Tag Archives: coronavirus

Horse Businesses Need to Do a SWOT Analysis NOW

Webinar: How to Do a SWOT Analysis for Your Horse Business and Why You Need to Do It NOW

Date: August 17, 2020
Time: 5:30 PM Pacific, 7:30 PM Central, 8:30 PM Eastern
Place: Attend via Your Phone or Computer

With the Coronavirus came rapid change.  Not only are we operating our horse businesses with a global pandemic as the backdrop, the latest economic reports indicate that the economy (after plummeting drastically) is not likely to return to 2019 levels for 3-5 years. The quick bounce-back to normal simply is not happening.

Many of you have made quick changes to your businesses to adapt to the necessary conditions of the pandemic. Now, it is time to prepare your business for both the lasting effects of the pandemic and the economic forecast.

In our upcoming webinar we will take you through how to use a SWOT Analysis to assist you in starting a strategic plan for your business.  SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.  This business tool is extremely useful when there are complex issues that need to be addressed quickly.

Utilizing a SWOT Analysis is the first step in a series of steps that we believe must be taken soon. We hope you’ll join us.

WEBINAR REPLAY: Rethinking the Horse Business 2020 – Special Summer Update

This Special Update of Rethinking the Horse Business provides vital information for horse professionals about the state of the horse industry, the social and economic climate, and how the equestrian marketplace has been affected by the Coronavirus. Listen to the replay here.

Equestrian Professional
https://www.equestrianprofessional.com/

Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses – Still Making Visits

Photo — Scout at Brookdale Chambel Pinecastle, an assisted living facility in Ocala, Florida.

Therapy horse Scout usually visits hospital patients and residents of assisted living programs from room to room. When those facilities close to visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic, what is a 100-pound horse to do?

He brings his 2000-pound Percheron friend Tiny Prince Charming to visit waiting residents through the windows while human volunteers hold up signs with messages of love. Scout could not go inside and residents could not come outside, but they still touched each other’s hearts. Scout and Tiny Prince Charming put their noses on the windows when patients put their hands on the glass.

Scout is a member of Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses. For the last 22 years their teams of tiny horses have been bringing love to over 25,000 adults and children each year inside hospitals, hospice programs, assisted living programs, and with families, veterans, and first responders who have experienced traumatic events.

The therapy horses are also still working in children’s hospitals by using prerecorded programs combined with live video from their farm.

Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses
www.Horse-Therapy.org
www.facebook.com/TherapyHorses
www.instagram.com/gentlecarousel

Brooke USA Launches Fundraising Effort to Fight Coronavirus Pandemic

Lexington, KY (April 10, 2020) – Brooke USA has launched a crisis fundraising campaign for friends and supporters to provide humanitarian aid during the growing global fight against the COVID-19 novel coronavirus.

The Board of Directors of Broke USA will manage the COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund which is designed to address the need for humanitarian aid across the globe. In response to the spread of the coronavirus, Brooke USA is committed to meeting the needs of equine-dependent communities impacted by the pandemic both in the United States and in the developing world.

Countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, and the Caribbean are going to need increased assistance. Brooke USA recognizes that in the developing world there is a lack of health care facilities, medical supplies are not readily available, and living in highly crowded communal situations exacerbates the risk of spread. Moreover, the international community which normally offers aid is hard pressed to help because every nation is dealing with their own problems related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund positions Brooke USA to immediately help where the need is greatest. The current crisis has also impacted the US, leaving horses, donkeys, and mules abandoned and local equine organizations in desperate need of financial support.

Brooke USA Chairman of Board of Directors John Nicholson announced that “the organization has established a $125,000 goal with the understanding that this may change as communities are further impacted and the crisis continues.” He added that Brooke USA anticipates a surge in funding requests from its sister organization Brooke, the leading international charity focused on alleviating the suffering of working equines and the people they serve in the developing world, as well as from other organizations with similar missions. He noted that “we simply want to be ready to help immediately when asked or when we see the need.”

“We hope that equine-friendly businesses, individuals, and philanthropists will join us in this fight against this virus which certainly is global in scale,” said Emily Dulin, Executive Director of Brooke USA.

The funds raised will be used to support response and recovery efforts which will vary from nation to nation and community to community. Brooke USA understands that needs in each area will be individual. In some communities, this may mean providing care for working animals whose owners have been impacted by the pandemic. In others, it may involve helping get food to a family who can no longer work due to illness or economic distress.

To donate to Brooke USA’s COVID-19 Crisis Response & Recovery Fund, visit www.BrookeUSA.org/COVID-19Fund, or contact Emily Dulin at Emily.Dulin@BrookeUSA.org, or send a check or money order to Brooke USA, 2333 Alexandria Drive, Lexington, KY 40504.

Learn more about our response to COVID-19.

Emergency Giving Guide to Highlight Non-Profits on the Frontlines of COVID-19

Wellington, FL – April 6, 2020 – To join the fight against Coronavirus, COVID-19, and support the local community, the Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments® (GCC), a Wellington-based show jumping competition that blends equestrian sports and philanthropy, has created a Palm Beach County Emergency Giving Guide featuring 83 local organizations that are currently assisting the most vulnerable populations.

