Thursday, November 8, 2012

Reporting From Congress

There doesn’t seem to be much of an off-season for horse owners. Horses keep us on our toes at all times, watching for changes due to age, variations in activity levels, unavoidable and unexpected changes in their environments, or just the general turning of the seasons.  Competition and hardworking horses have the added challenge of managing these factors with an added layer of performance expectations.  Not providing much of a retreat, fall and winter are no exception because though the days may be getting shorter, they bring with them a slew of high-profile horse shows and competitions.
Recently wrapped in Columbus, OH was the 2012 All-American Quarter Horse Congress. Estimated to be the largest breed show of the year, the Congress serves as a warm-up for some before they head to the AQHA World Show later in the year. Spectators can watch horses of all ages in a large variety of disciplines in over 25 days of classes. Purina has participated as an exhibitor for several years at the Congress and we were back again this year with an early bird preview of our new line of products you’ll be seeing at your nearest dealer in the coming months.
Being at large events like these is a great opportunity for Purina to not just showcase our products but to also connect with our consumers. For three weeks we got the chance to talk to horse owners of all walks of life, to share their success stories, and to hear about their newest barn occupants. Perhaps the biggest reward is getting the opportunity to talk with horse owners about their challenges and answer their nutrition questions.
We encountered a wide variety of questions about how to properly feed and care for the ultimate easy keepers, insulin resistors, endearing seniors, yearling investments, injured reserve athletes, blue ribbon superstars, and even just the average horse.
As if horses themselves don’t give us enough to keep an eye on, a varying hay market across the country gives owners an X-factor to consider in their feeding programs. Great hay, poor hay, expensive hay or no hay, forage can’t go unaddressed. For virtually each of these scenarios, you guessed it, we have a way to help and are here to do so. We can recommend products and assist with managing changes to the feeding programs, equipping owners with the necessary information to be successful. We like to think of ourselves as more than a feed company, we are also a resource to help horse owners with their trials and tribulations. So whether you’re hunkering down for winter with your longtime equine or loading up for the next end-of-the-season show with your latest purchase, we have a nationwide team of dealers and specialists here to help. How do you find us? You can check out our online dealer locator for the nearest Purina Dealer, contact us at 1-800-227-8941, or submit your questions on our Purina Horse Feed Facebook page. If you like a more personal touch, we invite you to stop by and see us at any number of events we’re at throughout the year, including:
2012 NRHA Futurity, November 29 – December 1
2012 Wrangler NFR / Cowboy Christmas Show, December 6–15
2012 NCHA Futurity, December 15
To find more events, click here.
Congratulations to all our customers who participated at this year’s Quarter Horse Congress and a special shout out to Shawn Flarida and High Point Performance Horses for their many accolades. Xtra Quarter Horses’ Wimpy’s Little Step had a good showing in spirit as his offsprings’ earnings at Congress helped push him over the $4 million mark. This is just one stop on a year-long road and we’ll be here every step of the way!

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