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Topic: ata convention - just some thoughts (Read 1195 times)
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StarryNight
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Posts: 329
Trakehners rule
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Back from the convention and although I thought the clinic side was not as good as last year I totally enjoyed the experience. I find it very informative to see the horses and compare what I see to what the judges determine. You know I'll be taking long looks at my herd. I have video of all the stallions at liberty, did not tape the mares nor the jumping or triangle. They had so many problems with the jumping and quite the nail biter when the Graditz boy jumped the gate between the main arena and the warmup arena. He landed on top of the gate (ouch). To his credit he did not thrash or panic and they where able to pop the gate off and get him out of a tough situation. Talked to Judy on sunday morning and they had sent him off to a clinic for complete look see but first glance was that he would be ok and the family jewels where intact. I also have video of the jumping clinic with Windfall. If others would like to see what I taped I can send off a tape to one person and all can just pass it around for those that are interested. I wish there had been more approved stallions as it's always great to see them in person but I can understand hauling horses long distances being an issue. Schonfeld (sp?) was there for his last appreance in public and was again voted #1 hunter sire for 2001. What better to demonstrate the greatness of the trakehner breed. After some of the comments made by the inspection committee you will find me hauling my coming 3 year old filly out and about. Many times I heard that the walk was not relaxed, the horse looked tense but we have to judge what we see. Only one mare received 50 on her score I believe her name was Actress but do not remember her bloodlines. Another mare I really liked by Samrui II (sp) received a 49, she was my personal favorite. I don't know if anyone has ever noticed the wealth of Trakehner information supplied from Maren, let me assure all she is as lovely in person as she is via email and her family has generously added to the awards program. As always it was great to mingle with others who love the trakehner breed as much as I do and look forward to the next meeting. Just a final comment rumor has it that the meeting will be moving to another location for next year. Hopefully, they will find something a bit centrally located so more can attend
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« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1009015200 »
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Tannenwald Trakehner
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Posts: 935
TANZBRISE by Windfall out of Tariana
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Sounds like an interesting time. I would have liked to go to see the big collection of colts, but without a good farmsitter, an extended stay was not possible. A 10 hour drive one-way is too long to make a quick trip, and since we are out "in the sticks," we appear to be exempt from the discounted airline fares.
Maybe next year...
The move sounds hopeful. I understand everyone likes the St Louis location, but I never had the problem with Columbus that others seemed to. For one thing, it saves 3 hours of windshield time (I know, it adds 3 hours to someone else's trip).
Last year, we thought about going and taking along two fillies for the mare show. The stabling at St. Louis costs a lot more than it was in Columbus, since at St. Louis the stalls were charged by the day and in Columbus it was a one-time fee. Wouldn't matter if you were buzzing in and out with the horses, but if the horses are living there for the 4 days you spend at convention, the whole thing reached a point of diminishing return considering the horses were only in two classes and it isn't even a rated show. So instead of going last year, we started installing fence. 
It would be lovely if they would bring the mare show back. I wonder if other people had the same feeling I did about taking horses down with the new stabling rates, and if that contributed to the lack of entries in the show last year. Or maybe I am just stingier than most... 
The Select Sale has been a problem for a long time. When we got started with Trakehners, the auction seemed anything but a Select Sale, as it was widely considered to be a place to "dump horses" and prices were relatively low. One breeder called it the "blood bath." I think they needed to do a lot more work at presenting the horses (catalogs, etc) and advertising the sale to people outside of the ATA.
Still, it was something to look at. The last two attempts have at least been pitched as truly a "select" sale, where horses would be preinspected, but there appears to be a basic problem with generating interest in participating. Maybe because breeders are jaded by the "blood bath" years and don't want to stick a toe in the pool at the expense of transportation and consignment fees.
I wonder if the US is just TOO big and widespread to make a Select Sale a really viable idea? Somehow, the Germans have great attendance (and great prices) at their sales year after year, but it is a smaller area geographically (tho' people fly in from other countries).
The stallion/performance exhibition was always great, but the bleachers were empty. Always seemed like more public advertising could have been done there, also.
Anyway, it would be nice if those things were part of convention again.
On the tape, Terri, please DO send me a copy! I will be happy to pass it along to whoever else wants it.
And congratulations on the new bambino in the family!
