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Topic: Growing the Breed Strongly & with Forward Momentum (Read 8802 times)
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EclypseSporthorses
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Go The Distance
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I have heard it said that the breed should stay small.
I have always believed that what isn't growing is dying
& that Forward movement is required for progress.
For theTrakehner to grow as a breed,
we need to do all that we can to keep the gene pool going & the members numbers rising.
((This is not about becoming a huge breed organization- it is about healthy numbers)) I was taking a close look at the ATA list of stallions, I began to notice as I read down the list, that most of the stallions were born in 1970's & '80's, this was clearly the majority of the list. On the list born after 1990- there were about 32, out of I think out of about 108. Of the 32 born after 1990- take a close look at the pedigrees, they are similiar...some of them very closely related...so before someone tells me again that the Trakehner is not in danger as far as the gene pool goes, look again....
That goes for our membership too, we need youth & new members in to grow the Association forward.
I'd personally like to see a proactive approach to promoting the breed, especially to the youth. I had talked with Penny a few days before she left, (not knowing she was leaving) asking her if there was anything we could put out at a booth like the one at Midwest Horse Fair that was geared towards youth, and she had said no & that she had been asking for such materials for some time, with nothing happening to yet.
Also that she had had many many calls, letters, emails from 4-H groups and other youth requesting infomation on the Trakehner and that she knew any of the materials she could send the brouchure, and that was all . How sad.
Call the AQHA, APHA, or AHA and see what they send to the youth organizations or what they hand out free at the Midwest Horse Fair or other Events like it! You'll find informative and fun posters, coloring pages, stickers, ect. Very youth friendly.
I talk to youth & adult horse owners about when they decided what breed they wanted to own, and you know what? Most youth and adults had settled on the bred they were in love with way before they were 15! Most of them between the ages of 8 & 12! And most of them stuck with that breed! What do you think?
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« Last Edit: January 22, 2004, 01:39:08 PM by Christina »
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"Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4
~*Ride-Far-Ride-Well*~
*^The Sky's the Limit^*~
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sew
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Christina, I agree w/ you that we need more breed promotion. I was thinking about doing an ATA booth at the Illinois Horse Fair in March 2005. It's a little too late for this year.
In my opinion, I think that they need to be a bit less picky about the stallions and start looking at the mares (as I've stated in many of my previous posts). The mare is where most of the offspring's characteristics comes from. However, I do feel strongly that we should breed for quality, not quantity. If that means the breed remains small, so be it. Each year, we (US) seem to have more access to the German stallions to bring in fresh blood, which we will need to further the breed, and as another poster stated, there are many stallions in this country that are not being utilized.
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DK
FEI
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Posts: 138
Kammerland Trakehners
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I couldn't agree more. I am personally not terribly creative, but I'm good with the planning and execution of good ideas. People like me need to get together with the creative types and get something done. We have to promote this breed. What isn't progressing is regressing. I stumbled onto Trakehners as a 16 year old and didn't feel at that time that the ATA had much to offer someone my age, especially when compared to the AQHA youth stuff my brother was doing. Let's come up with some good ideas (even if they're small ones,) get the ATA's approval to implement them, and do so. 
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« Last Edit: January 22, 2004, 04:51:01 PM by DK »
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Joy
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I love Trakehners!
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For my business, I designed y own brochures with Microsoft Publisher. They can be printed on my own printer on high quality paper, or I can take a photo-ready copy to a print shop. With a few good photos and a good copy writer, it should be fairly easy to put together a brochure. Keep in mind that full color brochures cost a lot more than 1 or 2 color. How many brochures would be needed for a booth? Anyone know? How long would it take to get approval from the ATA? And does anyone know or have as a family member a printshop owner that would print at a discount?
Two or three brochures could be designed, approved and then details of who to contact could be changed as needed, and perhaps printed *as approved* on local printers.
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DK
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Kammerland Trakehners
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Great idea. Let's see how much it would cost, what quantities we would need, how we need to go about getting ATA approval, etc.
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EclypseSporthorses
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Go The Distance
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DK,
I think what I see popular at the Equine events that the youth like are stickers, ((Trakehner Symbol???)) How much would that cost? It would be just one color. The other things that are popular are the mini posters and/or postcards
that have the breed on front and the information on the back.
The other two items that go over well are a single coloring page that can be just like the poster ( only able to be colored ) and multi page coloring books that several breeds hand out, telling the history of the bred.
The largest that is given out seems to be by AQHA and is a lovely light weight poster, full sized...though the cost of that maybe high- one could be raffled off? Or given away in a drawing?
I noticed at several events that the mounted police are using baseball type cards as an effect means of PR.
Do you think the simplest way to find out the number of these items needed will be to ask the Morgan, Saddlebred, AQHA and Arabian Assn. how many they bring and maybe where they order from?
