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Post by Kelly Marks on Dec 7, 2010 10:14:46 GMT 1
Sarah Weston (LP Editor) and I are doing our best efforts to bring you a wonderful March edition.
Please could you tell us what articles, competitions, giveaways you appreciate MOST in your Listening Post?
COMPETITIONS We have so few people enter the competitions we have to think you're not that bothered about them. This month we have a pair of tickets for Appassionata worth £130 up for grabs and we'd be very lucky if we got 20 entries (big hint - so if you haven't entered do so!)
EDUCATIONAL ARTICLES Do you like them written in a particular style?
PHOTOS
SUCCESS STORIES
What else could we add that you would like? Did anyone used to do the crossword?
We haven't found that people use the members area of the website that much. Could you give a reason for that?
Is there anything you don't like?
We promise not to be offended by anything you say! We're just trying to do the best job possible and reckon YOU are the people to ask!
Kxx
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2010 11:25:31 GMT 1
I have to admit I haven't read my new LP yet, been too busy with the highland sports of extreme poo picking and water carrying!
My favourites are the in-detail articels by specialists - my recent favourites have been the bitting articles and Heather and Nicole's ones on intelligent riding and Rosie's one on getting a horse to move off your leg.
I like lots of photos - it's lovely to hear how Pie and the gang are getting on and I like the articles showing case studies of RA's work.
I like the competitions - don't stop them! I don't actually know what Appassionata is though, will have to go and google it!
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Post by happysnail on Dec 7, 2010 11:28:04 GMT 1
Love the listening post- diversity of articles is spot on. Educational articles are worth their weight in gold (I'm a science geek ). Because of the nature of intelligent horsemanship, human stories and case studies are very inspirational. Lots of people have had something quite profound happen to start exploring IH (whether a 'crisis', or seeking a way to build a partnership with the horse, or seeing someone like Monty or Kelly in action). Don't tend to enter competitions for things like appasionata (which looks flipping amazing) because I live in north Scotland and geography makes a difference and I don't own horses. You should start a readers gallery of what folk are doing at home - always popular on the DG! As to members access on the website, I would use it all the time if I could have the logins the same as on the DG!! Happysnailxx
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Post by mags on Dec 7, 2010 12:40:03 GMT 1
Well, first of all, I think you did a great job with the December edition! I haven't read quite every single word yet, but I've given it a good browse.
I really enjoyed pretty much all of the articles. I like reading about what you and your horses are up to. It's also really fun to hear more about people/horses I've "met" on the DG (in this edition, the "travelling Spider" story and watching LuckyRed on DVD). Love the success stories, particularly the ones that detail the sometimes-rocky path to success. I would have preferred it if the article on nutrition (or any article written by experts) had been written by someone who is independent. A bit predictable that the nutritionist would be recommending the feed of the company they are employed with. My Top Spec voucher, BTW, went to a friend.
I must say, the competition didn't even register with me. Now that I know about the prize, I'll have to go back and participate... particularly at those odds! Generally speaking, I'm not huge on competitions, and if I see that I won't be able to use the prize (e.g. tickets to an event too far away, or at a time I won't be around), I mostly don't bother. Having said that, it would be a real incentive for me if the prize were a discount to one of the IH training courses! Have been wanting to do one of those...
Members area: It's on my list "to do". I also haven't yet taken advantage of Monty's online university. Stumbling blocks are: It feels like I should take some time to do thorough browsing, whereas popping onto the DG just takes a few seconds. Also haven't memorized my password for the members area. It's not as interactive as the DG, so I'm not as likely to check in often to see what's new. I guess something like "weekly news" or similar would make me check in more frequently, at which point I might get caught by something else on there etc.
Love the many pictures.
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Post by nich on Dec 7, 2010 13:12:23 GMT 1
We haven't found that people use the members area of the website that much. Could you give a reason for that?
for me its because I didnt automatically become a 'member' on the website when I became an IH member - I asked the mods and you have to email your membership number to get access/get your DG green 'IH member' added. just not a priority to get around to it, and having the quote the number, that means searching through piles of paper to find it!
listening post - fab, LOVED the Top Spec voucher. think Speedibeet would be universally popular if you could do that? reviews of equine events/shows/clinics??
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Post by ruthp on Dec 7, 2010 14:07:27 GMT 1
Articles about how to tackle unusual problems are really interesting, simply because they are different. I guess I've seen Monty and Kelly about a dozen times, so normal join up, backing etc. are less interesting to me, but that might be a bit unfair on others who are new to IH. Meet the members is fun. I don't know many other IH members - there don't seem to be that many in my area, so it's nice to "meet" some in the magazine.
