Day 25
Countdown to Kentucky Round-Up:

What's Kentucky Round-Up?

TODAY I SAW A HORSE.  OR TWO.

You'd think as a staff member of the Kentucky Horse Council that I'd be in the presence of horses pretty frequently.  But honestly, except for my own horses at home, my job is closer to that of a typical corporate job-- meetings, conference, emails and reading articles and reports.

But THANKS TO KENTUCKY ROUND-UP, this afternoon I was at a local riding stable.  Considering it is the middle of January, the day was gorgeous and sunny (but cold).  I met with Janet Patton, one of the Lexington Herald-Leader's journalists, who is interested in writing something about Kentucky Round-Up.  Janet has done a number of articles about the horse industry, and is intrigued by KY Round-Up.

We met at The Farm, located off Winchester Road, and had a photo shoot of some girls who ride there, age 6 to 13.  They rode everything from a 16.2H Thoroughbred (in his second career) to a 13.2H, 20-year old pony who, according to the trainer, "keeps going and going".  (Aren't all ponies like that?) Calm and quiet, been there-done that attitude.. and amazingly he is a Hackney-Mustang cross.  Not exactly the stereotypical calm and quiet breeds.

They groomed, they tacked, they mounted, they rode.  Smiles all around.  The photographer was snapping as fast as her digital camera would go, and at one point I saw her lying on her stomach on the ground getting a shot under the horses' belly. (Yes, she was safe, she was far enough away from the trotting horse...)

Emily, who owns the farm, donated a lesson package for a door prize at Kentucky Round-Up, and I left a poster for the barn.  (Note to readers, we are looking for more donated lesson packages for kids who come who want to learn to ride, just email me if you know of someone willing to give)

It was a good day which got me out of the office, away from the computer, and back to the animals that the Horse Council focuses on every day.

See you tomorrow.

Day 26
Countdown to Kentucky Round-Up:

What's Kentucky Round-Up?

LEARNING TWO THINGS I SHOULD HAVE ALREADY KNOWN.

Yesterday I ran around Nicholasville to get some Kentucky Round-Up posters put up around town.  I stopped into The Boot Store to see if they would want to be a vendor.  Cowboy boots and John Michael Montgomery... seems like a natural. (Status: Boot Store ON HOLD.  Owner not in store at the time.)

I learned two things on that two hour trip (one lesson per hour, not bad):

1. 4-H kids actually do grow up, and get jobs and college degrees, and houses!

2. Large multi-national corporations do not support the community by putting up any posters (even nice ones like the KY Round-Up poster) because it might mess up their pristine, designer-designed entryways.

Back to #1:  I was a 4-H Horse Club leader for six years. Loved working with the kids and their new horses -- and their hopeful parents, some of whom didn't have a clue about what to do with a horse.  Luckily, we all learned and no one got injured.

Stopping at the Boot Store, there was one of my 4-Her's, working full time, planning to enter Nursing school at UK, bought her own home last year, and was gorgeous and confident. I remember my worries when her parents bought her a 2-year-old to train when she was about 11, and they got into barrel racing. She survived, and even thrived -- and so did the horse.

Walking into Tractor Supply, there was a second one of my 4-Her's, who knew me immediately although I didn't recognize her.  I think the last time I saw her she was 13.  I remember she rode an Appaloosa.

At Southern States, I didn't know anyone, but the women at the front desk were all excited about Kentucky Round-Up and asked for two posters so they could put them on their front doors on both sides.  Now that's what I like to hear.

So that was all good.

Now for #2, the multi-national companies who have a NO FLYERS policy.  Remember when we went to the corner store, and on the front window or on the front of the check-out counter were flyers about yard sales, church pot lucks, local horse shows, PTA bake sales.. it was a veritable cornucopia of neighborhood information.

Fast forward to 2013.  Corner stores go out of business, replace by the big box stores which have 300, or 400, or 500 stores around the U.S.  RULE #1: Each one has to look the same.  Store fronts and windows and signage are all designed at the corporate HQ.  And most policies like allowing local groups to post information about their events -- VERBOTEN!  Might look messy.  Might hide a sale sign they have up.  People might block the door reading them.  Bah Humbug.

So, I was turned down at Lowe's and Rite Aid.

I expect to be turned down as well at Walmart and KMart.  But I'll try.

