I’m not exactly the cutting-edge type, especially when it comes to computers and social media. But a good friend talked me into trying Twitter last spring -- and I’ve been truly impressed with the friends and colleagues I’ve met there.
There are many terrific horse people “tweeting” -- both locally and nationally. Some of my favorites include:
@alexbrownracing: Alex Brown is committed to racehorse welfare and also is an exercise rider at Steve Asmussen’s barn at Woodbine.
@juliegoodnight: Julie is the star of The Horse Master, a RFD-TV show about horsemanship.
@Monty_Roberts: The original horse whisperer and author of The Man Who Listens to Horses.
@Featherliteinc: Featherlite Trailers has turned out to be very active on Twitter, often providing great advice on trailer shopping and maintenance.
What I like about Twitter is that you can follow people’s “tweets” without having to tweet about anything yourself. It’s very much like listening in on many conversations at a big party. I’ve found myself following all kinds of horse people from every part of the US. And I also follow nature photographers, rattlesnake experts, lady truck drivers and mountain climbers -- just for fun.
Since the spring, the LOPE Twitter account has collected around 2400 followers. We’ve even placed two horses through Twitter too!
If you’d like to see what LOPE is tweeting about, please check out our Twitter account.
He is still racing at 11 years old in Oklahoma. His race trainer/owner has agreed to sell him to the Fans of Barbaro, a forum of racing fans and horse lovers. The Fans of Barbaro want to buy Lights On Broadway so they can retire him from racing. He would come home to Texas to his breeder's ranch or to LOPE.
Please check your mailboxes for the December issue of the Texas Co-op Power magazine. (This is a complimentary magazine sent to you by your local electric cooperative.) The cover story is about Bob Phillips, host of the
If you secretly wonder what it's like to be an actor, a sports announcer, an alpaca farmer - well, you can take a Vocation Vacation to explore those unusual careers – and enjoy a fun, unique learning experience.
We have had so many questions from folks about our work with the racehorses, about our nonprofit adoption program here at the ranch.