I'd say the other thing everyone can do is get involved with youth and talk to them about the Trakehner. They look up to you, they are interested in why you love this breed so much and will become enthusiastic with you! 4-H organizations and Pony Club are always looking for educational activities, speakers and demonstrations, if any of you have horses that are good to give demos on...I'd say they'd love to hear from you. Our horses are just coming of riding age, though most of the youth in our county do know about our Trakehners, as I am one of the county riding instructors, they ask us often about our horses.
I will try to contact some of these organizations tomarrow! Thanks again.
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« Last Edit: January 22, 2004, 06:46:47 PM by Christina »
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"Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4
~*Ride-Far-Ride-Well*~
*^The Sky's the Limit^*~
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DK
FEI
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Posts: 138
Kammerland Trakehners
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The company that I work for is one of the top promotional product agencies in the country. We do lapel pins, pens, buttons, mugs, basically ANYTHING that you can can think of that we can put a custom logo or artwork on. I can do lapel pins really cheap as I buy direct from the factories in China. I even have sources for posters, stickers, etc. I can do them WAY cheaper than they could even be bought for wholesale because I can order them for us at cost. I can have any logo or text put on them. They can be customized for specific events or we could just have a stock ATA logo and text. I do direct orders and my boss (non-horsey but supportive of the breed) gives me free reign with pricing. It's an option.
For instance - I've always thought that the ATA should sell (or give with as event gifts) a nice gold-toned, antique finished die struck lapel pin with the antler logo, but I've never gotten around to mentioning it. I can actually do those for around $1.20 each. They look like this:
http://lapelpins.montereycompany.com/lapel-pins-diestruckantique.html
Or a cheapie give away pin for events:
http://lapelpins.montereycompany.com/lapel-pins-pinpointe.html
Those are REALLY cheap when you get up to certain quantities.
Anyways, there are tons and tons of options. I'm sure we can come up with some great ideas.
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TwinGates
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Performance Matters!
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All good ideas & DK, had no idea you worked for a company that sold premiums! Everyone in the advertising industry knows what these are & I had my husband bring home several books the other night, as these will soon be offered at the Trakehners-International website.
Maren & I founded TI to do exactly what is being discussed here & we are literally hearing from people around the world . . . many who had no idea the horses they're 'breed-loyal' to have so much TK blood! His Highness really gained attention for the TK's, and you'll notice that many of the stallions in this year's various keurings had lots of TK blood (see TI 'News' section). We also insert 'editors comments' about TK lines that consistently produce desirable traits & suggest that breeders search these lines out.
We ARE seeing progress, but need volunteers to REALLY make strides. For instance, we could use Sew's idea about using MS Publisher to print high-quality 'flyers' for distribution @ events. The material about the TK's history, Famous performing TK's and the bloodlines that are influencing other breeds already exists @ TI. Combine these sheets w/Christinas idea about coloring pages & DK's premiums, and we've got a great booth for upcoming 4H or Pony club events.
Other suggestions? Does anyone have an idea for compiling a list of 'target events'? DK, let me hear from you re: other premiums, we truly are ready to order these for TI.
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DK
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Kammerland Trakehners
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Kim,
I pm'd you.
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Ritazza
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Quincy and Metro!
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Just as a random little sidenote....
As a junior member, I just joined the ATA a few weeks ago We do need more young members. But with the number of people at my barn who have fallen in love with Metro, I think we may just have a few more little ones coming in!
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TwinGates
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Performance Matters!
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It's new members like you & Metro that keep our breed promotion alive & dynamic! Keep up the good work!! 
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shadytrake
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I LOVE Trakehners!
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I am a little late on this thread, but I like the ideas here. I was just thinking of ideas for the upcoming horse fair (in Oct) here in Shelby County - (Memphis,TN).
I really like the poster idea, so if you are interested in having your photo on our Trakehner poster - e-mail me the photo.
We are interested in candid photos taken by ATA members of their own trakehner horses, but if you have a professional photo and written approval to use it - send it also.
We might make several different posters, so the more pictures the better.
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shadytrake
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I LOVE Trakehners!
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8x10 print would be fantastic! I can scan it into my computer and create a poster.
Prints are better, but a good computer file is okay as long as my server will take it.
If you have a really big picture file, send it to melissa.garner@oocl.com
Now, it would be even better if you bring Tanzeln in person to the Horse Fair! It is only ~3 hrs away. Please! We would love to have him come.
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TwinGates
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Performance Matters!
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Melissa, did you get the pics I sent to your e-mail address?
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shadytrake
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I LOVE Trakehners!
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Yes, I got them. Thanks! I am trying to come up with a cool slogan.
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Kobau
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I love Trakehners!
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I'm late coming to this thread. I'm not a member of CTA or ATA as yet, but looking into it.
I didn't even learn about traks until I met a friend that raised them, that was 4 years ago... and I didn't fall for them until i got my mare, 2 years ago...
I'm a member of AQHA,APHA, and CMHA... they really push with pictures,posters, and brochures....
