applying for the job??? 8-)

hot, Latino boy toy... :lol:

Oh you guys have me laughing so hard I can't be serious on this question...
I guess my answers would be same as Michele's...paintedhorizon's.

Lord, I'd better not be buying another horse.... :roll: :lol:

Stef...I'd LOVE to come to your open house...and BOOZE would definitely be a plus...and then I WILL be buying that other horse... :lol: :lol: :lol:

...ply them with liquor..... :roll: ;-)

[Pinto Paso]

HEY - be careful Carol, you are going to get me in trouble with Helene...

NOW, in my own defense - in fact the T & the B could indeed be considered a typo when replacing each other - no listen, hear me out - you would use the same finger to strike either key - one is up and over, one is down oand over....

And I would like to thank my dear new friend Abejita for pointing out my little Freudian slip of the fingers in the first place :rant

[Carol Nelson]

NOW, in my own defense - in fact the T & the B could indeed be considered a typo when replacing each other - no listen, hear me out - you would use the same finger to strike either key - one is up and over, one is down oand over....


Good try...Stef.... :roll:


:lol:

[Pinto Paso]

:new confused

[My Pasos]

Ooooooo I want to go!!!!!!
I really don't get into the drawing thing, but how about a silent auction?
I really like to see things like, Oh poo, My mind is going.....demonstrations thats it!! Those are really interesting for newbies like me and Mark!
Maybe, be able to ride there.
How about bring your own horses?
Cook outs are cool too!

Pleeeeeezzzzz let us know when you have it, We would really love to go!!!

[dana]

HEY - be careful Carol, you are going to get me in trouble with Helene...

NOW, in my own defense - in fact the T & the B could indeed be considered a typo when replacing each other - no listen, hear me out - you would use the same finger to strike either key - one is up and over, one is down oand over....

And I would like to thank my dear new friend Abejita for pointing out my little Freudian slip of the fingers in the first place :rantthat's her story and she's sticking to it! :twisted:

[Pinto Paso]

Thanks Dana - glad you understand my position. Geez like no one else has ever hit the wrong key while thinking of Latino barn toys :twisted:

[Carol Nelson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah...Dana...like YOU'VE never oogled any boy toys...

not unlike the one that Lori was oiling in the one post....

:shock: ;-)

I looked and they don't have a drooling emoticon... :lol:

[PasoJoy]

I wanna come too...glad you're not having any 'toys' there....I don't like to share... :bad bannana

[Pinto Paso]

greedy greedy Joy... hey when you come for the open house we'll go to wal-mart and look for those scammers

[PasoJoy]

Sounds like a good plan, Stef..those scammers MUST be down there...I've looked at every WalMart around here and no luck... :evil:

[Pinto Paso]

if they're here - we'll find them...

[Abejita]

And I would like to thank my dear new friend Abejita for pointing out my little Freudian slip of the fingers in the first place
hehehehe Glad to help out there....