FREE Marketing action that really works!!

It works because it's FREE

That “Free” word really grabs our attention – that is because we all like to get something for nothing.

It is a universal fact of life – no exceptions.

So how can Equine Business owners use that knowledge to their advantage and ultimately increase their customer base and bottom line?

Good question  - I am glad you asked.

You are going to give something away to your potential customers, don’t worry its not going to cost you a dime.  

You are going to offer

FREE Guided horse walks

Allow me to explain

This past summer I conducted a couple of Guided Horse walks at “Whitemud Equine centre”.

It was a very simple activity that we promoted on Facebook the riding school web site and with a sign at the end of the lane.  Which read

FREE  guided horse walk tonight at 6pm (wear sensible shoes)

Meet up at the main gate

Around 15 people showed up for the walk

 I introduced myself and explained that as we walked around the facility I would teach them a little about equine behavior because although the horses look like they are not doing anything other than standing around in a field  - really there is a lot going on if we choose to look a little harder.

The walk started at the isolation pen where I explained why the horse was there and why he was upset at being separated from his buddies – this was also a perfect opportunity to talk about the importance of not petting the horses so as not to spread any nasty bugs.  From there we went to the field (the group stayed on the outside of the fence) and I explained a little about herd hierarchy and pecking order and to demonstrate I threw a couple of slices of hay into the field. The more dominant and high-ranking members got to eat first and the lower horses in the pecking order probably didn’t get any.

As we continued our walk I talked about how the horses were used and some of the programs offered at the riding school.

 I also threw in some fascinating little tid bits like how much poop a horse produces in a day (the little boys love knowing about poop) and how a horse see’s the World, and also his blind spots.

It was a pleasant stroll around the property and by the end of it several of the families wanted more information about riding lessons for their kids.

This was great PR for the riding school plus we gained couple of new clients.

But lets pretend we did the same thing at a horse rescue facility – as well as teaching equine behavior we could be talking about the goals and dreams for the rescue and how much it costs to keep a horse  - maybe sharing a few special stories  - by the end of the walk you might have people wanting to get involved and help either financially or by volunteering their time and talents.

Or maybe you are a horse breeder with a new crop of Spring foals  - most city folk have never been up close and personal with a foal  - you could talk about the weaning process and how old they have to be before they can start work  - perhaps show them the stallion and talk about how he is used and kept.

I know of one breeder who has an adopt a foal program – for  $350 you can adopt a foal for 1 year  - you don’t own the foal but you can come and visit him under supervision brush and lead him  - this program is aimed at kids  - and guess what after a year of adopting this foal they are now in love with him and want to buy him  - and a well handled polite yearling has to be worth way more than a weanling.

As you can see with a little imagination horse watching and free guided horse walks

Can increase your revenue.

It’s the soft sell approach  - if we can get people excited about horses and eager to learn more this can only be good for the industry as a whole.

3 easy steps to get started

1. Visit www.thehorsewatcher.com and download the free horse watching filed guides. “What to watch for when horse watching”
2. Pick a time and day for your horse walk
3. Promote the horse walk on facebook / your web site/ free on-line community calendars (most newspapers and TV stations offer this free service)/ what’s on in your area notice boards/ community leagues/ sports centre’s/ schools in fact anywhere you can think of that offers free advertising.

When you visit the  web site you find lots of resources and information about horse watching.

Most of it is Free