When I am local to a big show, I go. I went to WIHS. A live feed is in no way a substitute for being there.
But I’m honestly never going to schlep down to Kentucky to watch, live feed or not.
I am a subscriber to FEI TV, which I love. And I would happily pay $ for a GOOD feed (emphasis on GOOD - if you’re going to charge, then it better be high quality and dependable)
The Royal Winter Fair Horse Show live feed in Toronto is about $15.
I got this very nice response from my complaining email to Alltech:
Thank you for taking the time to submit your feedback. It has been both
considered and recorded.
We did take note of last year’s feedback and
worked with iHigh to put better technical support/quality control in place.
Given the issues yesterday, we are re-evaluating what was in place and have been
working with iHigh to improve the quality of the live feed. I hope you will try
it again today and find that it has improved. Be sure to view full screen as the
technicians indicate this may affect the quality on your computer.
The
National Horse Show organization is responsible for the event’s broadcast
rights, and you will be able to watch Saturday’s Grand Prix on the USEF’s site.
They continue to hold rights for that evening as they have for the last couple
of years.
We appreciate your support of the Alltech National Horse Show
and hope you will continue to see improvements in the quality.
All - We are experiencing technical difficulties with the stream. We are working tirelessly to determine the issue and get it correctly as quickly as possible. Thank you for being patient with us.
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this topic as I too enjoy watching these horse shows when I can’t be there in person. But I think it is critically important that we remember a few things including that without Alltech sponsoring the National it would be likely the horse show in its current form wouldn’t exist and at that point crappy feed, no feed or USEF feed would be a moot point. To those that say that you think the Maclay carries the horse show, indications are that while those entries substantially add to the bottom line, running a horse show of this magnitude would be impossible without this type of title sponsor and the generous additional sponsors (such as those that significantly defray costs at WIHS, HB, etc). They have tried to keep the national what it was, as difficult as that has been not being in it’s special unique location. The smaller divisions, etc does make sponsorship very important.
With that said, I don’t believe Alltech wants to distribute a crappy feed (free or otherwise), but when you have spent tens of thousands (or hundreds of thousands) on sponsoring you cannot hand over the broadcasting to anyone that includes direct competitors ads and/or lack of your own branding. That is a marketing funding FACT – even these types of sponsorships have to be justified and while this doesn’t seem like a big deal to some, I assure you it is a big deal within Alltech having shoveled out the money to sponsor. I am sure they are attempting to improve the feed, but please let’s be respectful of their amazing sponsorship of this horse show and not drive critical sponsors away with backlash over a free broadcast.
You are right Sometimes, and I am very grateful for Alltech’s support of equestrian events, just look at what they did for the 2010 WEG. I think we are all quick to complain, without looking at the other side of the story.
Thanks. I think as a “community” we are better than to kick a great sponsor while they are down. Having been there, quantifying the return on these types of sponsorships is really difficult and we need to remember that. Feeling negativity after giving generously when you already can’t pinpoint the exact return can make some not want to do it again. And that would be a real shame.
[QUOTE=BAC;7241348]
You are right Sometimes, and I am very grateful for Alltech’s support of equestrian events, just look at what they did for the 2010 WEG. I think we are all quick to complain, without looking at the other side of the story.[/QUOTE]
Like others have mentioned, this streams beautifully from my phone on 4g with wifi turned off. On my computer it is very grainy.
Please tell me HOW you are even getting a feed, let alone a crappy feed! I tried to register with iHigh, and it kept kicking me off. I have two browsers with extremely high bandwidth, and I can’t get it to load. I watch all sorts of streaming, from H/J to reining, to Arabs, to breed shows, with absolutely no trouble at all. One click and I am there. I can’t believe that the tech people at Alltech are so behind the times that they don’t know what everybody else is doing. As for the comment from the NHS that live streaming is interfering with attendance, it is very presumptuous to think that people 3,000 miles away are going to fly to Kentucky to watch this show unless they have a horse competing. The Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno thought the same thing last year. Their board of directors decided that the stands needed to be filled, so they didn’t live stream the finals. Guess what, it didn’t make a difference in attendance. This year they streamed the whole thing and not a peep was heard anymore about attendance!
The feed on my computer has drastically improved for me in “Session 12”
[QUOTE=Sometimes;7241363]
Thanks. I think as a “community” we are better than to kick a great sponsor while they are down. Having been there, quantifying the return on these types of sponsorships is really difficult and we need to remember that. Feeling negativity after giving generously when you already can’t pinpoint the exact return can make some not want to do it again. And that would be a real shame.[/QUOTE]
Agreed. Any feed is better than no feed in my view. They don’t have to provide any sort of feed if they don’t want to. The fact that it exists at all is a reflection of their generosity.
My quality has also drastically improved today!
[QUOTE=Sometimes;7241363]
Thanks. I think as a “community” we are better than to kick a great sponsor while they are down. Having been there, quantifying the return on these types of sponsorships is really difficult and we need to remember that. Feeling negativity after giving generously when you already can’t pinpoint the exact return can make some not want to do it again. And that would be a real shame.[/QUOTE]
This was my point in my post when I said equine isnt even a MAJOR component of Alltech’s business. I for one thank them for sponsoring events like this and making them accessible to us.
I had to run out for a bit and my feed is now quite good. I am watching on http://www.hrtv.com/english/alltechwebcast/ on two different computers with Chrome (Fullscreen) and Firefox.
