Donkey trots towards winning international social media award

CHICHESTER, U.K. - Feb. 6, 2014 - PRLog -- The ESMA (Equestrian Social Media Awards) this year received over 17000 nominations from across the world and Lavant House Stables in West Sussex were shortlisted to the 200 finalists by the judges.

With over 13000 public votes already cast and voting closing tomorrow ( 7^th February), both two and four legged residents at the Stables are keeping everything crossed to win their category - best use of social media by a Riding School.

“Last year Two Stroke posted a sad photo of himself asking for likes for carrots and it was crazily popular with almost 1300 likes and shares on facebook” said Lavant House Stables’ social media manager, Amelia Thomson. “We then posted a thank you photo of Two Stroke sharing a huge pile of carrots with his best friend Diesel. We are lucky we have such great “models” and the stunning South Downs National Park to work with every day. It makes social media easy.”

Those models include over 60 horses and ponies, 30 liveries, 15 staff and 250 regular riders every week, plus a full calendar of events for all ages throughout the year. Under this sort of challenging schedule many businesses might not find time for marketing.

“No matter how busy we are, we are constantly developing our marketing both on and offline” explained Lucy. “We are building a fabulous and fun new worldwide community through social media and being shortlisted for this award is great reward for our efforts. But we really would like to win!”

This equestrian business is no stranger to innovation or awards, with their entrepeneurial approach to growth in a recession being recognised in not one but two top 3 places in the Sussex Business Awards in 2012.

Several of their home-produced children have gone on to successfully represent in regional and national teams in equestrianism and their Pony Club quiz team were crowned 2013 National Quiz Champions.

For more information visit http://www.lhstables.co.uk and http://www.facebook.com/lavanthousestables and the ESMAs at http://www.equestriansocialmediaawards.com/