For those who are innactive...

[CarolU]

Inactive in your region and PFHA. What would you like to see your region do to entice you to participate? This isn't a poll, I'm looking for YOUR ideas. Things like local social functions, fun shows, clinics, regular meetings, organized trail rides, phone call initiations, incentive award programs, news letters, whatever.

[Linda Y]

I am inactive in my region because all their functions are too far away from me. Most of the members are in the middle/north part of the state. The only thing I am ever able to go to are the shows because they hold them in a town 45 minutes away. But I don't show, and don't really care about them.
I understand that it would not be financially practical for the region to sponsor rides or such closer.

[Monty]

I technically should be in the Great Lakes region - but there is no way I could or would ever go to their events ,because of the distance - AND I do NOT drive through Chicago if I don't have to !
I joined Mid-america and they were having the shows in Madison - which was great for me (90 minute drive) - they are having a mumber of rides and one in Oct is 50 miles from here - If I can get a few rides in on Monty again - our daughter and SIL may haul us out, and they will ride with us ! ;-) They would be legal :lol: now!
No, they don't have Pasos but daughter has App that does Indian shuffle and his Mustang has started to single foot ! ROFL - they use to tease me about my "funny gaited" horse - but I ended up explaining what their horses were doing :roll: Now they don't say a word ! :lol:
I was thinking - too bad we can' thave a few more regions or sub-regions - smaller areas means closer to home and easier to attend meetings and events - regions that wanted to do things jointly could !
Just a thought ;-)

[Abejita]

was thinking - too bad we can' thave a few more regions or sub-regions - smaller areas means closer to home and easier to attend meetings and event
I think thats why the Appalachian Paso Fino Club got started in Mason Dixon.It isnt a 'region ' or sub region , but a club that got started by a group of paso owners who were all in the same area.Our region is also pretty spread out ( MD,PA,NJ,DE,parts of WV) and we too seem to be in 'clumps' They hold their own events (there is a clinic next weekend that has been posted here)

There you go Carol..encourage people to start self sustaining 'clubs' PFHA doesnt have to support it with funds, just get the idea out there.If the club doesnt get enough members to stay alive ..well then the members didnt want it..

[ErinC]

I would like to see the show barn crowed and back yard crowed
have more "stuff" together.

besided Bobbys clinic and Buttermilks clinic each year,
no one pulls together for anything as a club.

Lise Wood does a great job with her demo each year and her clinic.
but the word just does NOT get spread.

We need a web site, that can be interactive so that people can check in , and post things. list events that are going on ,
I.E. trail rides. clinic. demo's. shows etc etc etc

But I think I am dreaming.
I have been saying it for years.

[CarolU]

Thanks guys, these are all GREAT ideas - keep them coming!!!

Linda, I had a question on this:
I understand that it would not be financially practical for the region to sponsor rides or such closer.
Why is that? Are there no places to ride near you?

[Laura S]

I would like to see the show barn crowed and back yard crowed
have more "stuff" together.

besided Bobbys clinic and Buttermilks clinic each year,
no one pulls together for anything as a club.

Lise Wood does a great job with her demo each year and her clinic.
but the word just does NOT get spread.

We need a web site, that can be interactive so that people can check in , and post things. list events that are going on ,
I.E. trail rides. clinic. demo's. shows etc etc etc

But I think I am dreaming.
I have been saying it for years.

Erin, I've been thinking about this too since the Tospfield show. I was wondering if people that don't show would bring their horses for the weekend if we could do some fun things in the arena after the show. Like fun games, or horse soccer, and continue with the largo race they had this year? Because the Saturday night Lobster Feed is tons of fun, and it would be fun to do horsey things too. And I would love to see activities that include all paso owners.

Also, the northeast has that yahoo group, but I don't think many know about it yet, or use it alot yet. Are you on there?

I don't think I'm going to be able to attent the LW clinic in CT because that's the weekend before the Columbas Day clinic in MA. Doing 2 out of state events 2 weekends in a row is way too hard.

[ErinC]

no I did not know about the Yahoo group.
seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :(

[Linda Y]

quote="CarolU"]Thanks guys, these are all GREAT ideas - keep them coming!!!