By the way, if you can get some posters up in your area (tack stores, feed stores, barns...) let me know and we'll send you some.  (director@kentuckyhorse.org)

See you tomorrow.

Day 27
Countdown to Kentucky Round-Up:

What's Kentucky Round-Up?

UNEXPECTED VISITORS

I was working away at my dining room table on Kentucky Round-Up emails (and it was amazing how many others were on email or on their smart phones, because I would get responses quickly, which is weird for a Saturday morning)..

Anyway, working away and the dogs start barking at the front door.  I hate to be interrupted but went to the door and two very nice ladies wanted to talk to me about the End of the World (as we know it) and pointed out Bible verses that refer to the end of the world.

I wasn't sure what angle they were taking because on one hand they said the Righteous who follow God's way will have eternal life on earth, on the other hand there were prophesies of the world burning after we disintegrate into chaos.

So I was thinking to myself (after politely listening to them and taking their pamphlets)... should I start thinking about the End of the World, or should I just send this one more email?

With all those Mayan predictions, I'm not sure I'm ready for a second wave of fear about the End of the World.  Actually I didn't even have a first wave of fear for the Mayan prediction --- but I do admit I waited to send Christmas cards AFTER Christmas, so as to not waste my time or postage if the apocolypse was coming the next day.

But here we still are, and with my luck the End of the World will come ONE DAY after Kentucky Round-Up, and I will have spent my last hours worrying about whether a mini was going to poop on someone's shoes.

Sad to think about, isn't it? (Not if you're the one with the shoes, I suppose).

Back to emailing vendors and team members and speakers....and watching for the giant fireball in the sky.

See you tomorrow.

Day 28
Countdown to Kentucky Round-Up:

What's Kentucky Round-Up?

THE TEAM

The emails are pouring in about Kentucky Round-Up. And the phone calls.  Christmas is over and people are once again focused on whatever they left on their desks.  In this case, the Kentucky Round-Up info.

But WHOA!  Here it is the third blog entry for our 30-day Countdown and I haven't mentioned THE TEAM.

Just when you've heard all you can hear about the self-centered American culture (ME ME ME), then you are blessed with a selfless set of people who dig in and work with absolutely no compensation to make something like this happen.

THE TEAM, just too cool when I think about it.

Maybe this is a woman thing, don't know.  But when a group of people start pulling all in the same direction, take responsibility for their areas, follow-up and follow-through... it's a real experience and a real high.

But now that team is really cooking, and boy, are the emails coming in as they unbury one more detail to consider.  Like--

• Should we rent the executive box or the regular boxes for John Montgomery (yes, because of the number of people to accomodate, it's the only one large enough)?  
• Do we want centerpieces on the members banquet tables (no, too expensive)
• What can we put in the goody bags for kid that finish our horse quiz?  (Still discussing...)
• Can vendors pick their own spots, or should we assign them? (half and half)
• How many minis can we fit in Kids Corral at one time (gazillion)
• Where's the best location for billboards in Northern KY? (depends on how much you want to pay)

and yada yada....

Not to mention concert questions like-

• Do we need to feed the sound crew?
• Will John Michael Montgomery enter in a carriage, and if so, who's got a carriage they are willing to make available?
• How long will it take to put down the flooring for the floor concert seats?
• Who gets free concert tickets, and how many?

and yada yada...

So rather than sugarplums dancing in our heads, we have these kinds of questions to fall asleep with.  I guess it could be worse, so I'm ready for a few ZZZ's.

See you tomorrow.

Day 29
Countdown to Kentucky Round-Up: 

A Trip to Dunnville

Today I went to Dunnville, Kentucky.

Quick - trivia question for Kentuckians who own or work on horse farm:

What large, successful equine business is based in Dunnville, KY??

(Hint, it is just south of Liberty.)

Answer: TARTER, maker of high quality corral panels, gates, feeders, rodeo equipment, and a number of other products (in fact a WHOLE LOT of other products)

Tarter -- Kentucky created, Kentucky owned, and holding its own in this economy.. in fact, growing.  That is what I call KENTUCKY PROUD.  And NO, they aren't moving their plant to China. Yahoo, buy local!

It was the first visit there for the KY Horse Council.  We were talking about what KHC does, why Kentucky needed a good Horse Council, and all about Kentucky Round-Up.  I think just your basic corporate sales call, not too unlike what I did when I worked for IBM.  And Travis, who we met with, was friendly and welcoming.  Let's admit it, not all companies - or people - still are REAL after they've hit success.  Totally refreshing.  A good day.

