| Why would equestrians want to network on the | | | | people to become your friends. You can also |
| internet? | | | | join horse groups at MySpace, and you are |
| | | | free to advertise whatever you like on your |
| Horse people are as a rule social animals and | | | | home page. |
| naturally do a fair amount of networking on a | | | | |
| daily basis without even trying. On the | | | | 5. If you are looking for romance, join a |
| internet this natural talent can be very | | | | reputable equestrian singles site. Make sure |
| useful, especially for those hose riders and | | | | your private information is safe. Never give |
| horse owners who intend to earn some spare | | | | out any personal details, especially not your |
| cash on the net. | | | | e-mail address. All communication happens via |
| | | | the site. Even if you are not looking for |
| The simple act of setting up a horse blog in | | | | romance, these sites can be a great place to |
| cyberspace, even if it is on a fascinating | | | | meet new people, and you can specify on your |
| subject like equestrian holidays, will not | | | | profile if you are looking for a relationship |
| guarantee you visitors who click on your | | | | or just want to make horsey friends. |
| adsense ads or buy your e-book. When you have | | | | |
| told all your horse fiends and acquaintances | | | | 6. Subscribe to quality equestrian |
| as well as your grandmother about your blog | | | | newsletters like the Equestrian Information |
| or e-book, time has come to take it to the | | | | Newsletter; or even better, start writing one |
| masses of eager readers on the net. Although | | | | of your own. |
| they are very keen to get hold of the | | | | |
| equestrian information you want to share, | | | | 7. Subscribe to equestrian magazines, or |
| they can not do so if they do not know where | | | | e-zines, like the Equestrian Online Weekly |
| to find it. | | | | about how horse people can earn money on the |
| | | | net. Choose an e-zine that will provide you |
| So how do equetrians network on the internet? | | | | with valuable, practical information in every |
| | | | issue. |
| Much the same as you would in real life. You | | | | |
| talk to other horse people about your passion | | | | 8. Attend equestrian webminars. These are a |
| and exchange horse stories. Meeting people | | | | bit like real-life seminars, except the whole |
| from all over the world is a truly enriching | | | | thing happens in cyberspace. It can be via a |
| experience. Here are a few quick and easy | | | | telephone connection, or via webcam, with |
| ways to go about it: | | | | means you can also see the other |
| | | | participants. Tremendous fun, and very |
| 1. Join a forum. There are literally hundreds | | | | informative. |
| of forums on the net. Choose one on a subject | | | | |
| that interests you specifically. Two | | | | 9. Use social bookmarking sites like |
| favorites of mine are the Yahoo groups Ride | | | | Delicious, Digg and specifically for blogs, |
| with Confidence and the Friesian Horses | | | | Technorati. These humongous sites exist |
| Group. Just be very careful never to | | | | purely to help you find the information you |
| advertise your services or products directly | | | | are looking for according to what other web |
| on the forum. You will get banned. Forums are | | | | surfers thought of the quality of the |
| about making contacts, not selling your | | | | information they have already discovered. |
| wares. | | | | When you find a useful website, you can |
| | | | bookmark and rate it depending on how |
| 2. Join a society or a club. If you are | | | | practical and realistic the information was |
| interested in classical riding, join a | | | | on the site. Other people can then look at |
| classical riding club. Or an eventing or show | | | | your assessment and decide whether it will be |
| jumping or horse breeding club. Be an active | | | | worthwhile to visit that site. |
| member and contribute regularly. | | | | |
| | | | 10. Write your own blog. Probably the easiest |
| 3. Subscribe to and comment on other people's | | | | and most profitable way of networking on the |
| horse blogs. You can subscribe by RSS- just | | | | internet and definitely the most amusing. Go |
| click on the little orange sign- or by | | | | to Technorati and do a search on horse blogs |
| e-mail. When you comment, leave your blog | | | | to see what is already out there. You ill be |
| address. | | | | amazed and impressed and soon you'll also be |
| | | | addicted. Don't forget to bookmark your own |
| 4. Join MySpace, an enormous social | | | | blog with the social bookmark sites! |
| networking site, and invite MySpace horse | | | | |