Setting the foundation
Preparations begin
Before the project begins, I focused on setting up the core framework to ensure everything was built on a strong foundation. This included creating surveys tailored for equestrian farms, local residents, and horse owners, aiming to understand their needs, challenges, and interest in community engagement. Alongside this, I worked on the legal side of the business, initiating the registration process, drafting essential policies, and ensuring compliance with regulations. This phase is crucial in shaping the direction of the project, gathering vital insights, and laying the groundwork for future community involvement. Each step taken since then has been fueled by the vision of bringing art and horses together to make a meaningful impact within the local community.
Understanding
the horse owners
Reflections
Those who own horses in the UK oftentimes look after them alongside a full time job, which can be really tough. The last thing they would want is someone else enjoying their horses when they have bought them and put so much sacrifice into them. This is why it is important if their horses were to be involved in our projects, that it works for the owner. We take into account their schedule - whether they would want to be present during the workshops or not, catering to their wishes around how their horses can be involved ie. if they are on the pastures and the participants see them from far, or can participants pet them etc. The level of involvement would be fully discussed and agreed with the owners first to make sure they feel comfortable with it.
Understanding the liveries
Deeper dive
Liveries would have different needs to farms because they provide a paid service to horse owners. Their resources may have more resources due to income coming in from livery rentals. However, this comes with certain standards needing to be met so if their fascilities fall behind the market then they that stay there to have issues. Livery yard needs may be training for staff, providing benefits to their staff, maintenance team access, haylage storage or better marketing
Understanding equestrian farms
Understanding deepens
From a lifelong love of art and horses, Canvasandhooves was born. The idea of merging art with equines to benefit the elderly and farms sparked a new passion. The journey began with a desire to share creativity and joy through workshops and projects. Each step taken since then has been fueled by the vision of bringing art and horses together to make a meaningful impact.
November 2024 - Present
Journey Beginnings
During my journey, I dedicated time to researching the equine market because I wanted to dive deep into the community and its needs. I read through trusted equine publications, engaged in online forums, and connected with others in social media groups centered around horses. I learned about the challenges faced by liveries, horse owners, land owners and made it the mission of this project to aid each challenge one by one. This research not only deepened my understanding of the trends and challenges in the equine world but also reinforced my commitment to supporting the community in meaningful ways.