[QUOTE=JSwan;7180341]
A ©(5) might work and be very effective.
I think many of the ideas presented as excellent. (getting media involved, creating brochures, etc). But I think people are overlooking the fact that the OP already told us why this event is not being held this year.
There are simply not enough people with the time, energy, and drive to make the event happen. While I agree that some of the OP’s posts do not elicit sympathy for her cause, I understand her frustration. I sense despair in her words.
They are, quite literally, a David against a Goliath. They are, literally, beset on all sides. They are, literally, such a small industry, and represent such a small part of the labor movement and the horse industry… they are simply not going to be able to rally legions of supporters. Telling these folks how they should be organizing and getting attention for their cause assumes they have the numbers to organize that type of huge response. They don’t. They just don’t.
These are not wealthy, influential people. They don’t rub shoulders with the movers and shakers in NYC. Their detractors do.
What they need is a patron. Someone of power and influence to take up their cause, and someone who can hire a PR firm to handle their dealings with the public. I don’t think they’ll find that person here.
I am surprised that their union has not aggressively defended them. Unions were formed, in part, for this very reason. This is clearly not an animal welfare issue. The industry is under intense scrutiny and inspection and nothing can be found. Nothing of substance, anyway. There’s plenty of evidence that the industry’s detractors (some of whom are on this BB) are a few beers short of a six pack.
This is more of a land speculation/land grab, and NYC politics. Since so few of us even live near that area, we can be of little actual help to the OP.
All I can observe is that this tiny little industry is in real need. A need that goes far beyond printing a brochure or paying for a radio or television ad. I think it’s a shame that the horse industry in that area is so unsupportive; some high profile people even participating in throwing this industry under the bus. But again, very few of us here on this BB can be of actual help.
I hope the OP does receive the help her industry so obviously needs. She has my sympathy. Even though I have mixed feelings about the use of horses in highly urbanized areas, I have to admit these folks are completely innocent of wrongdoing. I look at the photos, I see the videos, I read and hear the accusations. They are just baseless. The horses are in good condition and well cared for. I wish all horses were as well cared for as the NYC carriage horses.
If they were, there would be little to no need for equine rescues in the US.[/QUOTE]
Understood… but handing out brochures, and the other ideas offered might find you that person who knows that patron they so sorely need.
If you don’t know that ‘Patron’ person yourself, how does the guy on the street who does know him/her learn that you need that introduction?
Daily, hard, legwork … KISS,… do what you can where you are with what you have… often-times leads to that ‘break’… what you really needed, that next level that you could not get to yourself.
Tell EVERYONE and ANYONE your tale of woe be it in the grocery store line, the bank teller line, or waiting for the subway… you never know who you will tell the story to who will have an answer… I’ve had success this way in the past.
That’s why I said don’t put ClipClop on hold now, and in fact I think it’s foolish to do so… keep it on the calendar [while sure, in your head you can question whether it will happen] but go forward with that very worthy, very high profile, well attended event, and while promoting it, get your message out on the real issue that threatens it all.
Or don’t.