I, also, received a reply to my concerns yesterday and I replied as above. I also thanked Alltech for answering my query and their efforts to improve feed quality and their sponsorship of Nationals.
Nothing in life is perfect but, from my standpoint, I am satisfied with Alltech’s efforts to improve their video. I did tell them there was still room for improvement but the site is very doable for me.
[QUOTE=Bedazzle;7241371]
Like others have mentioned, this streams beautifully from my phone on 4g with wifi turned off. On my computer it is very grainy.[/QUOTE]
Wow! are you ever right! I just followed the link on my iPhone 5 and its beautiful! So weird though that it won’t work on my kick-ass gaming computer!
[QUOTE=Sail Away;7241206]
If they are a business and want to provide the feed then they should provide something people will want to watch. No? What is the point of providing a crappy feed if so many people are being turned off from watching it?[/QUOTE]
I think you all should chill from pounding on a company who is putting up a ton of $$ to support equestrian events. What do you think will happen to the NHS should Alltech walk away? They dont even have to provide a free live stream but they are and they are making attempts to fix the quality.
[QUOTE=Bedazzle;7241371]
Like others have mentioned, this streams beautifully from my phone on 4g with wifi turned off. On my computer it is very grainy.[/QUOTE]
That’s good to know, because that’s how I’ll be watching the Maclay. Thus far I have been unable to access the stream on my computer.
I would also be very willing to pay for a high-quality feed. I’m also unlikely to be able to attend this horse show in the next few years and would love to support it.
Slightly off topic but…
Clarity of feed and other related issues aside I’m not 100% convinced live streaming is the best for the financial health of horse shows. These shows dearly need a spectator base outside the attending exhibitors. By that I mean a pay-at-the-gate spectator who becomes a reliable and major source of income for the show.
That’s not to say streaming should be eliminated. However if it is live the show should benefit financially and/or the stream should be tape delayed.
Everyone becomes a victim of low attendance from the exhibitors who must pay increasingly more to play to the vendors who need a constant feed of new consumers to make it worthwhile.
At the moment these indoor shows are endowed - mostly from wealth within the industry. My sense is there will come a time when they will be expected to stand on more on their own.
[QUOTE=BAC;7241266]
I got this very nice response from my complaining email to Alltech:
Thank you for taking the time to submit your feedback. It has been both
considered and recorded.
We did take note of last year’s feedback and
worked with iHigh to put better technical support/quality control in place.
Given the issues yesterday, we are re-evaluating what was in place and have been
working with iHigh to improve the quality of the live feed. I hope you will try
it again today and find that it has improved. Be sure to view full screen as the
technicians indicate this may affect the quality on your computer.
The
National Horse Show organization is responsible for the event’s broadcast
rights, and you will be able to watch Saturday’s Grand Prix on the USEF’s site.
They continue to hold rights for that evening as they have for the last couple
of years.
We appreciate your support of the Alltech National Horse Show
and hope you will continue to see improvements in the quality.[/QUOTE]
Why do I think they have the Obamacare techs working on the NHS feed? 
[QUOTE=Renn/aissance;7241455]
That’s good to know, because that’s how I’ll be watching the Maclay. Thus far I have been unable to access the stream on my computer.
I would also be very willing to pay for a high-quality feed. I’m also unlikely to be able to attend this horse show in the next few years and would love to support it.[/QUOTE]
Good golly. I for one enjoy the live feeds but I’m not willing to pony up and pay for it. That is why I’m not on here complaining. I love the live feeds and I’ll be mad if all of you ruin it for us by yammering that you’ll pay top dollar for it. USEF does a great job providing a free, live feed.I haven’t gotten iHigh to work, but I’ve gotten on through the HRTV link I provided earlier. Nothing’s perfect and I hope they continue to try to resolve the issues, but don’t give them more incentive to nickel and dime us.
[QUOTE=To the MAX;7240715]
PS I love how the saddle seat announcer calls us “hunt and jumper” riders instead of “hunter jumper” riders. Just makes me giggle a bit… :D[/QUOTE]
That’s kinda how we Saddle Seat folks giggle when H/J people call us “gaited riders” or call Saddlebreds “gaited horses.” :lol:
Saddlebreds are not all 5 gaited. In fact, probably 90% of the classes at a show ask ONLY for the 3 primary gaits (walk, trot, canter) or driving (walk and trot). The 5 gaited horses must still show at the walk, trot and canter. Saddlebreds are technically not a “gaited breed” because 100% of them must trot. The ones that slow gait and rack have the natural ability to be taught, and the desire to do so. Their gaits are refined through training, just like many horses have the natural ability to jump but not all are good at it or like to do it so training determines if they SHOULD do it and if so, at what level.
People who ride true gaited horses like the TWH and Rocky Mountain Horse frequently ride in a dressage or trail saddle. The drama shots you see everywhere of the big lick horses might be ridden in a cutback saddle - but that is not Saddle Seat. They are not trotting; they are not using a full bridle; half the time they don’t even canter. So just like someone riding in a close contact saddle is not automatically a hunter jumper, someone riding a gaited horse, even if in a cutback, is not necessarily riding Saddle Seat. I would say the Appaloosas that show Saddle Seat are closer in adhering to the discipline than a gaited rider.
So there you have it. We are Saddle Seat riders, not gaited riders. And we ride Saddlebreds, not gaited horses. 
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