Linda, I had a question on this:
I understand that it would not be financially practical for the region to sponsor rides or such closer.
Why is that? Are there no places to ride near you?[/quote]

As far as places to trail ride, the only one close is Bigfoot. It would be free, but for people that would have to haul in it is not practical. There are no hookups or facilities. There is a dandy place that backs up to it with all the amenities, but the folks that own it are odd about the use of it...even though that is what they designed it for! But that is another story.
As I said, the majority of the region's members are north or in Louisiana. So I don't think there would be enough people haul in to make it worthwhile. I have never been to one of their shindigs, but it seems that a whole lot don't show up even when they are close.

[lalecl]

Soooo why can't folks post a thread on here when you plan something? Oh wait! we try to do it but no one pays a lot of attention! LOL guess we all need to start looking in our own back yard if we want to do thing. I think it is a great idea to do fun days, but post them and then encourage people to READ them.

[jodiTowne]

I am inactive because everything is too far away as well. There are some shows closer but could care less about them. I do meet up with people to ride, but not as often as I would like. I did not know about this Yahoo site?? Tell me more?

Erin.....I like the idea of a more active website. If people could log on and say "I'm gonna be riding here on such day" type thing........

[Kerry W]

I'm anti social. Does that help? :shock: :lol:

[Terry Wallace]

CarolU..I HAVE to ask you this...are you rejoining your region?
I just quit last week. I just wonder what is sparking your questioning...OR..is it that Sport Horse is about to TAKE OFF??????


C'mon...throw me a bone would ya????

[Laura S]

Jodi and Erin, I pm'd you the link to the yahoo group. I think Lisa Richter posted it awhile back?? I'm not sure, but there aren't many on there right now.

[CarolU]

Terry, this is to help me on my National Committees (Communications and Recreation). Trying to find what will work to get inactive people more involved.

I have found working with regions is hit/miss on if the region talks to and works with their members. Some are good and have newsletters, some don't do anything but plan shows. Many don't even contact members for voting or officer elections.

I am looking at what PFHA can do to get inactive people involved more with their horses. It is looking like local clubs would work best.

As for Great Western, I think I will rejoin, but still won't run for any office or work on any committees. It's cost effective, just for the insurance at local GW activities (clinics, trail rides, Expo, etc..). Not just that, but Rosie is again winning the High Point for Specialty horse. I like the High Point program.

[Terri]

Erin.....I like the idea of a more active website. If people could log on and say "I'm gonna be riding here on such day" type thing........

We have suggested just that, but then all of a sudden changing the website gets touchy. But I wonder if it the problem runs deeper than just the "folks at the top". I have been very active in my local riding club and as much as people talk about doing fun things and we actual DO organized them, the nutz and boltz of the club are the shows. We have almost 250 members and the vast majority are only in it for the shows. In fact they spend so much engery debating who has what points that I just wanna shake them and say "get a life!'

There are probably 50 or so members who wanna trail ride and have fun. So we do organize trail rides and training clinics and "fun days" but those days are are sparsely attended compared to the shows and tend to cost the club money. Whereas the shows are clearly money makers and are needed to support the other events. Therefor it is the shows that support the club and it is the shows that the club officers put most of their engeries into.

I don't know much about the NEPFA or even wether or not the shows make money. But I am willing to bet a similar dynamic is going on. Shows are what most members, particularly the money members, care about. If the rest of us backyard hacks wanna trail ride and party, we are going to have to organize it ourselves. So I think we should gather up the email addresses and phone numbers of the folks we wanna hang with and as Nike say "just do it".

Isn't Tiffer organizing something for Oct? I can hardly wait!!! I am already inviting paso friends and neighbors to come along

.

[Terri]

opps, posted twice

[ErinC]

Yes Terri she is,
and Lise does a lot too, but I think we need a place to check in and post the events nit just e-mails.
Laura I got the link for the yahoo group you can bet I will be all over that like a cheap suite.

now its up to people to use it!