The evolution of the Coronavirus, COVID-19, globally, nationally, and locally has affected each of us in ways we couldn’t have previously imagined.

As mentioned by West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James: “The economic effects of COVID-19 are catastrophic. Therefore, we must do what we can to support our citizens, including our most vulnerable.”

Recognizing that these unprecedented times call for an unprecedented approach to community support, the GCC realized it is crucial to connect donors and supporters with non-profit organizations who are providing critical support during the COVID-19 epidemic.

From child welfare, emergency educational support, homelessness support, medical support and more, donors and supporters can easily view what organizations are doing, the challenges they are facing and see what their immediate needs are.

“Our hope is for individuals to utilize this tool to better understand emerging need and see how they can create the biggest impact in their communities,” commented event Co-founder Paige Bellissimo. “Many of us want to help and are overwhelmed as to where to start; this guide is a local roadmap.”

Having worked with over 255 Palm Beach County non-profit organizations, distributing $14.8 million locally over the last 11 years, the GCC has seen how charities create lasting change and impact.

“We were in a unique position,” adds Executive Director Anne Caroline Valtin. “In partnership with Bank of America, we perform rigorous due diligence on organizations that apply to participate in our annual event. Through this process, we strive to identify organizations that will create the most influential impact locally.”

In order to get this Emergency Giving Guide out in a timely fashion, all but a few entries who are marked with an asterisk as well as an accompanying note have been reviewed through the GCC’s earlier efforts, in association with the event’s 2020 edition, held on Saturday, February 1, 2020, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. This is done to promote transparency, but in no way should it be a seen as a red flag; due diligence is encouraged on behalf of potential donors.

In an effort to make this Emergency Giving Guide as user friendly and functional as possible, donors and supporters have two distinct ways to search for non-profits organizations:

Option 1: The Alphabetical Index by Organizations. If you are looking for a particular organization, this is a great avenue to quickly locate them in this Guide.

Option 2: The Alphabetical Index by Categories. Non-profits are proving to be nimble and are quickly reacting to the needs they are seeing in our community.

These categories therefore directly reflect the work that they are currently doing (rather than what they were doing up until the COVID-19 crisis).

We felt it was important to reflect their current efforts as they are “boots on the ground,” faced with the most pressing needs and have a greater understanding of the vulnerabilities of the people they serve.

You are invited to access the report by clicking here.

For additional information about the GCC, please visit www.greatcharitychallenge.com.

Palm Beach International Equestrian Center COVID-19 Update

In response to the threat of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and with the guidance of US Equestrian, Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) will maintain their cancellation of previously scheduled competitions but hopes to aid riders, trainers, and owners in keeping their horses fit and healthy.

Based on feedback from the equestrian community, and in an effort to preserve equine welfare and keep the staff of PBIEC and those industry professionals who work at ESP events in jobs they can depend on, ESP will offer the following:

  • Open schooling through the end of this week (March 22). Please check schooling schedules on PBIEC.com. Riders must wear their assigned back numbers. No new back numbers will be issued. Next week schedule to be determined.
  • Limiting the number of people accompanying horses to the ring to five per horse (rider, groom, trainer, no more than two additional).
  • No more than two people should be at any fence at one time (ring or schooling area) and a six-foot social distancing protocol is encouraged between all people on the grounds.

How we are keeping you safe:

  • Spectator and public access remains prohibited.
  • ESP has purchased sanitation foggers to clean seating areas and public spaces.
  • ESP staff will continue to diligently clean and sanitize bathrooms.
  • Hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout the grounds. ESP recommend using hand sanitizer both before and after the schooling session. Remember, people are touching the same items (rails, cups, etc.).

Stabling and access to stalls is available for those that have purchased stabling packages until the expiration of those packages. ESP can accommodate those in need of stabling during this period as long as the horses have already been issued WEF back numbers. Staff will be available in the horse show office as needed, but everyone is encouraged to organize weekly close outs and stabling arrangements online, or via telephone.

Consistent with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Florida Department of Health Guidelines, everyone is encouraged to:

  • Stay home if sick or uncomfortable being in public, except to get medical care.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw in the trash.
  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily.

The goal of PBIEC is to keep all humans and horses healthy and safe during this time, while doing our best to help encourage an easy transition back into competition when the time comes. This is a rapidly changing situation, and we will continue to provide updates through our website at www.PBIEC.com.

A Message from the USET Foundation

Gladstone, NJ – As the world navigates through these uncertain times, the USET Foundation continues to focus on its mission and the support of our athletes as they move forward in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Now, more than ever, they need our support and we will continue doing the important work of fundraising to help our U.S. teams achieve their goals and dreams.

