Stallion "Fan" pages on Facebook

[Foxhound]

I know some breeders have started to use FB to promote their stallions and keep in touch with mare owners and owners of their stud's offspring. I recently started a page for my trainer's stallion, Ruffian.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ruffian/300068873374?ref=ts

The page is pretty new, so I want to keep adding to it.
I know there are several stallion owners on this BB. Have any of you used FB to promote your stallions? Do you find that it helps increase the number of return breedings? Do you offer special promotions for FB fans of your stallions? What kind of information do you put up on your stallion's page?
TIA.

[nls]

We just put together a Facebook page for our farm. It has been very interesting to me. I was not familiar with Facebook, I fear I am older than their target demographic, but our employees are and encouraged it. It has been an interesting few days seeing where the fans are coming from! We even have one from Jordan now! I think it will be interesting to see if it has any value business-wise, but at the least maybe it will interest people enough that they link to our website. I hope to use the page as a place to notify when we update the website or sales page. Time will tell. It does seem like a good way to help advertise your stallion's offspring that are owned by others. I will be curious to see if anyone has had success with it. I do wish you could send out fan requests from the page but I guess you need an individual page to be able to do that.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eustis-FL/Seneca-Ridge-Trakehners/317195320554

[Sakura Hill Farm]

Monica put together a FaceBook page for our farm that I am very happy about. http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=sakura+hill+farm&init=quick#!/pages/Gainesville-FL/Sakura-Hill-Farm-LLC/52119554381?ref=search&sid=10402430.808758628..1 (http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=sakura+hill+farm&init=quick#%21/pages/Gainesville-FL/Sakura-Hill-Farm-LLC/52119554381?ref=search&sid=10402430.808758628..1)

In the case of stallion fan pages, I wish that EVERY stallion owner would do this and include all the information that we need when choosing stallions (pedigree, conformation picture, breed registries approved with, etc etc.) plus up-to-date news about competition results of self and progeny, recent photos, just plain news. Having this information updated and available with a few clicks is invaluable to us and , we think, would provide outstanding and cheap advertising to the stallion owner.

Please avail yourselves of this resource, SOs! :cool:

[NorthHillFarm]

I have to admit that I've never been to a stallion "fan" page on FB...but I did recently add my farm.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/North-Hill-Farm/238104372041?ref=ts
At the AHS meeting comments were made that some breeders are seeing great results using internet programs like FB and Youtube to promote their sales stock instead of just using the typical sales sites like Equine.com, Dreamhorse, and W-F-S.
I'm still figuring out how to actually promote using FB or Youtube.

[Movin Artfully]

In the case of stallion fan pages, I wish that EVERY stallion owner would do this and include all the information that we need when choosing stallions (pedigree, conformation picture, breed registries approved with, etc etc.) plus up-to-date news about competition results of self and progeny, recent photos, just plain news. Having this information updated and available with a few clicks is invaluable to us and , we think, would provide outstanding and cheap advertising to the stallion owner.

:yes: !!!!

[grayfox]

I have fan pages for my stallions. It's a work in progress but I like that people can post.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Petaluma-CA/Redwine-Hanoverian-Stallion/120486249069?ref=ts

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Romantic-Star-Hanoverian-Stallion/125887037579?ref=ts

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Aloha-Black-Warmblood-Stallion/123535577490?ref=ts

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Federalist-Elite-Hanoverian-stallion-by-For-Pleasure/289842987203?ref=ts

[JB]

Sempatico has one :yes:

[leslie645]

Coming from a mare-owner stand point, I LOVE the stallion pages. I am fans of a couple. I think SO's and farms...really anyone with a business to promote would do themselves a favor by using facebook. especially if they used the word stallion in the description. I would make it easy to find on FB.

***** It is SOOOO much easier than keeping up a website...uploading photos is simple, as well as simply adding links and letting people know what is going on with the stallion and progeny news.

I belong to Braveheart's fan club
I belong to Fizzy's page AKA Olivier-Imajica

I would love to see a list of stallions that have pages on FB.

