Never Too Old To Think Young-Washington International Shows Its Face(book) and Twitters For Audience Input
Submitted by: Diana De Rosa
Phone: 202-397-SEAT / Cell 516-848-4867
Email Address: dderosa1(at)optonline.net
Date Added: 10/19/2009
Washington, DC, August 24, 2009 – Now in its 51st year, Washington International Horse Show, one of the oldest horse events in the country, is turning to social media, like Facebook and Twitter, to help guide its future direction.
WIHS dipped into social media earlier this year creating pages on Facebook and on Twitter to connect with the riders, trainers, owners and horse enthusiasts, who attend the annual horse show in Washington, D.C. Within two days, the show had more than 1,000 fans on Facebook, prompting the show’s leadership to look for ways to tap into the fans collective enthusiasm and knowledge of horse sports to help shape the future direction of the show.
“Our first initiative is to ask our fan base what special exhibitions they would like to see at this year’s show,” said Anthony F. Hitchcock, WIHS Chief Operating Officer. “We created a survey with 12 possible choices, from terrier races and barrel racing to trick riding, dressage and miniature horses, and are asking for each respondent to select their top three in order. The resulting data will help us make choices that build an event people will want to attend. After this year’s show in October, we’ll look to the fans to give their views on what worked and what didn’t and then help us plan for 2010.”
Posts on Facebook and Twitter send visitors to the survey on the horse show’s official website, www.wihs.org.
“In these challenging times, it’s more important than ever to engage the horse community in this important year-end show,” said WIHS President Juliet W. Reid. “We need the enthusiasm of our riders, owners and trainers and their support as we enter our next chapter—our next 50 years, and what better way than to ask for feedback. Social media gives us a wonderful dynamic and interactive way to reach out.”
Over the next few months as the show approaches, riders and horse enthusiasts can keep up-to-date on show news and standings by following the Washington International Horse Show on Facebook at www.facebook.com/horseshow and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wihs.
One development is to create a special Sunday happening called the World of the Horse, where many of the exhibitions will be showcased. In addition to attraction like terrier races and barrel racing the WIHS anticipates featuring many, if not all the World Equestrian Games disciplines, which include reining, vaulting, dressage, show jumping, driving, eventing, endurance and para-equestrian.
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