Most Effective Advertisement

[Elaine]

Most of you know that in addition to breeding and showing the Dobermans, Arthur and I breed and compete Warmblood Sport Horses. So, we track advertisements on both sports. Invariably when a mixed group of horse people are gathered talking about “The Most Effective Ad Ever” one ad kept popping into the conversation... an ad the ran more than a decade ago, of a beautiful horse and an equally stunning young man... in the water together... au natural. :rolleyes: :):)

We heard about this ad for years... that when it was published old ladies fainted, mothers grabbed their impressionable young children and covered their eyes... people ran wild in the streets, chaos reigned... and then... then.... hundreds of people called the publisher and asked that their ad be placed next to the guy in the water with the horse. :D:D:D A poster was made from the photo, which was sold for charity.

This last January when we are having Commander’s pre-purchase exam done before he was sold to England, the attending vet in the Hunter -Jumper barn doing the exam was talking about the ad... and its impact. The ad is remembered even a decade after it ran.

We were a bit surprised to learn that we actually knew the man in the ad... he has graciously allowed me to post it here.

I would love to design an ad that has even half the impact this ad had.

[Athy]

Oh, it has an impact, baby :p Hubba hubba! Two of my most favoritest things: horseys & boyseys! You made my day, Elaine :D

What was the advert for, do you remember?

[Elaine]

Eeek! I hate to admit this but I've completely forgotten what the point of the ad was :rolleyes: :D I think it was one of several in a series... they ran in a QH publication, I think The Chronicle... and there was text that was very catchy... but I never saw the ad that ran ... I've only seen this photo... :D:D:D I suspect that the point was to notice this horse and rider combination, who were out showing at the time.

[Rauschund]

It definitely has impact!:) Think he'll pose like that with one of my doggies...might have more impact than a preggo Kelly! LOL!

[Athy]

Eeek! I hate to admit this but I've completely forgotten what the point of the ad was :rolleyes: :D .

The ad man apparently forgot the lessons of Joe Namath. Back in the early 70's, a pantyhose manufacturing company made an to promote their pantyhose. They used Joe Namath for the ad, wearing their hosiery and making some statement to the effect that if this pantyhose could make HIS legs look so good, imagine what they would do for your legs!

Most ad readers were so distracted by the sight of Joe Namath wearing pantyhose that they completely and absolutely FORGOT the product he was hawking (Hanes Beauty Mist as point of fact.)

Something to remember when creating an ad - make sure that your readers will focus in on and remember the point of the advert :)

[Elaine]

You may remember the very famous ad of the man eating a plate of spaghetti, and he says, "That's a one spicy meat ball." People loved the ad, yet most people polled could not tell you what the ad was for. (If you remember the ad, tell me what the product was.)

But in this instance, I think the horse ad hit the target dead on, because, as I recall, it was simply to have people remember the horse / rider combination, which they did, even years and years after the fact. Funny, but there is a fine line with that kind of ad. In the context it was used I think it is phenomenal... in part because everything is so beautiful: the horse, the setting, the composition, everyone’s fitness and conditioning, the lighting... etc. But I can imagine an ad like this being over-the-top in some other context.

I have a great idea... I'll get Vanilla http://logresfarm.com/Vanilla.htm ... in our pond, with the water up to my butt and see if the effect is the same!:D:D:D But first I have to put down the Peanut M&M's, hit the gym for a few years :rolleyes: , and then I have to get all the snakes out of the pond :eek:... and then I'd need a good make up man to take years off of my butt :rolleyes:... not even sure if that is possible :rolleyes:... wonder if they can photo shop these things now a days.

Give me a few hours, I'll see if I can get the WMABH to work something up.

[Elaine]

Only have a moment here... I am packing for Alaska as I write this... here's why... in 5 photos.

I took the camera out this morning, to see about getting a Rubenesque photo of Vanilla... basically to see what I could capture of her for my, “Old Lady in the Pond with a Horse” themed ad.

So, I snapped a few photos of Vanilla: e.g., photo #1

Then I decided to go over and check out what Lil' Claire was looking at: photo #2. :eek::eek::eek:

Then I yelled “Leave it!!” photo #3 :eek::eek::eek:

Then I yelled, “Get back!!!” photo #4 (notice that the snake has not moved, even though Claire has walked away).:eek::eek::eek:

Then I took a few close up photos to confirm that this is A GOOD SNAKE... a Black Snake... that eats bad snakes. photo #5

Then I went up to the house to pack for Alaska... where all snakes (good, bad and indifferent) are frozen solid for 12 months of the year.

[dobesign]

Please tell me this was a GOOD snake!!!!:eek: I have a spare room...we could call it a family reunion:p

[Niko]

If there are reprints of that ad, I want a LIFE SIZE one! Man, where was I when this was printed, I am a horse person and I can't believe I missed it! Elaine, I love,,,laughing on the floor love,,, the idea of you in your pond, then doing a dry run!!! Very funny.

[Elaine]

The ad was made into a poster and sold at a Charity Auction... as you can imagine, it raised a lot of money. E2, Sheila and I have signed copies... not exactly sure what Arthur and Tom think of our silliness. :p And, there are a few newer photos, along the same theme :D ... that really get the heart pumping... maybe Phil will share them too. :)

[Minaz Cassum]

What a magnificent horse!

Minaz Cassum
Firecrest K-9s
Pune - India

[Minaz Cassum]

Look at the Horse and the Dobermann. The structure, the nobility, the aura, the movement, the power, the grace, elegant yet sturdy. So many admirable and similar features.

Yes, Elaine. I do too keep tracking both these magnificent animals, having been into horse racing myself in my halcyon days. I really admire and at the same time eny Elaine & Arthur. That's the life. Best of both.

Regards,

Minaz Cassum
Firecrest K-9s
Pune - India

[Diane]

OMG
I sure hope Phil is wearing boots!
:eek:
Diane

[andyhilt27]

You know I usaully read all posts in here. Somehow this one has slipped through without me noticing. I must say that I am at a loss for words.

Ummmm......the photograph is artistic. Uhhhh....nice photo Phil. I am sure my wife would like to see it. I will post her reaction later.:D