[Laura S]

You go girl! :lol:

[ErinC]

OOOOOOOOOOO I DID!
poor Lisa! :lol:

[My Pasos]

IMO, the cost of the shows is what hurts. When I used to show, it would cost around $400.00 +. That hurts my already empty bank account.

There are several smaller show grounds out there. I wonder if they would ever consider trying a fair ground?

If they had more "Fun" things to do. A more diverse other than the same ole same ole. Picnics, maybe a small carnaval. I don't know.

Everyone talks about promoting this breed, but in areas like this, thats all they seem to do. I am not talking about only hitting the big cities, but some small ones to.

[jodiTowne]

CarolU....to more directly answer your question, what would bring me to participate more would be clinics and trail rides. At this point, shows, even fun shows don't do it for me. Now, when the kids are older who knows?

Even the trail ride incentive after a show is no good. I won't drive hours just to do a 2 hour ride.

I honestly will be just trying to network more with other New Yorkers. If there was a NY Paso Fino Club it would be better. Mass and Maine are just too far for most things.

Plus.....timing of clinics. If riding weather is good, I don't go to clinics. i will be out on the trail.

[CarolU]

Thanks Jodi, people like you are my focus, the recreational riders. Shows are already organized and regions put them on with/for the members that show. I'm looking at what PFHA can do to help/energize the recreational riders to become involved - not with shows - but with each other, the breed, and the organization.

[lisa l aka marci]

Yes Terri she is,
and Lise does a lot too, but I think we need a place to check in and post the events nit just e-mails.
Laura I got the link for the yahoo group you can bet I will be all over that like a cheap suite.

now its up to people to use it!

I have been fairly quiet about the Yahoo group - please any/everyone feel free to join!

It is a place to post whatever....if you are going trail riding out of your back yard and want to let others know, have a clinic coming up, WHATEVER! As long as it is horse related.....does not necessarily have to be Paso related......

[ErinC]

THANKS LISA! ;-)

[Candice Burger]

I agree with Jodi about the distance. I'm probably worse because things do happen in my backyard, so to speak and I don't attend. There's a very active trail riding association in Tallahassee that attracts riders from nearby counties but I don't belong and there's some nice local shows with gaited classes that I don't attend.

For me it's a matter of priority. What's more important to me right now in my life and how much time can I contribute. Honestly right now, I'm enjoying have an almost defunct PC at home and having weekends where I'm not laboring on something horsey. It's nice to do something I'm interested in with the horses that has nothing to do with what breed it is. And I've gotten some time in to pursue other interests that I've had to lay aside because of the horsey projects.

The lure for me is camaraderie of being with paso people and talking trash. How the foals are doing, what's happening with that nice stallion we saw last year, you know something that's not controversial, offensive or really important. It's been a while since I've had a conversation without the feeling that I had to put on riot gear to defend my statements.

Unfortunately, I'm happy to go long periods of time without such interaction. In fact, although I miss it, I don't miss it like I did. Maybe if friendships were stronger or my interest in the breed less provocative, I'd venture out more.

If I were to really get back into it, it would be at the recreational level. I think we are missing out by not trying to do more with pasos besides the organized shows. The LD, CTR, and others are alluring as are the cow horse competitions.

[FineStepFarm]

Wow, the local club idea is great!
Tennessee is such a wide state, it seems that most of the paso people live west and middle. I really don't like to drive over mountains. Maybe if there was an interest, we could have a east, middle, and west saddle club in Tenn. We could go trail riding, have fun days, do clinics, drill team and enjoy other people that have Paso's.
Who knows maybe we could host Paso Pleasure shows for just the ami-owner, no usef, and try to get points to go to the far away shows.
I wonder how something like that could be set up?
I think the PFHA has an address program that you can send mail-outs to everyone in your area.
I would love to be on drill again!
I wonder if this could be ran out of your local region?

I am usually willing to drive one to one 1/2 hour for a one day show, or trail ride, or meeting.
Maybe we can set it up so clubs can have a 100 mile radius?

One of our meetings here in Tennessee was in Memphis, for me thats a 5 hour drive. So I didn't go. But if we had local clubs, we can still be in the loop and get the meeting info e-mailed to us, or something. I'm sorry, I'm just brainstorming here.
Tammi