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« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1009015200 »
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Equine Connection
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Posts: 444
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We have the same situation with "farm" care while we are gone. It's about a 14-hour trip for us, and although we would have really liked to take Happy Hour, it just was not feasible for us at this time. Our goal is to take him in the next year or two when he's got a bit more training under his belt. I can only say in our case we have to weigh out the potential benefits vs the importance of his training & development at this stage.
I also believe that more effective marketing would help to boost attendance. I cannot pass judgment on the current ATA marketing program as I'm not exposed to it on a day-to-day basis, so there may be marketing efforts that exist which I am not aware of. But, I remember that even with the mare and stallion inspection being held in conjunction with Equitana in '99, for the most part, the bleachers were empty and there was no official video done of the inspection that may have provided good feedback for the participants, as well as a means of exposure for future events. But, as a businessperson, I also realize that "funds" have a great deal to do with the ability to effectively market just about anything. I think the lack of attendance by the general public can be a bit discouraging.
I'm not sure it would be feasible, but is it possible to solicit members' input with regard to the location of the annual meeting (possibly this has been done in the past, but I'm not sure). If there are several potential sites in mind, would it make sense to publish information about each location and mail a ballot to all members to gain their input? Possibly, some ideas about how and what to offer at a meeting might be included, as well? I would imagine, however, that any type of ballot would need to be done 1-2 years in advance, since the commitment to utilize a facility must be done well in advance. Again, I'm not sure it's feasible as a location will not meet everyone's needs, but it might be worth a try 
If the location changes for next year's meeting, possibly, it may be more accessible to a larger number of members. With a county this big though, it's really tough to find that "ideal" spot.
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« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1009015200 »
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Warm Regards,
Renee & Happy Hour
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Suzette
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Posts: 443
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Well, I think they have pretty much polled the membership to death over this issue in the past. The difficulty arises in finding a facility that can handle an unknown number of horses, has good access to airports and hotels, food, meeting rooms, an arena with seating for hundreds of people (yeah, that'll happen...), good, safe stalls to hold stallions, a nice, large arena that can be closed off for freejumping, llots of trailer parking and near to someone who is willing to take the bull by the horns and control the details. It also has to be AFFORDABLE. I understand that this becomes a real problem. I have heard (anybody know for sure?) that one of the reasons for leaving Columbus was that the cost was getting so high that they couldn't recoup the facilities rental cost. For several years they tried to get the meeting to be a rotating thing around the country, but just couldn't put it all together.
I think everybody would like to have it close to their home, but it just isn't easy to do. Personally, though I have been a member for 15 years, I have only made it to 2 meetings (and then only for one day). The thing is too long, strung out over too many days, and they put the majority of the events on the WEEKDAYS! Every year I complain that those of us that have to work for a living (and have a farm to take care of)can't just drop everything and take off for 4 days to attend.
If they could compact it all into a Saturday and Sunday, and see fit to put the General Membership meeting on Saturday afternoon instead of Friday morning, the attendence would be VASTLY larger.
Just my opinions on the matter....
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« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1009015200 »
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Karousel Farms, Breeders of Fine Trakehner Sporthorses.
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Equine Connection
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Posts: 444
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Hi Suzette: Well, if they have polled this issue to death, then this probably wouldn't be the way to go. And, I fully understand the problem with logistics, required accommodations, cost, etc., etc. I would agree with you, however, with the problem for those of us who have to work for a living - in addition to taking care of our farms - and running a 2nd (and in our case, a 3rd business - my husband's). I'm would suspect that many members are in the same boat.
Would it be realistic to condense the meeting? I know from experience that most meetings last a bit longer than necessary. We have been members of another registry for quite a number of years, and I remember from the meeting we attended several years ago, it was held over the weekend, BUT, on the flip side, they certainly did not have activities to the extent that the ATA does, either. Both closed and open meetings were held with a nice reception/dinner, followed by some educational activities on Sunday for those who wished to (or could) stay.
Your thought of rearranging the actual meeting from Friday morning to Saturday afternoon seems to be a very good idea. That would still leave Saturday morning and Sunday for educational and entertaining events. I'm not sure of the solution, but hopefully this topic will continue to be evaluated in order to obtain a higher level of attendance and participation. 
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« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1009015200 »
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Warm Regards,
Renee & Happy Hour
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