It has been a while between updates. It has been an interesting time and an enormous learning curve for me.
While I have not had the last few months go according to plan - which was expected, I hadn't expected to learn what I have.
So what have I learned during the last 4 months while I have been on a mission to get HORSEFITNESS and its platforms in front of industry bodies to gather support and funding?
It has been futile. WHY? No industry bodies will engage in a conversation about a new initiative. It isn't that they don't support the initiative or our mission. They will not return an email or a phone call or take a meeting to even discover what the initiative is. Disappointing to say the least.
Those in the surrounding bodies and businesses who have engaged with me and have been a big part of this learning curve have all individually reaffirmed that this, our mission, and what we are endeavoring to create for our community is SO VERY NEEDED.... but that the industry bodies that have the funds to invest in a company like ours do not have a tangible connection to the businesses and bodies on the ground (with the horse). Resulting in a complete lack of a seemingly basic level of understanding regarding the three enormous issues that pose serious threats to the future of the thoroughbred industry.
There has not been an investment by the PRAs into understanding the main issue of staffing that we (HORSEFITNESS) can immediately impact. This issue is the biggest threat to our sustainability as an industry. Simply put there are not enough people in the industry right now and there aren't enough people entering the industry to sustain what we have let alone any growth. NO People = NO racing. There has been an enormous focus on the welfare of the horse (as there ALWAYS should be) but none of that will matter if we do not have the people to fill the roles required to care for the horses.
Because HORSEFITNESS has been developed and formulated over many years WE have a thorough understanding of the issues creating the staffing crisis and have fine-tuned this solution. Disheartening is an accurate summation of the last 4 months when the conversations that have happened and those that needed to happen but haven't, exposed the giant disconnect between those on the ground entities and the industry bodies which govern and decide so much of the industry's future. Studs and Stables are crying out for a solution to the lack of people to staff their businesses and care for the horse. HORSEFITNESS has an impactful solution. The top guns have no awareness of the severity of the issue and are inaccessible.
Although it is doom and gloom, and a kick in the teeth when the excitement of having a solution to such an important issue is currently in a roadblock. We have a plan! At any point, any time we are ready to kick off with RACEMATE and STUDMATE, we need funding for the projects but the content and planning have been done. So, if you have any capacity to help progress either or both please reach out to us.
In the meantime, we are going to charge on with our Equestrian platform HORSEFIT. Over the next 4- 6 weeks we will be creating content and our platform, once we are ready to launch you will know about it. There will be more to come in the coming weeks so if you don't already follow us on socials please check out our Instagram @hfhorsefit
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