Sport Horses and the Social Web

The growing role of social media in business and non profit marketing is all over the news these days. This index, put together by Interactive Insights Group, presents an extensive list of websites providing examples of corporate and non-profit social media in action. So where does the sport horse industry fit in with this trend? The answer is evolving nearly every day, as new users experiment with new ways to reach new audiences using the social Web.

Dappled Grey recently wrote about the growing number of Horse Tweets, individuals and businesses in the sport horse industry who are using twitter to connect and communicate with each other. In my nascent categorization of horsey twitter uses, I found owners, trainers, veterinarians, retailers, rescues, media, artists, sales barns, and even a few horses themselves who, presumably with some assistance, were all hopping online to tweet.

Since my original post two weeks ago, another interesting Horse Tweet category and example of sport horse social media marketing has emerged. The Devon Horse Show has been sending out fun twitter updates and blog posts directly from the historic Dixon Oval. From style updates to lead line interviews, @TheDevonBlog has taken advantage of the show's legendary past and strong name recognition to engage followers in the happenings of the show. If you've always wanted to go to Devon, social media may be the next best way to experience the show!

Dappled Grey is working with another new application of social media marketing for the sport horse community. This week, I helped the USDF Region Six Young Riders team launch a new blog that will follow the riders on their way to the 2009 FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships in Lexington, Kentucky. For those of you who might be unfamiliar with Young Riders, it is an elite, Olympic-style competition for riders under 21 years of age in four disciplines: Dressage, Showjumping, Eventing, and Reining.

The Region Six Young Riders blog (which, incidentally, has a very pink color scheme!) includes profiles of the team riders and highlights from qualifying horse shows. It is also a way for the team to engage potential donors and sponsors in their preparations for the NAJYRC. Additionally, @NAJYRC_Region6 (matching pink twitter page!) has developed a growing list of supportive followers on twitter.

Social media, it seems, is an easy fit for the young women on the team, who are part of a generation that naturally uses social networking as another way to communicate with their peers and other audiences. They seem to understand that the power of a network truly lies in the individuals who are a part of it, and Dappled Grey is excited to see where the team takes this blog as they travel the "Road to Kentucky." I hope you you will follow along too!