Per the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee: “Despite the ever-changing nature of coronavirus, its global impact, and the hypothetical scenarios that have entered the conversation, the USOPC has not been given any information to suggest that the Tokyo 2020 Games will not go ahead as scheduled and as planned. We, like the athletes who are training to compete at their very best in Tokyo, are focused on being prepared to support our Olympic and Paralympic teams in Japan. It remains our great hope that Team USA athletes – having dedicated an incalculable amount of time and effort in hopes of representing the United States in the Olympic and Paralympic Games – will have the opportunity to live out their athletic dreams in Tokyo.”

As our athletes continue to prepare this spring and heading into the summer, their entire support network surrounding them remains engaged. We are resolute in continuing to do our part to support US Equestrian’s high performance sport and hope that you will join the team in “Raising the Bar” for our U.S. athletes.

USET Foundation has taken measures to address the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the team working in Gladstone. Aiming toward our fundraising goals, we remain open and are available by phone and e-mail. We encourage our friends and supporters to stay informed through the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

We hope that you will join us in our support of America’s teams, not only in this championship year, but going forward, as we plan for future games and build the pipeline of young athletes moving up in equestrian sport. Our athletes are determined to make their mark on history, and we are committed to supporting them throughout their journeys by providing the necessary resources for their success.

Learn more at www.uset.org.

Contact: Emily Randolph
emily@jumpmediallc.com
www.jumpmediallc.com

Kentucky Horse Shows LLC Statement Regarding COVID-19

Lexington, Ky. – March 20, 2020 –  Responding to the rapidly evolving coronavirus crisis, an increasing number of event cancellations and guidance issued by USEF, USHJA, FEI, and the Kentucky Horse Park, we would like to clarify the current situation regarding our two May horse shows which are scheduled to begin in seven weeks (May 5-17).

At this point in time we are hoping to proceed as scheduled with our shows. Entries and stall reservations will remain open for both shows and may be secured online by credit card and by mail with a check. However, no credit cards will be charged and no checks deposited until we are certain that the shows can be held safely.

We will continue to monitor the situation and maintain communication with the Kentucky Horse Park, state and local health officials, and the relevant equestrian sanctioning bodies. Should we determine that the shows can’t be held safely we will notify all affected parties immediately. Any payments which have already been processed will be fully refunded. In the meantime, we will distribute any updates immediately by email and social media.  You can also monitor our website at www.KentuckyHorseShows.com.

Gold Coast Dressage Finale I & II Cancelled

In response to the recent developments regarding the Coronavirus/COVID-19 and in following the guidance of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Florida Department of Health, Gold Coast Dressage Association, Inc. (GCDA) has decided to cancel our upcoming Gold Coast Dressage Finale I & II April 10-12, 2020 show. Although the threat of the virus remains relatively low at this time, we continue to monitor the appropriate advice and we encourage all our members and our local community to take all reasonable precautions as well. We hope to see you at one of our upcoming shows later this season. Please stay tuned for further updates on our GCDA website: www.gcdafl.org.

World Equestrian Center to Suspend Competition at Ohio Facility

WILMINGTON, Ohio – The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has created an unprecedented situation that is rapidly evolving with an unknown outcome.

Our first priority is the health and safety of our exhibitors, staff, and officials. After careful consideration, World Equestrian Center management has elected to close after competition ends on Sunday, March 15. The facility will remain closed for the next week and we will continue to address the closures week by week. We will proactively issue updates regarding our reopening.

During this time, will continue to pay our officials and our staff.

World Equestrian Center management will monitor the situation and work with federal, state, and local health agencies to assess our options for reopening.

Exhibitors who were slated to attend events at World Equestrian Center in the next two weeks will receive an email from management.

Please email General Manager TJ Campbell at tj.campbell@wec.net with questions.

For more information, please visit www.wec.net.

Contact: Emily Daily
edaily@jumpmediallc.com
www.jumpmediallc.com

Turf Tour 2020 Announcement: Updated Schedule & Statement on Coronavirus + USEF Cancellations

Wellington, FL (March 14, 2020) – The Wellington Turf Tour intends to continue holding its series of horse shows with elevated sanitation procedures and strict adherence to CDC and other recommended guidelines. The above proposed schedule will begin Turf Tour 11 (March 18-20) through the Turf Tour Finale (March 28), with approval from the USEF. Official schedules and information will be posted and distributed when they become available, with final decisions to be made early next week.

Statement from the 2020 Wellington Turf Tour managing directors, Nona Garson & George D’Ambrosio:

“We understand this is a time to be very careful with everyone’s health and we are taking the situation very seriously.

We will continue to inform you via emails and on our social media platforms as decisions are made and guidelines are released from health officials.

Please note, if we do host the horse show, we will follow the CDC, Federal, State, and Local guidelines at that time.

We have amped up our sanitization of all human areas of the farm, and we have been assured by numerous veterinarians that horses cannot carry nor can they transmit the current Corona threat.

This is an evolving situation and we would like to reserve the right to make our final decision on hosting the horse show closer to the start of the horse show.

Thank you for your continued support of our horse shows.”

Visit www.RidgeShowJumping.com or follow the Turf Tour on Instagram (@ridgeshowjumping) and Facebook (@theridgeatwellington) for more information.

Media contact:
holly@equinium.com
www.equinium.com