About this time last year, I received a call about a possible blogging opportunity at a new and exciting website that was coming down the pipes. Of course, they heard that I'm the irrefutable queen of wordsmithery (yes, that word counts), and called me up to help with the site! It all sounded quite intriguing to me, and I agreed. Good thing too, because that small phone call in my backyard in Aiken last January has finally come to fruition in the form of Horse Collaborative. Let me take a moment, and share with you what I think is going to be the next Eventing Nation.
So, you get to the website, what's it all about? Horse Collaborative is this amazing combination of everything that you need within the internet (for your horses). It is based around a community idea, how to connect with people that surround you who are interested in the same things. You can create your own "page" which allows you to have a beautiful mini-website in just minutes. There, you can blog, advertise horses or tack for sale, promote your business, and connect with other individuals or clubs in your area. You can read articles written by a variety of interesting people, ranging from a blog about trekking across the mountains on a quarter horse, or Denny Emerson's fascinating chronicles of breeds and bloodlines. There are professionals and amateurs alike found on this website, all of us trying to share knowledge, and get more connected.
One of the best qualities of the forums and blogs on HC is the lack of anonymity. I know so many people who have struggled with anonymous heckling across the interwebs, which is quite frankly just the most ridiculously cowardly high school behavior I can imagine. However, the internet allows this, and thus it becomes acceptable. On HC, if you have something to say, it has to be your name under the comment, and you have to be held accountable for what you say. I think this is a really important enforcement of honesty that sometimes escapes us.
Horse Collaborative also has a Facebook page, which is really useful. CLICK HERE! I "liked" it, and now when I sign up, it lets me know when there are horses for sale in my region, when people have posted local equestrian events, and when there are new interesting blogs up on the site. It is a really great way to find out about those hidden gems, whether its a OTTB down the road you didn't know about, or a spur of the moment schooling show that would be perfect to get your season started.
Anyway! I hope that you all will check out my blog on HC, I tend to philosophize a little more than I do on here, and it's pretty fun! I hope to be able to add a new one every two weeks. (MY BLOG, Y'ALL)
December hacks with Nyls