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Shawnda
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Great ideas guys, all of them . Finally some people who want to do some work ! The Board of Trustees meeting is March 4th and 5th. All items for the agenda must be at the ATA office two weeks before. If you wish to produce flyers, brochures, etc. you must ask the Board for permission, and work with the Public Relations Committee. Julie Baxely in in charge of that Committee. Salemmeado@aol.com You must work out a budget, and have concrete ideas put down on paper to ask the board for permission to proceed.
We have been trying for a couple of years to produce a new brochure, but as of yet, nothing has been done.
The problem we have had in the past, is that some people with marvelous ideas come forth, but when it actually comes to doing the work, and producing these items, they just fade into the background. So be prepared to follow your ideas through. Good luck !
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acottongim
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I love Trakehners!
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Shawnda, I was going to suggest that everyone contact Julie too! She is very open to ideas and is motivated to making the ATA a better place.
I think that the public has a bad misconception about Trakehners as a breed. How many times have you heard something along the lines of "those crazy trakehners!"? The lady that boards my horses used to think that there aren't very many TK's in upper level dressage - she rides Prix St Georges - but since she has gotten to know me, and through me, Joe Pimmental, she is starting to realise that there are more TK's out there than she knew of. She is also impressed with how laid back my TK's are,and how good Impressionist is (she took him in for Hurricane Ivan) - not what she was expecting. Part of the problem is that we as riders don't always promote our breed. There is a GP rider that is in her barn right now on his way down to S FL, he has a TK gelding that is TO DIE FOR. To make a long story short, the owner lost the papers on the horse, doesn't remember the breeding of the horse (he used to breed upwards of 70 TK's only in NY but lost everything after 9/11) so the horse is going to be shown and competed as just a horse, not a TK. I find this very sad - I also find it sad that neither the owner nor the rider care! I know of many other owners of TKs that don't tell anyone that they own a TK, maybe because they aren't into the breeding thing, maybe because they don't want the stigma of "that crazy TK", I don't know. But if we as riders don't ever start to self promote nothing will change.
I went to DAD this past year. I heard that Carol Scheuler was trying to get all the TKs that were competing to be in the same stable to show unity. GREAT IDEA! I requested one of the stalls. When I got there, the only TK horses stabeled there were my colt and Carol's horses (there might have been one other lady also). There were MANY other TK at DAD - why didn't they want to be in that barn? Some may have been with their trainer's barns, or whatever, but still... And btw - "our" barn was the only barn that didn't flood during the TORRENTIAL downpours we had. Carol also went out of her way and donated prizes for the Trakehner class (up to 5th place). When I went to get my prize, EVERYONE was commenting on how wonderful it was that the ATA did this, and how jealous they were, and that they wished their breed registeries did things like that etc.
Yes, I agree that many things can or should be done to "get the word" out. I just told Julie the other day (when I volunteered to help out in any way I could) that one of the things that bugs me at these events is some of the literature that the ATA gives the people to hand out is outdated - there is a phamplet from 1992 that is still being used for example. But I also think that we, as TK owners/lovers/riders need to spread the word ourselves also. How cool would it be to have one year at an event like DAD where all the TKs (or the majority of them) are in stalls lined up near each other, and they all have stall plates displaying the antlers, and the horses' lineiage??
Just my two cents worth, and sorry to get on my "soapbox".
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EclypseSporthorses
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Go The Distance
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Great things usually come from a team effort, the ones with the ideas are not always in the best position to implement.
PR for example, we have lost the opportunity for Midwest Horse Fair again, because people can't or don't want to bring their horses. I cannot go there with one horse to represent the breed, in the past there have been several horses there.
I have only been in Trakehners for four years, seeing the excellent standard that Sue Davis set for the ATA being represented at MWHF is hard to try to duplicate unless you know people and have a talent for chairing events. And let's face it, not everyone is cut out to chair such a large event.
Advertising: I noticed AHA had an add in Dressage Today promoting the half-Arabian, it would be nice to see something like this from the ATA, or maybe Midwest Trakehners?
Genepool: It is great to see the new lines coming into the USA and the new horses being approved.
Will the Arab-TB Pilot program end this December? Or is there still a need and room for new genetics and the outside influence in the breed?
Personally Promoting: I'm sure that we all on this BB are happy to, enthusiastic about and always do promote our breed as often as possible. Shadrach (Karino's Fire) has been out doing untraditional Trakehner activities, such as Endurance and chasing cattle, raising money for charity, as well as other activiites.
CTR and Endurance should not be such a unique activity to Trakehners, as the discription of the breed includes one of my favorite discriptions,
"A good character, a well balanced temperament, intelligence, willingness to work, as well as endurance and hardiness during work are to be particularly apparent characteristics of its internal traits."
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"Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4
~*Ride-Far-Ride-Well*~
*^The Sky's the Limit^*~
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They thought they were hand outs! Because all the other breed associations have handouts! The breed is bigger than ourselves,and our generation & I want to see it grow, keeping it healthy and strong, Forward Into the Future with a strong gene pool & even stronger member/supporter/fan base:-)
