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The Standardbed Connection Table of Contents
November 2016 Edition You’re in the Continental Army Now! by Maja Hassinger
Page 3
2016 World Standardbred Show
Page 8
Passport to the Standardbred Stars
Page 10
Jingle Bells
Page 14
Winner, Winner! with Blissful Gaits Farm
Page 16
You Can Drive A Horse to Water with Robyn Cuffy
Page 17
Ontario Standardbred Show Series by Renee Sutton
Page 18
2016 Standardbred Association Qld & Racing Queensland State Hacking & Harness Awards
Page 20
Aisle Kash and the Blessing of the Hounds with Toody Merry
Page 21
Lessons from the Statue of Liberty by Kathleen Haak
Page 22
The Standardbred Connection is a free, online magazine dedicated to pleasure Standardbreds who are trotting, pacing or racking through the public eye. Story ideas, comments, etc can be sent to us via our website - www.TheStandardbredConnection.com.
You’re in the Continental Army Now!
The 1st Continental Light Dragoons, also known as Bland’s Horse, was a mounted regiment of the Continental Army. Organized in Williamsburg, Virginia from eastern and northern Virginia for service with the U.S. Continental Army.
by Maja Hassinger
I had a pony as a little girl. A tiny, ancient pony, given to us by an older gentleman whose children had outgrown her. My dad used to saddle her up, and I would sit in my little western saddle with my cowboy hat on. The pony wouldn’t move half the time, but I was practically a baby and never noticed or cared that we stood in one spot until my dad got bored and said that riding time was over. My husband, Brian, had a more exciting childhood around horses. His grandfather raised and raced Standardbreds. The house his grandmother still lives in today was built from the earnings of one horse in particular, Goody’s Pride. But the horse raising days ended by the time Brian was a teenager, and his family had moved to the city. This was the extent of our horse experiences when we decided to dive into the world of horses again. Brian and I met through a Revolutionary War reenactment organization called the North West Territory Alliance. The NWTA is a Midwestern based organization that was founded in the 1970s, and hosts several Revolutionary War reenactments from late May to mid-October. Brian has been reenacting from a young age with his father, and I was introduced to the “hobby” through extended family. Brian and my cousin were part of a military unit portraying cavalry, or Dragoons, and always lamented that horses were not allowed to participate in reenactments. Wearing the cool uniforms, and wearing Dragoon riding boots is fun, but there was always something missing. Campaigns to introduce horses to the NWTA were attempted several times throughout the years, but it wasn’t until the 2015 season that there seemed to be a really good chance of the board voting to give horses a shot, thanks to the intense efforts of the 1st Regiment of Light Dragoons, 5th Troop. The board meeting to vote on allowing horses into the NWTA was in November of 2015, and the motion passed with flying colors. It was time to get thinking about actually participating in historical camps and battles with our horses.
Even ladies from the Revolutionary War love a Standardbred. one that we could grow old with and reenact with for years and years, and that the horse had to be a solid color for period-correctness. But that is about all we knew, and the advice and opinions were flowing from all of our horse-owning friends and acquaintances. Age, breed, temperament, price, adopt or shop – everyone had something to say. The owner of the riding stable were we took lessons pointed Ben out to us in October of 2015. He was a recently retired Standardbred, known as “Won Nine” and he was beautiful. I’m not ashamed to admit that was my first thought, before wondering what “green broke” meant. There was a video of him walking down a lane with a tiny child riding him, her mother walking calmly beside them and not touching the horse. Ben was young, he was an ex-racehorse, and he was green. He was basically everything we had been warned against, but he was a Standardbred and we had been reading up on their temperaments which seemed exactly in line with our reenacting needs. Steady, level-headed, bombproof. So we went to meet him, fell in love, and brought him home the same day.
