Subdividing and adding new forums - feedback wanted!

[WashingtonBay]

OK - In large part I do believe "less is more" where subforums and subcategories are concerned. I think one busy section is far better than 10 subforums with one post in them, so any new forums within The Horse Forum or the Off Topic forum will hopefully be well thought out and necessary.

If anyone has ideas to help guide that process, I'm open to suggestions!

What forums that might be needed that are missing? You want a Member Flea Market area where people can sell everything from their own arts and crafts to horses and tack?

Anything else that is currently at the other forum that you would miss?

[cloedoll]

I think a Member Flea Market area would be awesome! I love tack, love buying it, talking about it, learning about it, EVERYTHING about it, ha ha. So a tack section would be amazing! :D

[WashingtonBay]

You mean a specific tack sale section or just a tack talk section?

[cloedoll]

Sorry, I should have been more clear. xD Just like the Tack & Equipment section at Horse.com, a place to talk about tack. :D

[WashingtonBay]

Fair enough... I thought so.... just wanted to be clear. That's always been a pretty busy category so I'll probably add it... but for now, just post the threads in the main forum... when there's too many and they're being lost, I'll add divisions!

[FatSpottedAppy]

I think a classifieds section would be great, as well as a conformation section.

[cloedoll]

Woot woot, awesome!
Also, are you going to be adding (in the future, when needed) a picture/video section? I didn't like that on Horse.com forum, but that's just me. xD

[WashingtonBay]

I didn't like the new pictures/video sections on horse.com. I rarely went there and probably missed a lot. I think that kind of stuff is what the main, general section is for.

Noted, FSA! :)

[mlle_beau]

Maybe a training section like they had at the horse.com forum, that one seemed to stand on its own pretty well

[Annie&Dixie]

These were the ones that I always liked having and visited often;

Tack & Supplies - To talk about tack, I'm with cloedoll in loving this section!!
Conformation Corral
Breeds
Classifieds
Training & Behavior

[mlle_beau]

Tack and supplies was my favorite section on the other forum, so I agree with having a tack section on here

[pandorasmom]

I didn't like the new pictures/video sections on horse.com. I rarely went there and probably missed a lot. I think that kind of stuff is what the main, general section is for.

Noted, FSA! :)

I agree with you and Iheart. I didn't like it once they added that either.
The main boards I visited where the General Chat about Horses, NHR, and the Health & Supplements one (with the suboard of the hoof care). I love learning about the health/medical and hoof care. I do most of the health care on our herd of goats, and I find it all interesting. That's just me though, and for now I think what's there is fine. :)
Great job!

[AppyLady]

I have to have a Trail Riding section!

[Cat]

I think Conformation/Color/Breeding/Breeds could be one forum just labeled "Breeding Shed" or something like that.
I think the classifieds could be part of the "flea market" section.
I would like to see a Training & Behavior section and a health care section which could include hoof care as well.
Spiritual circle?

[WashingtonBay]

I'll keep track of all the suggestions as we go.

You guys have a lot of say so keep it up if there's things you want. :)

[JackieB]

I would hate for someone to post a "Rainbow Bridge" post and accidentally miss it. But, such posts usually stay bumped up so that we can share our concern with the forum member. So I guess I'm not saying that we need a "Rainbow Bridge" subforum, but we do want to be able to always catch these threads since it is important to be there for one another.

[WashingtonBay]

I think I missed them BECAUSE they were in their own section.

I think if there's a real important post people should post it in the main forum. I don't want them relegated to their own forum.

[Annie&Dixie]

I think I missed them BECAUSE they were in their own section.

I think if there's a real important post people should post it in the main forum. I don't want them relegated to their own forum.

I completely agree with this...I just never thought to check the special rainbow bridge forum that often unless I started hearing about a death on a more popular section.

[SedonaThunder]

I like the "fleamarket" idea... like I said over on h.com - I know there are A LOT of us selling something. I feel like if there is a section that anyone who were to start a thread should title it in such a way that we know what they're selling. For example, I could start a thread in that section called "Dynamite Health Products" and FarmersWife (assuming she'll show up here) could have a thread called "Tastefully Simple" and Rankins can start one with whatever title she comes up with for her new jewelry sales site.

OOOHHHH - I really liked the Health & Supplement section as well as hoofcare.

[FatSpottedAppy]

I have to have a Trail Riding section!

I like this idea too. :D

I am wondering about art threads.. such as for making signatures and the like. Would that have its own category or would that be blended into.. say.. General Chat?

[Gypsy Rose]

I think we should have a separate health section- mainly because it would be so easy for an important thread to get buried otherwise.

Other than that, maybe something for all other animals besides horses. I agree we don't want to have too many subforums, but I think it would be easier to put all our pet threads in one area.