[risingstarfarm]

I also have a farm page, which I use primarily for posting photos, videos and news about Cielo B, Deja Blue B, Figaro B and Valentino Z: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Georgetown-TX/Rising-Star-Farm/249357839611?ref=ts

[Daventry]

We set up a Facebook page for our farm and stallions at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stony-Plain-AB/Daventry-Farms/78309977524

I decided not to set up individual stallion pages as I didn't want to have too much to manage, plus, we have TONS of information on each stallion on our website...which leads to each stallions own website! :yes:

[IBWmassage]

From someone who buys youngsters, I love being able to see many pictures of offspring from a particular stallion. It would seem to have a lot of possibilities in reaching out to offspring owners who aren't the mare owner.

[Mozart]

I saw that the stallion Oxford has a Facebook fan club.

[Walnut Farm]

Benidetto has one too that his trainer updates.

[leslie645]

GreyFox
I really like your stallion pages on FB. They are easy to find *and* on your page it shows a picture of your stallion in the upper left corner, and some of his info underneath. I like that you have bloodlines and registries easily visible.
Nice pages and easy to comprehend exactly what the page is about. Well done.
Cheers
Leslie

In the 'info' button area IMHO I would like to see more personal info about a stallion...maybe a repeat of its bloodline/registries/ height./ website link/contact numbers...etc.
just my $.02 tho.

[mainerinmd]

Here's the FB page for one of the stallions where I board.
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/Maxamillion/297979967267?ref=nf

[Dressage_Diva333]

I have one for the farm, I figured it was easier to do it that way, as opposed to making one for each of the stallions. I'm not quite done adding photos, hopefully will finish that up this week.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Placerville-CA/Secret-Ambition-Stables/270894961941

[not again]

We have a farm fan page on FB which keeps everyone up to date on what we are up to. It is linked through the farm blog, so if someone is not on FB they can still get updates.
http://ellie-watermarkfarmhappenings.blogspot.com/

[Coppers mom]

I made one for the farm: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sanford-NC/Abbeymoor-Farm-LLC/113131752529?ref=ts

I love it because, even though I make sure the website is never more than 2 days out of date, people don't always check it. When they become a fan on facebook, every time I add pictures or an announcement, they see it. It's a great way to spread information and keep the farm in the back of everyone's mind.

It's also nice because we can add all the fun stuff that would just clutter up a website. On the facebook fan page, people can add their own pictures, we can post pictures of the horses we've sold and their new owners, news (sales, show results, foaling, etc), and just general, around the farm cutesy stuff.

ETA: I was thinking about doing one specifically for the stallion, but I don't know if maybe that would be a little redundant. The ID breeding community is much smaller than the WB one, so I just don't know if I'd have enough information to really warrant a separate page.

[horsetales]

I recently put up a FB page for the farm. http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Gettysburg-PA/Epona-Farm/178919629890?ref=ts

I have also become a fan of several other farms and stallions. I think its a great way for owners to give sellers and SO updates.

[unbridledoaks]

I was thinking of doing one for our stallion , but we did our farm, http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Reardan-WA/Unbridled-Oaks/75433103929 I Love it, and so do my clients. They can post and they know when things get updated.

[sixpoundfarm]

They are great!

Special Memories
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Upperco-MD/Special-Memories-Trakehner-Stallion-by-Abdullah-out-of-Kluwall-xx/296200378143?ref=nf

Cabalito
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=361635360017

Apiro
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Apiro/116589589595?ref=nf

[mainerinmd]

This is the stallion my mare is in foal to!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Saint-Sandro/466983320004?ref=nf

[RiverOaksFarm]

I did one for my farm http://www.facebook.com/pages/River-Oaks-Farm/174961213725

I thought about doing individual stallion pages, but worried the information would be redundant, to post it on the farm page and also on the stallion page... does anyone have any thoughts on that? For the people who like to be page fans, do you prefer being a farm page fan, or a stallion page fan, or does it not make much difference to you?