Brian had been taking weekly riding lessons for With the prospect of finally having horses partici- about 6 months when we adopted Ben, I had pate in reenactments, it a was time to start looking MAYBE gotten 3 lessons under my belt. We spent for our first horse. It took us a little while to find the winter working on teaching ourselves and Ben Ben. We knew that we wanted a younger horse, how to be a team and how to move and trot under
saddle without looking like a gangly teenage boy Our goal was never to permanently board Ben, rushing home to beat curfew while stone drunk. It and when we got him, we had been advised that was definitely not an overnight process. his one vice was jumping fences to avoid being in a pasture alone. So, we knew that we would In addition to transitioning Ben from driving to rid- eventually be shopping for Horse #2. Our reening, we worked on desensitizing Ben over the win- actment group had several breeds represented: A ter, in preparation for sights and sounds he might Tennessee Walker, an Appendix Quarter Horse, encounter while in camp and on the battlefield. We Foundation stock Quarter horses, and even a got help from trainers and other stable boarders Mustang. But thanks to Ben, we knew we wanted and thought we were in good shape. Pool noodles, to stick with Standardbreds. We had gotten Ben flags and pop-guns didn’t faze our amazing boy. from Starting Gaits: Standardbred Transition ProWe were ready for the first reenacting event of gram, and when I started casually asking about the season. Or so we thought. Due mostly to the horses in the program Mandi Cool, the Executive level-headedness of the Standardbred, Ben’s first Director of the program, quickly suggested Cash. event went off amazingly well. He handled gunfire, Cash, or Sharp Money as he was known, was a canon blasts, smoke, running and shouting men, year younger than Ben, but described by Mandi as large billowing skirts, campfires, loudspeakers, an “old soul” with what she thought would be the crowds, and a picket line as if he had been doing best temperament for reenacting. We talked about this for years. We got compliments left and right on him for a couple weeks, but the timing was off and his well-mannered behavior, and we never looked he went to another adopter. But fate was on our back. He was the perfect Ambassador for horses side because in the spring of 2016, Cash came back to Starting Gaits right about the time we were in the NWTA. ready to bring home Horse #2.
Mandi had originally planned to keep Cash for trail riding, but soon discovered that he had a locking stifle when asked to rack, so she needed him to go into a home where he would be asked to trot instead. Cash was pokey, gentle, and had the kindest eyes. In adopting Cash, we were able to move Ben out of the boarding stable and into our backyard. Again, the forgiving nature of our boys has been a blessing as we learned what having horses in the backyard really means. Especially when we realized that Cash was going to need surgery on his locking stifles\ a couple months after bringing him home. Surgery was a breeze, and my gentle giant was a gentleman every time I poked and prodded him in an attempt to keep it clean and happy.
If Ben had managed to act as though he had been reenacting the Revolutionary War for years, Cash would have you thinking he had been doing it for decades.
Well, he blew us all out of the water with his performance. Mandi really knows how to match a horse with his second career. If Ben had managed to act as though he had been reenacting the Revolutionary War for years, Cash would have you thinking he had been doing it for decades. His first military training demonstration was nothing short of a miraCash missed several reenactment events at the cle. He was ridden by another member of our unit, beginning of the season due to his locking stifle and you would never have known it was their first and subsequent recovery time. When we finally ride together. He experienced his first time having got to bring him out, I was starting to worry that we a black powder pistol fired from his back before couldn’t possibly be so lucky twice. Ben was so the demo, just to see if he could participate in that good for his first event; could we hope the same part of the show. His only reaction to the sound for Cash? of the shot and sight and smell of the smoke was to look back at his rider to find out what was going on. He didn’t move otherwise. Ben and Cash were the only 2 horses present for that demo, and without a “senior” horse to look to for guidance, they advanced unwaveringly towards a firing line while blank rounds were shot off in the air. They weaved in and out of a line of soldiers, they rode toward targets with sabers drawn and calmly handled their riders slicing open watermelons from the saddle. They were rock stars. After the excitement of the training demonstration, they stood calmly at the edge of the crowds, while their riders answered questions from the onlookers and walked back to camp from the battlefield as though they had finished a lazy Sunday trail ride. All of the horses in the 1st Dragoons have done an amazing job of paving the way for more horses within the NWTA, our boys included. Sure, there have been hiccups. Like the time a pistol was fired too close to Cash’s ear (although, the only reaction he gave was a really dirty look back at his rider), or Ben got a bit too excited by the charge at a line of infantry and thought it was a race to the finish line. But all in all, they have been champions
Members of the 1st Dragoons demonstrate a saber charge. of the Standardbred breed and made true believers out of more than just Brian and myself. It takes a special kind of horse to be level-headed in the conditions of even a “mock� war, and the Standardbred has proven to be the perfect war horse. We hope to be able to take the horses out on the battlefield next year and use the training gained in the demonstrations to put on a spectacular show. During the off season, our boys continue training for battle. We are focusing on neck reining and sword fighting. When the horses get to take part in the battles as opposed to the demonstrations, there is almost always a good sword fight on horseback, with shiny, flashing blades and lots of good old-fashioned clanging. But we also let them relax and enjoy weekly trail rides through the local park. They are a truly versatile breed. Adopting our off-track Standardbreds was the best decision Brian and I could have made.
