Kentucky WEG for Business

2010 Radio Show (Horse Radio Network)

If you are not a competitor or athlete and are catching up on anything horse related...such as the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, horse sports, horse racing or horses in general you need to join listeners over at the 2010 Radio Show Part of the Horse Radio Network. The Horse Radio Network is podcasting on iTunes a show related to WEG. Episode 12 topic is Eventing.

Fortnight Festival To Offer Something For Everyone

The leadership, vision, and commitment to community of Mr. Pearse Lyons never ceases to amaze me.  In addition to sponsoring the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Mr. Lyons and Alltech, Inc. will initiate the first Alltech Fortnight Festival.  The January 11, 2007 Lexington Herald-Leader reported that the Norton Center for the Arts at Centre College, in cooperation with the University of Kentucky School of Music, LexArts and the Kentucky Arts Council will produce an annual series of major entertainment concerts entitled the Alltech Fortnight Festival to create excitement as we lead up to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.  Beginning with one event for 2008, four or five in 2009 spread over the course of a week, and culminating in 2010 with a two week long series of major concerts located at venues and stadiums around the state.  The purpose of the events is to create excitement leading up to the Games and to possibly create an annually occurring event that will bring future visitors to Kentucky.

This is another example of the many opportunities that the Games will bring, and the committed leadership of Mr. Lyons.  Thank you Mr. Lyons.

2010 World Equestrian Games Legacy For Scott County

On September 19^th, the Lexington Herald~Leader reported that the Knight Foundation World Equestrian Games Legacy Initiative had received 83 ideas for a legacy project that would continue to draw the local community and visitors to the city after the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010^TM.

Recently, Georgetown Mayor Tingle-Sames appointed a board to study and plan for the upcoming equestrian games.  I would suggest that the board’s mission would not only be to plan for the 2010 event, but also include planning a legacy project that will continue for the local community and reoccurring equestrian events.  The work of the Knight Foundation World Equestrian Games Legacy Initiative has been very inclusive of the Lexington/Fayette County community, and I would hope the same would happen in Scott County.

Advance Registration - KY World Equestrian Tradeshow

The World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc. today (October 5, 2007) announced the launch of an advance registration program for tradeshow spaces at the 2010 Games, scheduled to take place at the Kentucky Horse Park September 25th - October 10th, 2010. 

The advance registration program will begin in October, and will allow vendors to secure priority status for selecting a final exhibit location on the Kentucky Horse Park grounds once plans have been finalizes.  Approximately 400 vendors from around the world will offer a variety of products, services and information to more than 600,000 attendees.

Prospective vendors wanting to ensure they are included in the initial distribution of information should send their contact information to tradeshow@feigames2010.org.  Total booth costs and subsequent details will be released on the launch date, and more information will be abailable on the 2010 ALltech FEI World Equestrian Games website.

New KYWEG Director of Administration

Recently I posted Anne Buchanan was the new Director of Administration for the Kentucky World Equestrian Games Foundation and on August 13, 2007 the www.feigames2010.org website reported new staff members naming Buchanan's replacement...

Holley Groshek, Director of Administration
Danielle Landolt, Senior Marketing Coordinator
Amy Walk, Public Relations Assistant

I feel a little deflated that Anne Buchanan has been replaced since her presentation for the Lexington Professional Women's Forum was really informative...and maybe I am also discouraged by the fact that I have signed up for the newsletter twice on the official website and never received even a confirmation or an "opt-in" automated subscription message.

A client forwarded me the June newsletter unaware of my participation in the the Kentucky World Equestrian Games for Business blog...for the record I subscribed on two different visits to the site.

Did anyone else subscribe on the "official" website and have problems getting on the email list to receive the newsletter?

SBDC event on Aug 30 helps small businesses get ready

The Kentucky Small Business Development Center is holding a forum to give small businesses the opportunity to hear from individuals involved with the games, the Kentucky Horse Park and the Lexington - Fayette Urban County Government. They are also going to have professionals in the horse industry off insights into the expectations and requirements of Game attendees and participants.

You can go to http://kysbdc.ecenterdirect.com/ConfSignup.asp?id=5033 to directly sign up or call Brenda Jones at (859) 257 - 7666.

Kentucky.com 2010 things to...

...know about Central Kentucky before KYWEG by Andy Mead on Kentucky.com.

The online article says they have 1,960 tidbits about Central Kentucky to go! (HA!) It's a very interesting start. Maybe Ann Bevins, one of our (Georgetown/Scott County) local historians can submit some interesting tibits? Or you might have some great ideas to add. There is also a list of local horse farms to visit and I didn't see any of our local tourism attractions such as our orchards, farms, Yuko-En our friendship garden or Ward Hall. There are plenty more to submit (not to leave others out).

Guest visiting the Central Kentucky region will find plenty of fun things to do or see in the Georgetown and Scott County community when they visit for the 2010 World Equestrian Games.

The article says to submit entries by email to Weg2010@herald-leader.com. Can't wait to see the list in 2010!

Humorous take on dressage

I recently posted a link to YouTube to a video of Andreas Helgstrand's WEG2006 Freestyle Final but another horse enthusiast pointed me to a video that has a humorous take on dressage.

Businesses should research their targeted audience to insure they market their products correctly through the use of their advertising. I mention this not only because this is what I do but also because Anne Buchanan during her PWF presentation said she had already seen a lot of BAD use of horse photography, illustrations or pictures from other horse sporting events that are NOT a part of the World Equestrian Games. Thus, she had a list of what World Equestrian Games ARE NOT to educate the audience.

Anne Buchanan's list of what the World Equestrian Games are NOT:

• Foxhunting
• Saddlebred
• Polo
• Steeple Chase
• Thoroughbred Racing
• Pleasure horses

So be aware, educated and never underestimate your audience when using horse imagery in your advertising for the KYWEG or you might offend athletes, horse sport enthusiast and/or the international audience watching Kentucky plan and work toward the games in 2010.

What is your business doing?

Are you thinking about the Kentucky FEI World Equestrian Games (KyWEG) from a business perspective?  Does it feel too early to prepare since it’s three years away?  What should you do to prepare for the KyWEG?  Maybe you are overwhelmed by it all or unaware of the impact it may or may not have on your business.  Do you think that you don't need to do anything at all?  If you did want prepare what can your business do to get involved?

These are questions I share with other business owners in the Lexington and Georgetown community. But often these commerce questions are unanswered because the conversation diverts off into the funding for the Kentucky Horse Park issue, politics or specific horse industry participation in the games.  There is a blog created by the Kentucky World Equestrian Games Citizens Action Group where one of their missions is to, "...see that the FEI 2010 games are successful both in execution and presentation of the Commonwealth of Kentucky while utilizing tax payer monies in a way that benefits all citizens of the Commonwealth. A key to the success of these games is to educate the citizens of the Commonwealth that these games benefit all Kentuckians not just horse owners and enthusiasts and not just those people local to the Kentucky Horse Park and Lexington."

So I asked the Georgetown Chamber's Public Affairs Committee, when?  When will the Bluegrass be ready to balance public policy discussions with business development and growth issues related to KyWEG. Businesses have questions and ideas...but all we seem to hear about is the need for hotels, resorts, Horse Park funding etc… but how do entrepreneurs and small businesses fit into this conversation?

I suggested that we develop a business resource blog where local businesses share ideas, activities and information in preparation for the Kentucky Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. I invite you join us on our journey.