Educational

            Since the beginning of time, education has been the key to advancement. This axiom is as true in the Thoroughbred breeding business as it is in everyday life.

            The CTBA’s mission statement lists one of its many goals “to expand and encourage the education of members and prospective members to the fullest extent possible.”

            All the educational activities are funded in part by a generous annual grant from the Oak Tree Racing Association and by the monies extracted from the wagered dollar by the state law that created the CTBA. To accomplish our goal, the CTBA board created an education committee made up of board members and interested people from our membership. We hold educational activities, seminars and tours throughout the year, up and down the state. It is our desire to reach as many of our members and interested people as possible with these programs.

            There are several regional clubs and other Thoroughbred associations in California with periodic representation on the education committee that work with us to produce seminars and events in different areas. We have designed the education program to match each season in a timely fashion. We hold foaling and neonatal presentations in the early spring, ‘cutting edge’ reproductive informational sessions during the breeding season and sales prepping seminars in the early summer. Stallion tours are held in the early fall so stallions can be viewed before final booking decisions are made by mare owners.

            During CTBA’s annual select yearling sale at Del Mar we hold a trade show that combines the fine equine art produced in our state with displays from many of our California farms. We also include displays from people and businesses that have educational and informational merit.

            Each fall we hold a gala two-day event in the middle of the state to pass along current information that could aid in breeding and raising better Thoroughbred racehorses. This popular event brings our members together to network with each other and with experts and leaders in our industry.

            Both UC Davis and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo host annual educational events that include input from our committee and members.

Magazine and
Internet Website

The California Thoroughbred magazine and the CTBA web site are the major information mediums of the CTBA. The committee that oversees these two ventures is comprised of CTBA directors and CTBA staff members. It is the responsibility of the committee to provide leadership, policy and direction that insure a flow of high quality and meaningful information to the membership.

            California Thoroughbred magazine has long been recognized as a leading industry publication. We are dedicated to building upon that foundation. One way this is being achieved is by working together in providing articles that are significant in assisting in farm management and animal husbandry. Our husbandry and management series is written each month by hands-on practitioners from across the state. We are also committed to providing pertinent and informative veterinary topics. In order to get to better know CTBA’s membership we regularly publish member profiles. These articles highlight CTBA members and provide insight into their commitment to breeding quality Thoroughbreds.

            Another objective of the magazine is to bring together advertisers and a precise target market. Stallion owners are able to cost effectively reach the real decision-makers with their advertising dollars. As a supplement for all magazine subscribers we annually produce California’s stallion directory and industry directory.

            The directors and CTBA staff are committed to long term quality and continued improvement of the magazine. We are interested in the needs of the members. Wherever possible we will reach out to fulfill those needs.

            The committee also provides direction for the CTBA internet web site. The internet provides a new and exciting method of communication. It allows for taking our message not only to the membership, but also to a broad audience interested in the California Thoroughbred industry. Our initial focus has been to create an easy and effective way of communication between members, directors and staff by way of e-mail. By simply signing on to ctba.net you can easily communicate your thoughts and ideas to specific individuals or the total leadership group. It has also been a primary goal to keep the membership informed and involved in the legislative activities that affect the industry. Through our internet site you can e-mail legislators to encourage their support in critical industry legislation.

            The internet is an infant that is in a state of constant change and improvement. It is our goal to continue to grow and improve along with the available technology, with our ultimate goal being methods of communication that better serve the CTBA membership in reaching their goals.

            Since the beginning of time, education has been the key to advancement. This axiom is as true in the Thoroughbred breeding business as it is in everyday life.

            The CTBA’s mission statement lists one of its many goals “to expand and encourage the education of members and prospective members to the fullest extent possible.”

            All the educational activities are funded in part by a generous annual grant from the Oak Tree Racing Association and by the monies extracted from the wagered dollar by the state law that created the CTBA. To accomplish our goal, the CTBA board created an education committee made up of board members and interested people from our membership. We hold educational activities, seminars and tours throughout the year, up and down the state. It is our desire to reach as many of our members and interested people as possible with these programs.

            There are several regional clubs and other Thoroughbred associations in California with periodic representation on the education committee that work with us to produce seminars and events in different areas. We have designed the education program to match each season in a timely fashion. We hold foaling and neonatal presentations in the early spring, ‘cutting edge’ reproductive informational sessions during the breeding season and sales prepping seminars in the early summer. Stallion tours are held in the early fall so stallions can be viewed before final booking decisions are made by mare owners.

            During CTBA’s annual select yearling sale at Del Mar we hold a trade show that combines the fine equine art produced in our state with displays from many of our California farms. We also include displays from people and businesses that have educational and informational merit.

            Each fall we hold a gala two-day event in the middle of the state to pass along current information that could aid in breeding and raising better Thoroughbred racehorses. This popular event brings our members together to network with each other and with experts and leaders in our industry.

            Both UC Davis and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo host annual educational events that include input from our committee and members. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is developing an agricultural business course that focuses on our industry as a whole.