2016 World Standardbred Show Participants (clockwise): Jaci Payne and Crimson Jiffy (Sidesaddle); Siomonn Lunn and Amadeus (Jumping); Hillary Lunn and Call to Dance (Western); Amanda Munson and Studs Hooligan (Jumping); Kassidy Leasure and AllAmerican Legacy (English); Nina Anguzza and Shot of Whiskey (Pole Bending); Chris Glover and Silver Match (Pleasure Racking); Michelle Bohrer and Just Jate (Sidesaddle) Photos by Hillary Lunn
Passport to the Standardbred Stars
Movie Stars! Sports Figures! Millionaire! When you visit the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky your camera should be at the ready! To get in the spirit head right to the Breeds Barn Show. Twice a day the staff spotlight a handful of breeds; they have over twenty different horse breeds to choose from, including the rare Marwari horse. The Breeds Barn has also hosted many movie stars over the years including I Two Step Too, one of the horses who played “Seabiscuit.” Currently they are hosting a stunning black and white Gypsy Vanner named Odd Job Bob. His performance in The Greening of Whitney Brown was well received, his performances at the KY Horse Park has resulted in thousands of fans. Move over to the Hall of Champions and those stars in your eyes will only get bigger. Their lineup includes:
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One of the most special is Staying Together, aka Stanley. In 1993, Stanley was in his prime – being • Funny Cide “Funny” (TB) – winner of the awarded both the US and Canadian Horse of the Year titles. He retired as the world’s fastest Stan2003 Kentucky Derby • Be A Bono “Bono” (Quarter Horse) – earned dardbred – setting records at both the mile and ½ mile. Now 27, Stanley resides just miles from his $1.3 M as a race horse • Da Hoss “Hoss” (TB) – 2x Breeders’ Cup birthplace, a big teddy bear of a horse who loves being hugged. He receives extra special care as winner • Go For Gin “Gin” (TB) – oldest living Ken- Stanley is now blind (due to uveitis, an inflammatory condition). While he can often be seen graztucky Derby winner ing near the Hall of Champions he is retired from These sports stars leave a memorable mark on the pavilion and resides in the Big Barn where he many who see them. Every day they are groomed has a special stall for his safety and comfort. and fussed over before being presented to their fans. They take turns either grazing in the pad- Western Dreamer joined the Hall of Champions docks or being presented in the pavilion. If they in 2001, six years after Staying Together’s arrivare chosen for pavilion duty, then a highlight reel al. In 1997, Dreamer was the first gelding to win is shown while they are presented for the camer- the Standardbred Triple Crown (which consists of as. Pavilion presentations are twice a day and last the Cane Pace, the Little Brown Jug and the Messenger Pace). The pair share several connecabout 30 mins total. tions – Horse of the Year honors, being foaled at Also presented in the Hall of Champions are four Kentuckiana Farm, and the love of a good scratch. Dreamer is a fun loving horse who enjoys playing millionaire Standardbreds. with a Jolly Ball and checking out any dogs who might wander into the Hall.
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Sold for only $2,000 as a yearling at Tattersalls in 2001, Mr. Muscleman retired in 2009 as the richest active trotter and the 10th leading money-earner of all time with $3,582,823 in winnings. He also is the only trotter to ever be retired to the Hall of Champions; all of the other Standardbreds have been pacers. A wonderful equine ambassador, Muscles, as he is known by his fans, is said to be the most laid back horse in the Hall. His pasture mate is Be A Bono (a Quarter Horse) and he shares a fence with Won the West. The three are good neighbors and often graze near each other. Won the West is the most recent retired pacer to join the Hall of Champions, arriving in the fall of 2012. At the time of his retirement “W� was the third-richest pacer in North America, winning over $3M. Foaled in NJ, he is the only Hall of Champions Standardbred that was not foaled in Kentucky. Won the West does share something in common with Muscles though; they have both participated in the National Standardbred Show in NJ. From time to time, they both venture down to the Breeds
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Barn to represent the Standardbred in the Parade of Breeds. Need to see a few more stars? The Kentucky Horse Park hosts over 200 events each year and pleasure Standardbreds often find themselves involved in those events. While there is no official list, you can definitely find that familiar looking tattoo at Rolex, The National Drive, and BreyerFest. These events are very fan friendly so you may just find yourself star-struck by a Standardbred!
