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Free Riding and Driving Lessons to Promote ASB and Hackney



Lexington, Kentucky - Equestrian Life, a social network for horse people, launched the Learn to Ride and Drive in Style program on Monday, August 1st.

With a social network of more than 42,000 people, and  as the official television production partner of non-racing programming on HRTV, it is no wonder why the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA), the United Professional Horsemen's Association (UPHA), and the American Hackney Horse Society (AHHS), teamed up with Equestrian Life to promote the American Saddlebred and Hackney horse and pony breeds.

Throughout the week of the Lexington Junior League Horse Show, Equestrian Life filmed at the show, at the ASHA offices, American Saddlebred Museum, and at various farms in the Lexington, Kentucky area. These shoots have culminated into ten short videos, and what will be a 30-minute television show about American Saddlebreds and Hackney horses and ponies.

The short videos including breed descriptions, riding and driving lessons, testimonials, versatility, the youth, and why we are different were uploaded to the Equestrian Life website and their YouTube Channel on July 28th. By July 31 some videos already had over 1,000 views!

“We have never seen such a quick response to a set of videos. It is clear to us at Equestrian Life that there is pent up demand and excitement about the Saddlebred and Hackney breeds, and that the videos and all of the comments about them are providing a way for people to express this passion,” said Equestrian Life President and Co-Founder, Deana Bergquist. 

The television show which will debut on HRTV in October, will also be up on the Equestrian Life website in September, to ensure that as many people as possible will be able to view it. According to Berquist, “The piece will take the viewer on a journey beginning with the history of the breeds to how to get involved, versatility and will culminate with the ‘supermodels of the show ring’ depicting the Ferraris and Maseratis of each breed.”

The promotion of the breed does not stop there, however. On the home page of the Equestrian Life website there is a large banner reading, “This summer learn to ride a beautiful Saddlebred horse or drive a stylish Hackney for FREE!” This banner, along with a tab at the top of site, reading “FREE LESSON,” brings the website’s visitors to the “Learn to Ride and Drive in Style” page. Here visitors can watch the Ride and Drive commercial and the aforementioned videos, as well as a Saddlebred and Hackney photo gallery, but more importantly visitors can print a coupon for a free riding or driving lesson.

There are already 60 participating stables listed, but there is still time to sign your stable up. For more information on how to sign up go here

The Learn to Ride and Drive in Style promotion officially started on August 1st, but there has already been a huge interest in the program!
ASHA President, Judy Werner is excited for ASHA to be involved in a program that will be promoted to the general public.
 
“For too long we have marketed our breed to ourselves—Equestrian Life, like the USEF Network, gives us exposure well beyond our own borders, and that is what will grow the breed,” said Werner.

Bret Day, President of the UPHA is happy to see ASHA, UPHA, and AHHS teaming up.

“For the first time the UPHA, ASHA, and AHHS have come together to market our wonderful horses and ponies outside of ourselves and to give people access to our wonderful product. It’s an exciting time for people already involved in the breed and for people who will hopefully be getting involved in the breed,” said Day.

Aside from Equestrian Life’s promotion of the program on their website, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages, ASHA, UPHA, and AHHS are aggressively promoting the program though Social Media. But as ASHA members, you can help to promote the American Saddlebred too, by sharing the wonderful videos of our breed and the free lesson opportunity with your friends and family. 

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