[WashingtonBay]

Keep it coming.... I think I'll let it mature for a couple days and then we'll see if there's a particular pattern developing.

[mlle_beau]

I feel like the art section should be with general chat because I had to remind myself to check it or just be super bored. But that's just me, lol.

[cloedoll]

I dunno where to put this, but thank you for having PNG files supported! My avatars will finally stay a good quality now!

-Whoops wrong spot! Let me go move this post, but I don't want to delete it because I don't want anyone confused. xD-

[Country Girl 43]

WB...I agree with you...too many sub forums is a waste and confusing. Staying within the "KISS" guidelines would keep everything cleaner.

Here are my suggestions:

Horse Health & Hoof Care
Classifieds
Rigs (trucks and trailer discussion.... specific questions about trucks or trailers)
Training

Then you could just build from there......but these are only my suggestions...

[Equine_Woman]

I'd like to vote for NO Sub-forums. Separate areas are fine but don't disect them!!! IE No hoof sub-forum under health. . .

[WashingtonBay]

Agreed. No matter what, no multiple layers!

[cloedoll]

I'd like to vote for NO Sub-forums. Separate areas are fine but don't disect them!!! IE No hoof sub-forum under health. . .

Ditto!

[Equine_Woman]

I think I missed them BECAUSE they were in their own section.

I think if there's a real important post people should post it in the main forum. I don't want them relegated to their own forum.

I just wanted to say I COMPLETELY agree with this. I never visited the Rainbow Bridge section or the Welcome section just simply because I usually didn't think about it.

[Blue]

I agree, no subforums

I think we need a Tack section for sure.
Health
Training/Behaviour
Classifieds

and I think an Art section would be cool. =]

[AppyLover]

I like the main horse chat, which I think should be the place we all can enjoy each other’s rides. I missed so many pictures of shows and trail rides because they where off lost in the sea of sections. This is what I would like to see:

Main horse (everything about the horses, from general chats to shows and trail rides)
Not horse related (includes pets)
Health care and feeding (incluses hoof care)
Flea market sales and trades
Religious discussions
Conformation and breeding (these just seem to go hand in hand in discussions)
Training and tack (these just seem to go hand in hand in discussions)
**and keep the support and admin section-we always seem to get in trouble and it is nice to ave a place to ask those tech questions**

And then a seasonal thread one that would rotate topics depending on the time of year, right now with the elections it could be a politics thread.

Those are my ideas. :D

[starkitten]

I definitely vote for a Classifieds section - I've bought a few things on the h.com site classifieds section and really enjoyed browsing what other members had :)

[rather-b-riding]

These are the sections I always visited at horse.com

Training
Classifieds
health
conformation/breeds

[ItsPrimeTime]

Maybe just a HEALTH forum... Anything health related can be talked about under there, so sub boards.

And maybe something along the lines of Breeds and Confirmation. I believe they fall under the same basic category.

The Classified Section is a must... I agree with that!

Everything else pretty much falls under General or Non-Horse related.
If you're going on a ride, thats horse related. There shouldn't be a "Western Section", "English Section", "Bareback", "Trail Riders", etc sections. Doesn't that just divide everyone up? That's like saying blacks are allowed in this section, whites in the other section. Sure, they are mingle, but I wouldn't go to a section I didn't feel I belonged... So I missed a lot...

Just a thought.....

[Annasmom]

oops I didn't see this before I made my thread I think we should have a horse training section a horse health and a classifieds.

Thats about all you need, and then a non-horse section
that divides things well.
I think that forum.horse.com has wayyyyy tooo many

[lovesfortune]

I know I said I was going to bed, but I can't tear myself away!

The sections I always checked on h.com were:
General
Not Horse Related
Health

I think this forum would be great(er) if it had:
Horse Chat
Off topic
Health & Hoof
Flea Market (a place to buy, sell, trade, etc)

[Annasmom]

i like everyone suggestions. I'm suprised more people haven't said Training. I think that was my favorite place because it narrowed it down if you were having a problem and then you could look back at the archives if you and your horse came up with the same problem

definintly a flea market
and health sections

and I totally agree no sub-sub or multiple layers that got crazy

[Little Bit]

I would like to see:
flea market
kitty corner
breeding/foals/stallions

[Toodlestoo]

I was thinking of "Classifieds" too because I have a few saddles to sell:D

[Mercury]

I would say:
General
health and hoof
tack/classified
breeding
non horse related

[alittleoffkey]

I like AppyL's system, but I don't know if the forum's really active enough right now to have a seperate section for breeding/confo when they do fit into health. I DO think we need a seperate Health section soon. My question about beans got buried rather quickly. I doubt a seperate breeding section would be necessary until the spring when people are concerned about that sort of thing... and confo does apply to health (or at least general wellness). :) Religious discussion can easily fit into NHR right now. So until that time I'd like to suggest:

General
NHR
Health/Hoof/Confo/etc
Training/Behavior
Flea Market

I really like the KISS method. :D

[Jump The Moon]

I think maybe one or two, but I agree less is more. I don't see any great need for load upon load of sub-forums. Maybe, like, General, Riding & Training, On the yard (stable and paddock stuff) etc... ??