Photo credits: Won the West photo, Vicki Wright; Mr. Muscleman photo, Shutter Savvy Images; Murray photo courtesy of Cindy Bowers; Guns & Roses photo by Sherry Hilton Photography; additional photos courtesy of Kathleen Haak
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Dashing thro’ the snow, In a one-horse open sleigh, O’er the hills we go, Laughing all the way; Bells on bobtail ring, Making spirits bright, Oh what sport to ride and sing A sleighing song tonight.
Jingle Bells:
How Harness Racing Inspired the Famous Jingle
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way; Oh! what joy it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh. A day or two ago I tho’t I’d take a ride And soon Miss Fannie Bright Was seated by my side. The horse was lean and lank Misfortune seemed his lot He got into a drifted bank And we—we got upsot.
We’ve all sung it, one of the most popular winter songs ever but how many know the story behind Jingle Bells? Surprisingly, the song isn’t about the holidays but rather horse racing and impressing girls. There is some debate as to the exact inspiration for James Pierpont, a church choirmaster, writing the song - either he was inspired by the Medford, Massachusetts popular sleigh races or by watching children play in the snow while reminiscing about his own teenage years when he’d enter his “bob-tailed bay” in sleigh races against other boys. Sleighing was a very popular way in those days to snuggle close to your favor girl without supervision, the bells were required so that people could hear the sleigh coming but they also provided a pleasant accompaniment to the wisp of the sleigh runners. Regardless of its origins, in 1870 when it was recorded, “Jingle Bells”, a Unitarian choirmaster’s song about horse racing, was an instant hit.
Keeping the Tradition Alive!
Clockwise: Draken with Kathleen Haak, Lemon Pepper with Jennifer Lowrey, Against the Best with Bruce Haak, and Connor with Rita Bellinger.
Winner, Winner! Stroker’s Scooten Bay B (above) has been on a roll lately. Scoot won at the Tunica Fall Classic, the TWH Jubilee Charity Speed Racking class as well as the Magnolia Classic Speed Racking class. Blissful Gaits Farm’s Hustler (left) has also been having a succesful show season, winning at the Gulf Coast Charity show in May. He was reserve to his barn mate at the Tunica Fall Classic.
You Can Drive A Horse to Water
Where there are horses it should follow that there is drinking water for the horses. In the days before automobiles most towns had more than one horse trough - some were ornate works of iron while others were plain stone. With time many of them have disappeared, fading from the view and memory. In Buxton, Maine that has not happened and in fact they recently rededicated the horse trough as a memorial fountain. According to the Buxton-Hollis Historical Society newsletter, “The Memorial Fountain was completed and donated in 1894 by the Woodman family to honor the Rev. Paul Coffin, who in 1763 was Buxton’s first settled minister, and his grandson, Cyrus Woodman. Originally used for watering horses in the early days before cars, it was designed by John Calvin Stevens, Portland’s most famous architect.”
Photo credit: Gloria Steiger
To honor the original purpose of the fountain, Robyn Cuffey, a reknown carriage driver, was asked by the president of the Historical Society if she would provide a horse and carriage for the event. Robyn responded with a resounding Yes! Robyn reports, “I regularly drive my mare pair, “Neals On Wheels” and “Long Hill Soprano” around town so I was happy to say yes. I enlisted my friend, Barb Pretorius, to be my groom and two ladies from the society joined us on the carriage in period costumes.” People, traffic, tents, local TV film crews - everything taken in stride by the mares. Robyn was very pleased with her Standardbreds as they trotted through town, stood quietly for picture taking and then drove back to the farm.
