We’re twying new ways to promote a really cool event.

Holly Clanahan

Here at AQHA headquarters, we’re working fast and furious to prepare for next weekend’s QuarterFest. It’s going to be a blowout party in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and we’re all excited!

It seems like every day, there’s a new development that just makes it all the more exciting. We’ve had big-name clinicians like Bob Avila sign on. We’re bringing in movie-horse trainer Rex Peterson and one of his stars who was in the movie “Appaloosa.” (I cannot wait to see Rex’s session on trick training!) There will be a tribute to the armed forces, featuring a soldier who was wounded in Iraq and returned home to help other soldiers recover – with the use of horses. (That’s another one that will keep me on the edge of my seat and probably wiping my eyes before it’s over.) Oh, and for the younger crowd … Hannah Montana’s movie horse, who can currently be seen in theaters, will be there for photos with fans. And actually, I could keep going. The coolness just keeps on coming.

So, one of our challenges with this event has been: How do we let the world know *how cool* it really is? And at least part of that answer has been found in social networking sites. Facebook and MySpace updates have been plentiful, thanks to a marketing intern who rocks those online worlds. Then there’s this little service called Twitter.

Twitter is a “microblogging” service. It simply lets users say what they’re doing at the moment in 140 characters or less. Kind of like a haiku. For some users, it’s pretty mundane. But for others, it’s a way to get real-time updates on a variety of situations – everything from earthquakes to political revolts. For AQHA, well, we hope there isn’t any sort of revolt at QuarterFest, but we do plan to offer plenty of real-time updates from the event - everything from where the best parking can be found, to quick tips from the clinicians.

Cool? Yes, absolutely. But it’s making us all talk a little funny.

When you post an update on Twitter, it’s called “tweeting.” And those who tweet are called “twitterers.” And to tweet from my Blackberry phone, I had to download an application called “twibble,” which can also be used in verb form. So I’m tweeting, I’m twibbling, I’m twying to remember to pronounce my R’s.

I’m also having to step outside my traditional-publishing comfort zone, learning how to navigate new waters – like flickr.com, which allows us to post slideshows of photos. Check back on americashorsedaily.com for a slideshow from each day of QuarterFest.

And, in the meantime, do you mind being my guinea pig? Sit back and relax … and let’s see if I can make this new slideshow thing work! You should be seeing some pics of what my weekend was like! It was … not so relaxing! Ya gotta love spring storms!