My website is also pretty thorough. My facebook page could never be as thorough. My hope would be that the facebook page might bring interested people to the website, not that the facebook page would be an end in itself. (Thoughts?)


Adding: for any Friesian Sporthorse fans out there, the registry has a facebook page now too: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friesian-Sporthorse-Association/176511954878

[rideagoldenpony]

Ditto to many of you.... I have a farm page (I love how easy it is to update!) but haven't done one for the individual stallions.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Family-Partners-Welsh-Ponies/117801410870?ref=ts

[Dressage_Diva333]

I thought about doing individual stallion pages, but worried the information would be redundant, to post it on the farm page and also on the stallion page... does anyone have any thoughts on that? For the people who like to be page fans, do you prefer being a farm page fan, or a stallion page fan, or does it not make much difference to you?
]

I agree. I just think it's easier to have everything one one place.

[Indy-lou]

I created a "Fan Site" on FB for my farm expressly for the purpose of using it in an app they call a "Fan Box" that is posted on my web "news" page. This way, I can update it myself and add all the photos or video links I want. I like that I can keep things fresh that way myself without having to redo any part of the basic site

[Rubs Not Pats]

Thank you for posting Cabalito's FB page Sixpound!

[Hilltopfarmva]

One client has done one for his stallion Silver Music. I will do one for my stallion Noles when we start showing his first crop. Of the 5 one was euthanized as a yearling, one will be racing again this year under me and the other three will go to the show ring. 2nd crop of the 2 one died and the other will go into race training as per the owner, this year. 3rd crop now yearlings, I will get better pictures and video of them and post them. So, Noles won't get a page until later. But, I think it is a good idea! And it is free!!!

[arizonard]

We also did a group for our program:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=314248810349&ref=ts

It is a very easy way to post updates and photos. We are going to post our foaling cam links so people can watch. I have found most of our members are already clients or friends, but it is a good way to spread the word.

As for stallion pages, I like the idea a lot. The ones with frequent updates and lots of offspring photos really interest me. I would agree that the pages for the Gray Fox stallions are particularly useful. I like the show results updates, and it is nice to see more photos. You can only put so many on a website without making a page too large.

I am off to become a fan of other COTHers pages! :)

[miraclewelsh]

Ours is also a fan page for the farm, rather than for our individual stallions:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Phelps-WI/Miracle-Welsh-Mountain-Ponies/98846795770

And I definitely agree with the ease of updating and posting new information--it's very convenient. :-)

[MagicRoseFarm]

We have one up for Beste Gold, but not yet for Hot Shot

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Beste-Gold-Stallion-and-Offspring/297126342917?ref=nf

ours has about 100 photos, mostly of offspring as foals and as they have grown.

[Windswept Stable]

Empire's Power has one too.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Empires-Power/247312572497

[Whitehedge Farm]

I love Facebook for posting farm and stallion offspring pictures!!

It is so easy to update.... and you can easily get pictures from people you sold horses to and owners of your stallions offspring.

I have one for my farm, with pictures of my pony stallion's (Telynau Falcon) babies and also horses that I have bred and sold. Plus I added all that I could find to Cabalitos page which is really growing into a lovely collection. It takes so much work to get all that stuff organized, and this is certainly an easier way to get it done and out there for mare owners to see!

http://www.facebook.com/whitehedge.farm
I would invite all my COTH friends to also come be my FB friends :)

And for all of you that have those long,confusing FB addresses= you can easily go get one with you farm name to add into it- like I did above. Also makes you easier to find.

[SilverBalls]

It's a great idea! I love checking all of them out... and seeing the offspring! :winkgrin:

[Fred]

I am still in the dark ages myself in terms of computer things, but a friend started a page for A Fine Romance for me.
I love being able to update things myself, which is great.


Of course I don't know how to do a link to his page however.....