On November 13th the Standardbred Showcase will host its annual awards banquet for the Ontario Standardbred Show Series. The series consist of five shows across Ontario hosted by Standardrama, OSAS (Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society), Standardbred Showcase, and SWOSHS (South Western Ontario Standardbred Horse Show). Winners earn their year end points in a variety of classes in English, Western and Driving Events. This year the banquet will be held at St Davids’s Presbyterian church in Campbellville. A special thanks goes out to Joanne Colville of OSAS for arranging the venue and the catering for this event. For more information about this years awards or the series please visit us at www.standardbredshowcase.com or on Facebook at Standardbred Showcase 2016 Winners
Lead Line Champion - Brody Nicholson & Double A Victory Silver Champion - Ava MacDonald & Calamar Youth English Champion - Lita Curran & Double A Victory Silver Champion - Emma Christoforou & The Painted Pony Youth Western Champion - Lita Curran & Double A Victory Silver Champion - Emma Christoforou & The Painted Pony Junior Games Champion - Emma Christoforou & The Painted Pony Silver Champion - Alexandra Gallant & Wealthiest Youth Champion Lita Curran & Double A Victory Junior Champion Emma Christoforou & The Painted Pony English In Hand Champion - Jaci Payne & Crimson Jiffy Silver Champion - Jackie Panko & Double A Victory
English Walk Trot/Pace Champion - Jaci Payne & Crimson Jiffy Silver Champion - Jackie Panko & Double A Victory English Walk Trot/Pace Canter Champion - Michelle Bohrer & Dominant Kemp Silver Champion - Breanna Houben & Blueridge Camotion English Performance Walk Trot/Pace Champion - Jaci Payne & Crimson Jiffy Silver Champion - Kelly Bryczka & Bel Air
English Dressage Champion - Jaci Payne & Crimson Jiffy Silver Champion - Michelle Bohrer & Dominant Kemp Western In Hand Champion - Jaci Payne & Crimson Jiffy Silver Champion - Tia Biro & Fit For Action Western Walk Jog/Pace Champion - Tracy Coomber & Hugo Silver Champion - Jaci Payne & Crimson Jiffy Western Walk Jog/Pace Lope Champion - Michelle Bohrer & Just Jate Western Performance Walk Jog/Pace Champion - Jaci Payne & Crimson Jiffy ilver Champion - Tracy Coomber & Hugo English Performance Walk Trot/Pace Canter Champion - Michelle Bohrer & Dominant Kemp Silver Champion - Katelynn Rourke & Maggie Intro over Fence Champion - Alexandra Gallant & Wealthiest Silver Champion - Emma Christoforou & The Painted Pony Over Fence Champion - Breanna Houben & Blueridge Camotion Silver Champion - Tia Biro & Fit For Action
Western Performance Walk Jog/Pace Lope Champion - Michelle Bohrer & Just Jate Western Games Champion - Dillan Dawson & Tease N Flirt Silver Champion - Tracy Coomber & Hugo Mounted Obstacle Champion - Debi O’Brien Moran & Calamar Silver Champion - Dillan Dawson & Tease N Flirt Silver Champion - Tracy Coomber & Hugo Western Dressage Champion - Jaci Payne & Crimson Jiffy Silver Champion - Michelle Bohrer & Just Jate Driving Champion - Michelle Bohrer & Just Jate Silver Champion - Debi O’Brien Moran & Calamar Versatitlity Champion - Jaci Payne & Crimson JiffyOverall Adult Highpoint Champion - Jaci Payne & Crimson Jiffy
Emma Christoforou and The Painted Pony (left), Tracy Coomber and Hugo (right) photos by Bob Sutton
2016 Standardbred Association Qld & Racing Queensland State Hacking & Harness Awards: Junior Award: Blake Millard Judges Choice Award: Felicity Reinke President Award: Sarah Millard SAQ Adoption Award: Natalie Tabb & There Goes Dusty Encouragement Award: Ema Basic – Endurance Team Most Successful Exhibits (Based on Horse’s Performance in all 2016 SAQ State Championship classes including Dressage, Show Jumping and Hacking & Harness) 1st France Bahr – Broken Halo 87 Points 2nd Alayna Lapwood – Push My Buttons 86 Points Most Successful Exhibitors (Based on exhibitors results with all horses shown at 2016 SAQ & RQ State Hacking & Harness Championships) 1st Bahr Family 126 Points 2nd Millard family 98 Points
Aisle Kash and the Blessing of the Hounds The United States is host to 175 registered or recognized hunt clubs. The Long Run Hounds is one of three such clubs in Kentucky. They do not hunt live animals but rather enjoy going out with the hounds across the country side. Aisle Kash has become a respectible foxhunter according to his owner and rider, Toody Merry. He is quite comfortable with the hounds, in fact his picture (left) was taken at the Long Run Hounds’ Blessing of the Hounds. If you are interested in learning more about foxhunting visit the Masters of Foxhounds Association website (http://www.mfha.com/). Many clubs host an informal hunt day where new people can try out the sport even if they do not currently have formal turnout.
