Although the AHP “May the Horse Be with You” Seminar may be
over, the phrase is lingering. While I spent much of my time during the seminar
behind the scenes making sure the event ran smoothly, I was well aware that the
horse plays a huge role in the success of this publishing conference.
It’s the horse that brings us all together. Whether we write
about them, photograph them, or manufacture products for them, the love that
attendees have for the horse is center stage.
Students who meet for the first time share a room and their
dreams making them instant friends. At a table for two, strangers become
collaborators at a speed networking session. Speakers inspire, enlighten, and
create excitement in both publishing veteran and young professionals. And if it
wasn’t for the horse, this wouldn’t happen.
The AHP seminar is a place where all breeds and disciplines
come together as one. We are mentoring, encouraging, and sharing. We attend to
become better communicators, to partner with equine businesses and media, and
to improve our skills. The end result is that attendees care about the horse in
their personal and work lives.
I love hearing the excitement in the voice of an awards
winner who has just read the judge’s comment on their entry and discovered that
the judge understood and recognized the emotion and hard work that made the
story a winner.
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| BB-8 returns to Home Base |
Many of us teared up when the hosts on the tours related stories that
showed the depth of their love for the horse. It's a tug on our hearts when we
feel the passion in their voices as they talk about the horses in their lives
and the importance of taking care of them.
It’s the thrill we all have watching horses perform. We
don’t mind the flies, the hot sun, or the sudden downpour; we are happy to be
there among people who love the experience as much as we do. As one member said
on the tour, “This is better than a day at Disney.”
There is much to be gained by attending an AHP
seminar…education, partnerships, jobs, friendships, new business. But the
biggest win is not the awards plaque or the time away from the office. It’s the
emotions we nurtured together on these four days in Orlando that will make us
better in our jobs. That emotion is our love for the horse. As Yoda says,
“Always pass on what you have learned.” This is what I have learned at the
Orlando seminar.
May the horse be with you always,
Chris aka Obi Wan Kenobi
P.S. There is a ton of information to be shared after a seminar. We will notify the members as content is posted to the AHP Members Only page online at www.americanhorsepubs.org.