Have to tell you about lunch though.  We stopped at Scott's Family Restaurant in Liberty and made the mistake of NOT taking the soup beans and corn bread on the buffet.  I ordered off the menu and it was a perfectly fine sandwich, but why oh why did I pass up the soup beans?  Still missing them.

See you tomorrow.

Day 30
Countdown to Kentucky Round-Up

Have you ever planned a major event?  (Those of you who worked on WEG 2010, OK put your hands down..)  It takes a certain amount of skill, experience and the patience of Job.  And oh, did I mention, the brain power to absorb and remember gazillion teeny tiny details...

KHC is hosting the first (planned to be annual) Kentucky Round-Up on February 2, 2013.
For those of you who like the basic details, here they are:

• Alltech Arena, Kentucky Horse Park
• Doors Open at 8:30, all-day events until 4:00
• Kids Corral, The Stable, The Paddock, Vendors, Classes, Concourse Activities, Demos and Clinicians (Go to kentuckyroundup.com for more...)
• Member's Banquet at 5:00
• John Michael Montgomery Concert at 7:00
• Admission $10 for daytime, $25 for Concert and daytime
• KHC members get free daytime tickets.

But WHOA -- this is not an advertisement for Kentucky Round-Up...
But an invitation to listen in on those last (may I say somewhat panicky) 30 days until the big day.

I'll be posting every day from now until Jan. 31st. All the trials and tribulations, the successes and (am I allowed to say it?) failures, the agony and the ecstasy (I think I heard that phrase somewhere before).

If you find yourself getting teary-eyed over the work needing to be done -- just email me (director@kentuckyhorse.org) and there will be a job for you to do.  Could even be a fun job with good perks.  Could be done now, to help get ready for Feb. 2, or could be on Feb. 2nd itself.

So come along for the ride, follow the blog here, or watch for it on the KHC Facebook page.
See you tomorrow.

Taking the bull by the horns - or horse by the bridle..

There's nothing I love more than seeing a bunch of people band together and rather than waiting for someone else to solve their problems, they just Get Going with a plan of their own.

Thus it was with the Oldham County thoroughbred owners.

When Del Lowell heard that the top agricultural crop in Kentucky in 2011 was chickens, she said "REALLY?  CHICKENS?"  And so she spearheaded a mission to make horses #1 again.

We all know the legislature has not been kind to the Thoroughbred industry lately.  There is that little issue of gaming, and the ongoing issue of sales tax charged to horse farms.  And then there are other concerns like regulation of race day medications, etc.

Not to mention the economy.  Did I say the economy?  The economy, yeah, everyone has it bad on that score and the horse industry was not left out of the mix.

But not one to whine, Lowell's new group, the Oldham County Thoroughbred Supporters started a media campaign and convinced the local newspaper, the Oldham Co. Era, to run a 6 week series of articles about the horse industry in the county.

After weeks of talking to and interviewing horse owners and farm owners in the county, researching the rich history of Thoroughbred farms and their winning horses, the group wrote the six stories for the Era, with help from Joanne Hepperman, who has already written one book about owning a small TB partnership (Rose Colored Horses).

They then planned a Meet-and-Greet for all those interested in moving forward with promoting their industryand getting more public awareness about the impact on Oldham County.  The Meet-and-Greet, held Sunday October 14, welcomed over 100 interested people including not only the horse owners and farm owners, but also local officials, state representatives and the nonprofit organizations which support the horse industry- KY Thoroughbred Association, KEEP and KY Horse Council.

The next event is Oldham County Day at Churchill Downs on Sunday, Nov. 4. Hepperman encouraged all in attendance at the Meet-and-Greet to not just attend themselves, but to bring a neighbor who might not normally come to the races.  They plan to highlight all horses running that were born in, or are being trained in Oldham County.

I want to say "YOU GO GIRL" but I know this is an effort by both sexes. Take a hint from the energetic and passionate horsemen in Oldham County and see what you can do in your county.  It does not need to be thoroughbreds, but could be breeding farms for other breeds, or a large trail riding community.  We all gotta get busy!

For more information about Oldham County Thoroughbred Supporters or to volunteer, contact Del Lowell at 502-639-1498, email Jo Ann Heppermann at joannebr@iglou.com, or go to www.oldhamahead.org and click on “Contact Us.”