How do you market an unfamiliar breed,
new to the U.S. in a weaker economy? We went to Linda Brown of A
Wizards Spell Ranch, one of the largest, most prestigious breeders of
Gypsy Horses in the U.S. located in Burleson, Texas to find out how she
gets the word out and markets her Gypsy Horses.
The horses from this ranch are rapidly
selling to happy new buyers. How does she accomplish this?
Her response was, “First, you need your breed to be one that suits the
needs of today’s potential buyers. Many people are getting
nearer retirement age and want something calm, quiet, not dangerous,
but still flashy. They want something well trained and very
forgiving of their new owners’ lack of horse experience.”
These are traits that very much apply to
the Gypsy Horses. The buyers from A Wizards Spell Ranch
receive an extensive training program about general horse care, as well
as the specifics of their specific horses’ personalities and
quirks. If the buyer is comfortable and the match is right then
there are many happy years ahead of them.
Advertising the breed is the first
approach. After that, the breed must come out in front of the
public and be available for hands-on interaction. Linda invested
in renting the Cowtown Coliseum in the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards
for her buyers to learn and demonstrate their Gypsy Horses’ show skills
in front of the 3,000 people who attended…some of which are her
potential buyers of current and upcoming 2010 stock. Many of
Linda’s foals are sold as weanlings.
On Dec. 10 the team of driving Gypsies
from this ranch escorted the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes in their
Grand Opening Ceremony at the Nokia Theatre.
If you would like to see A Wizards Spell
Gypsy Horses, plan to attend the Fort Worth Stock Show for the Gypsy
Horse World Show January 29-31. Last year was the first year the
Gypsy Horses were at the Fort Worth Stock Show and the aisles were
packed with people learning about the breed. Linda had to enlist
additional help to insure a knowledgeable person could answer the many
questions being asked.
A new venue for A Wizards Spell
this year is in the educational area of the San Antonio Stock Show,
February 4-21, another opportunity for interested horse lovers to
experience this personable and flashy breed.
You are invited to stop by either event
and ask Linda about the breed and see if they might be right for
you. But be careful as she may hand you a brush while you are
talking.
For those with more experience,
this ranch provides assistance with Gypsy Horses who will be involved
in ranch versatility including cutting, roping, reining, as well as
dressage and driving. Breeding stock is also available along with
the education of establishing a quality breeding program and how to
market their offspring.
For information on these incredible
horses from A Wizards Spell Ranch, please visit www.GypsyHorsesInTexas.com