And the members area on the website - I've tried to get into it a few times and never succeeded, so sort of gave up!
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Lark
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Post by Lark on Dec 7, 2010 14:38:32 GMT 1
I don't have my LP yet!!!! I've had to read the newspaper!!! The members area log-on is seriously up the creek and I would love to go on there but can't! Have tried to get someone to turn me green and all that; but they hate me so.... *sniffs.... I think it's a good read and obviously progressing in a natural way as these things do. As a members mag it should be as all inclusive as possible, with a balanced blend of info., education, entertainment and advice. Above everything the Listening Post doesn't want to end up as just another 'horsey' mag, regurgitating the same old pap and telling us how we should all be amazing out there winning stuff...I think the reason people want to belong to IH is to have somewhere there is a 'voice' for horses and doing things in a different way...and if you happen to be amazing and win stuff then all the better!! ;D
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Post by mandal on Dec 7, 2010 15:35:51 GMT 1
LP! I think it's great and improving with each issue. Well done! Good luck as the new editor too Sarah. I'm really looking forward to this issue. ;D
I think the basics should always be in there somewhere even if just in the personal stories. I especially like the emphasis on making riding easy to understand with Heather and Nicole's articles etc. Love the more questioning articles too, the one on Modern Dressage ethics by Adam recently was a great example and I'd like more of that type.
I do go on the main members but must admit not for a while. I was working my way through the projects which I really like reading. Agree about the member's log in it is hit and miss though has been better the last few times I''ve logged in.
I think for longer established members the introductory info becomes less appealing as we are familiar with it. I did find this a bit with the online Uni too, although I still learned loads and the graphics are fab.
Having a block atm...
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Post by rj on Dec 7, 2010 15:40:30 GMT 1
Would a letters page be something to consider? Most mags have one, and some people do want to comment on something they saw in a previous issue.
I occasionally do get onto the members website - it takes me a couple of goes each time, but as I no longer have own horse I don't have the urge to explore so much - though of course I now have more time to do so!
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Post by mandal on Dec 7, 2010 15:42:46 GMT 1
Main members wont let me log in!
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Post by Catrin on Dec 7, 2010 16:21:41 GMT 1
I occasionally visit the Members area on the IH website, but only if you tell us to or to read a Horse Psychology project. I sometimes visit the Members area on here, but often I forget to check that our too as I usually just check in on General Talk. I've enjoyed all the Listening Posts so far, none particularly more than others. I wondered why no-one enjoyed my Teaching Your Horse to be Bad article, but then remembered, you haven't put it in yet. After last week, it would be good to have something about the different courses, I don't think people realised how much fun they are or how much you learn. Photos of course would be very necessary for that. Competitions, I have entered and won, have been for Duallys and sweatshirts. Tickets for things are nice, but it's far too awkward timewise and looking after horses, dog, cats at home to go to London for a show. Otherwise I be going to see the Cadre Noir and SRS, but I'd go it it were Birmingham, then I can get back in a day.
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Post by mags on Dec 7, 2010 21:15:29 GMT 1
Okay, I will have to revise my statement above on the competitions. I've gone back and searched through the Listening Post, and all of the prizes are fab! I've entered every one of the competitions/giveaways now I will say that at first glance, many of the competition paragraphs (or whatever you call them) look so much like adverts (and sometimes are placed right next to adverts) that I didn't even give them a closer look. Maybe it would help to somehow set them apart visually? I will certainly turn the pages more carefully in the future.
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Post by Dragonmaster on Dec 8, 2010 10:05:26 GMT 1
There have been some amazing stories on the DG recently about horses that have looked after their owners when the owners became ill, or knew in advance of any people that someone was pregnant. An article using these stories, perhaps with some explanation of why they do this, might be interesting.
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lroy
Advanced Poster
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Post by lroy on Dec 8, 2010 13:20:46 GMT 1
I'm only on my 2nd listening post (being a fairly new member) I love competitions but as I'm in Scotland would only enter if it was something viable- ie tickets for down South would not be practical. But would enter if there was horsey stuff to win -or IH merchandise. Really enjoy the horse help articles.
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Post by merryberry on Dec 8, 2010 15:04:28 GMT 1
COMPETITIONS: I haven't noticed them in this months LP. I also agreed that the practicalities of going away put me off too, and being in the depths of Cornwall, it means a decent amount of traveling too! I'd prefer to enter a competition for something IH related too (course, clothing etc).
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