Did you know that the Statue of Liberty pedestal was crowdfunded? After other funding efforts had failed, Joseph Pulitzer, publisher, started a drive for $100,000 (roughly $2.3 M in today’s dollars). Pulitzer promised to print the names of all those who contributed to the fund in his newspaper, the New York World. This captured the imagination of New Yorkers and eventually all of America, especially after Pulitzer humanized the fund by publishing heartfelt notes that accompanied the funds. Eventually the goal was met, in fact surpased with $102,000 being raised. Nearly 80% of the donations were for less than a dollar. The funds came from 102,000 donors.
Lessons from the Statue of Liberty by Kathleen Haak Some people love them, others dread going. Conferences. A good conference can reignite your passion while filling your mind with fantastic new ideas. That was the case for myself when I attended The Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University’s TechNow Conference. The very first session kicked off by telling the story of the Statue of Liberty pedestal. If they were able to invigorate so many people so soon after the financial panic of 1873, how can we not be inspired to work more effectively at reaching out to our own donors? One place to start is with your mission. Do you have a mission statement? How do you convey that statement to donors? For The Standardbred Connection our mission is to promote pleasure Standardbreds who are trotting, pacing or racking their way through the public eye. We convey that message on our Facebook page and website. Staying on mission can be tough. For a horse retraining program, the focus may be on Standardbreds with a particular skill set – racking,
102,000 donors came together to fund the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal.
show potential, retirement, etc. Specialization is not necessarily a bad thing, it gives your mission a place to focus and exceptions can always be made on a case by case basis.
I once sent a handwritten note to a long time non-profit volunteer who had dedicated HUNDREDS of hours to the cause. I received a call from them – it was the first time in all their years of volunteering that someone had sent them a handOnce you have defined your mission how do you written thank you note. They were nearly in tears. communicate your passion? Emails and social Never underestimate the power of a thank you. media work well but make sure you are using them in the most effective way possible. Spending a little extra time learning about analytics (or find a dedicated volunteer that is social media savvy) can pay off in the long run. Using donor tracking software (some of which is available for free) can help increase donations. Record what campaigns are effective for you. Was it the story of the successful adoption? The animal with heart who overcame the odds? Or the campaign to feed hungry horses for the winter? The plea for participation that comes not from you but from a volunteer? Research shows that 22% of people give because an organization asked, closer to 50% give because a friend asked. Not every donor responds to a campaign the same way so communicate your passion differently, track the response and learn how to more effectively reach your audience. Don’t forget to use traditional media (television, radio and newspaper) not only for event promotion but also for the occasional feel good story.
Research shows that 22% of people give because an organization asked, closer to 50% give when a friend asked. Successful non-profits are not a one man band. Don’t forget to thank your volunteers! These people share your passion; let them know you appreciate them not only verbally but also in writing. Send a personalized email. Post on social media about the work they have done (with quality photos). Send the local newspaper a short story or good photo that highlights the service a particular set of volunteers has provided. Send them a hand written note.
Last but not least, if you’re looking to crowdsource consider going to the actual crowd. The local fair, Equine Affaire, or even horse show may be a spot to collect one time donations. The tried and true method of setting out a jar can net you some cash but at a larger event you may want to try new technology. One of the exciting offerings at this conference’s trade area was DipJar. (There are several companies that provide a similar service so find the one that is best suited to your needs.)
Using new technology, you can set the donation amount you are campaigning for (say $20), the donor just has to slide their credit card in. Presto! A donation goes to your account. Teaming up with a restaurant or retail store can be especially effective. One non-profit reported $3,700 using this method - all small donations, coming together to create a difference, just like Pulitzer’s donors.