[Lesley Feakins]

We have a farm page with albums created for our two stallions and for their offspring. The stallions having their own page is a great idea. Facebook is so easy to update and keep refreshed.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Trevelyan-Farm/85111609022?ref=ts

[razzletazzle]

Where I work has one for the farm, unfortunatly FB is blocked here, but it is Cadence Farm :) we just got it started, and seems to be a good resource to link to the website and post updates.

For others who have asked: personally I feel like a farm fan page and stallion pages are good, because you get that much more exposure.

[L&L]

We have a facebook page and would love to hear from you all. Have really enjoyed visiting everyones fan pages :cool:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Solaris-Sport-Horses/172503396747?ref=ts

[sixpoundfarm]

Whitehedge, how did you do that? I must be missing how to do it, do you have to start with a new page, or can you convert an existing one?

I made one for my farm, but would like to change the long link

http://www.facebook.com/pages/manage/#!/pages/Burlington-WI/Six-Pound-Farm/53352356521

[not again]

Since a couple of my horses are off competing south of the snowmageddon line, the FB fan page for the farm makes me feel a part of the action, instead of stranded here in the tundra.
http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#!/pages/Oxford-PA/Watermark-Farm/160425195238?ref=mf

[siksika]

Are they easy to do? I'm hopeless at computer stuff. Are you allowed to make up a farm page if you already have a personal account?

[scribbles]

Are they easy to do? I'm hopeless at computer stuff. Are you allowed to make up a farm page if you already have a personal account?

you actually have to have a personal account to do it, the easiest way would be to log out, and then look at the sign in/sign up page that will appear. at the bottom it says: CREATE A PAGE FOR A CELEBRITY BAND OR BUSINESS click here, and it takes you through the step to get it started!:D

[siksika]

Wonderful! Thank you!

[alliekat]

We have one for our farm:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/WorthAShotFarm
and I know that the farm that owns the stallion we bred our mares to (Escapade) has one too.
Barrington Hill
http://www.facebook.com/#!/barringtonhillfarm?ref=ts
I love how easy it is to update pictures and keep intouch with fellow breeders.
ETA I also love how you can link your Youtube with your FB. Anytime you upload to Youtube it will automatically post it to FB.

[foxhavenfarm]

I finally have one started for Artrageous (http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#!/pages/Artrageous/299139422351?ref=ts)...it is a work in progress.

[sfstable]

I had been thinking of starting one for my new stallion and this thread "prodded" me so here it is:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Richard-Black-KWPN-Stallion/314762549280?ref=ts

Obviously, still a work in progress :) This is my first attempt at Face book !!

[jwsporthorses]

I think the Facebook pages are a great way to advertise in these trying times. I am also one who doesn't do my own website so updates are more difficult to get posted to my website.

Please visit my farm FB page, home to the Holsteiner stallion by Contender "Contester II"

www.facebook.com/pages/JW-Sporthorses/256565069298?ref=ts

Thank you!

[Equine Reproduction]

I think they are a great concept. We don't do our own webpage on the farm so we're at the mercy of the webmaster for updates :(. As we're on satellite, our internet connection isn't the fastest, so uploading photos and video and such is slow, slow going. But, I'm working on it! It definitely is a work in progress and in my spare time, i'm going to scan in more photos from "way back when" :D. But, in the meantime, I've gotten one up and started on Mannhattan : http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=Search&init=quick#!/pages/Wynnewood-OK/Mannhattan-1991-Oldenburg-Stallion/301965901835?ref=ts

And I'll start working on Edelweiss here in the next week or so. As an aside, Edelweiss' first foals will be arriving here in the next few weeks, so I'm MOTIVATED to get the page up for that <smile>.

[oakviewfarm]

We have recently started a Facebook Fan page for our Welsh stallion, Champlain Rainmaker (Smoke Tree Mountain Ash x Cymraeg Raindrop by Farnley Lustre), and we can't wait to start seeing pictures and updates from clients. We think it is a great, easy way to promote our stallion and his get. The page is young, so we don't have many photos yet, but please check it out and spread the word!