Families across the nation are invited to meet a horse on Saturday, July 25, at participating Time to Ride Challenge host locations. Stables, camps, clubs and businesses are opening their doors for National Meet-a-Horse Day to help new horse enthusiasts make a connection with a horse.
The Time to Ride Challenge is a national contest involving nearly 1,000 stables, clubs and businesses nationwide competing for $100,000 cash and prizes by introducing new people to horses between May 30 and September 30. To date, over 6,300 new people have enjoyed a first-time horse experience through 135 Challenge events.
Enthusiasts who are interested in horses are invited to search the event calendar for horse events taking place nearby by visiting www.timetoride.com. National Meet-a-Horse Day takes place on the same day as National Day of the Cowboy, and many locations are using the opportunity to enhance their events with such offerings as cowboy breakfasts, trail rides, raffles, games and more. Most events are free, open to the public, and offer refreshments.
Horse owners and riders are also encouraged to take part by inviting their friends to meet their horse on July 25. Friends, neighbors and family members who own horses are an important link for the newcomer interested in learning more about horses and/or riding.
Newcomers can enter to win a Time to Ride prize pack by posting a picture using the hashtag #MeetaHorse to @_TimetoRide on Twitter, or the Time to Ride Facebook page at www.facebook.com/timetoridehorse. All entries posted by 9 am CST on Monday, July 27 will be entered to win one of three prize packs including apparel and Junior Master Horseman books for beginning riders, valued at $75.
“Time to Ride is excited to promote this fun day of outreach during the Challenge,” said Patti Colbert, Time to Ride spokesperson. “We hope it encourages all horsemen and women, including professionals, business owners, and recreational riders, to help their friends and communities meet a horse for the first time. A fun event or simply a day of taking a friend to the barn with you may be all the encouragement that newcomer needs to become more involved with horses.”
National Meet-a-Horse Day along with all other scheduled Challenge events, currently numbering over 600, can be found on Time to Ride’s public event calendar. To enter the sweepstakes, post a photo to Twitter (@_TimetoRide) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/timetoridehorse) with the hashtag #MeetaHorse between Saturday, July 25 and Monday, July 27 at 9 am CST. To learn more about Time to Ride and the Challenge, visit www.timetoride.com.
The American Horse Council’s Marketing Alliance
Time to Ride is an initiative of the American Horse Council’s marketing alliance, formed to connect people with horses. It is designed to encourage horse-interested consumers to enjoy the benefits of horse activities. The AHC marketing alliance is made up of the following organizations: the American Association of Equine Practitioners, Active Interest Media, the American Quarter Horse Association, Dover Saddlery, Farnam, Merck, Merial, Purina Animal Nutrition LLC, Platinum Performance, SmartPak, United States Equestrian Federation, and Zoetis. Program Partners are Absorbine, the American Paint Horse Association, Morris Media Network Equine Group, the National Cutting Horse Association, the National Reining Horse Association, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, and the Texas A&M University Equine Initiative.
The American Horse Council is a non-profit organization that includes all segments of the horse industry. While its primary mission is to represent the industry before Congress and the federal regulatory agencies in Washington, DC, it also undertakes national initiatives for the horse industry. Time to Ride, the AHC’s marketing alliance to connect horses and people, is such an effort. The American Horse Council hopes that Time to Ride will encourage people and businesses to participate in the industry, enjoy our horses, and support our equine activities and events. The AHC believes a healthy horse industry contributes to the health of Americans and America in many ways.