[MyHorseBiggs]

I think
General
classified/tack
breeding
not horse related
conformation (or do you think that should just blend into general?)
&
health

[cheval]

I like AppyLover's list!


I like the main horse chat, which I think should be the place we all can enjoy each other’s rides. I missed so many pictures of shows and trail rides because they where off lost in the sea of sections. This is what I would like to see:

Main horse (everything about the horses, from general chats to shows and trail rides)
Not horse related (includes pets)
Health care and feeding (incluses hoof care)
Flea market sales and trades
Religious discussions
Conformation and breeding (these just seem to go hand in hand in discussions)
Training and tack (these just seem to go hand in hand in discussions)
**and keep the support and admin section-we always seem to get in trouble and it is nice to ave a place to ask those tech questions**

And then a seasonal thread one that would rotate topics depending on the time of year, right now with the elections it could be a politics thread.

Those are my ideas. :D

[WashingtonBay]

I like AppyLover's list!

I like it too.... what about:

Horse forum:


Main Horse (everything about horses, from general chats to shows, pictures, videos and trail rides)
HorseKeeping (Hoof Care, Health care, veterinary issues, feeding, breeding and conformation, grooming, stabling, blanketing)
Horse Training and Tack (behavior, training methods, tack discussion and fitting)


Other Topics:


General
Pets
News and Politics


Flea market: (sales and trades)

Support and Admin



----

At least for now... some organization but not too much? Some of those could be split up as we grow.

I want the new sections to help discussion, not hinder it. I don't want to see people say "I know this belongs somewhere else but I'm posting it here so it gets noticed".

Not sure how the seasonal topic would work, but it's an interesting idea.

[cheval]

That looks perfect.

[WashingtonBay]

Oh - I forgot a Religion one... you want that in it's own section? Or mix it up in the General Off Topic? If more of the regulars of that section show up here and want it especially.

[cheval]

Not sure about the religion one.

[WashingtonBay]

OK - well, for now, mix it up, and if the need arises, we can reconsider it later.

We'll start with a few and only split things up as it's needed.

[cheval]

I think that's the best way!

[cloedoll]

Main Horse (everything about horses, from general chats to shows, pictures, videos and trail rides)

I read Main Mount instead of Horse (no idea why!) and I was like, well that's a pretty neat name! Ha ha, maybe my eyes need checked? xD

I think it sounds perfect!

[shynbvs]

i agree with the less is more thing but i think we should have a english, western, and tack sections. That way we have somewhere to go if we want to ask a specific question. Horse.com forum had way too many sub forums

[alittleoffkey]

I agree about the religious discussion just ending up where it winds up. :) I really like that list WB!

[MyHorseBiggs]

Yeah I really liked on H.com they had English, western things but I do agree that to many sub forums aren't the greatest...

[zoel_222]

I really think conformation and breeding should have their own section out of horse keeping.

[WashingtonBay]

OK! - I think that can happen, particularly when there are enough posts like that to warrant it.

And I don't think I like Training and Tack together so they'll probably be split too when we move things around next.

Feel free to use the forum awhile and let us know what ends up working at what doesn't.

[zoel_222]

Great! I just want to say awesome job WB! Now we can finally have our forum family together with someone running things who actually cares! :)

[AppyLover]

I just saw the forum. Looking Good. ;)

I am glad my ideas where liked, thank you.

[rums_mom]

Great job so far........

I would like to see a section for different disciplines, and definitely one for eventing.;)

How about a sticky for movie and book reviews? I know we discussed have a book club on the other forum and from time to time people post what they are ready and reviews of movies they have seen. Eventually maybe even have a book exchange, if there is interest. I love to read...........and watch movies.

[WashingtonBay]

I'll think about the disciplines, but I'd sure like to see them all mingled together with everyone else. I don't know if we have enough people from each discipline to have a good flow of conversation if we break everyone up. Maybe someday we will, but it would have to be bigger than h.com was.

[rums_mom]

Oh I understand that.........
What about a birthday thread?

[WashingtonBay]

What do you mean.... where to put a running thread for everyone's birthday, or for a particular one today?

I just noticed this forum doesn't announce birthdays right now, but I bet it could.