06/09/2026
Golden Horseshoe Equestrian is currently helping organize a public relations effort called iHeartNEC to help educate the public about the value of the NEC — not just to equestrians, but to families, youth riders, spectators, local businesses, students, vendors, volunteers, and the broader St. Charles County community.
This is an election year, and the future of the NEC may become an important voter issue. Some public conversations have already raised the idea of selling the facility or removing it from the County Parks system. We believe the public deserves to understand what would actually be lost before any decision like that is made.
At this stage, we are still gathering information and building the foundation of the campaign.
The iHeartNEC logo is complete. The website is in progress. We are developing social media and email materials that supporters will be able to download and share. We are also working to better understand the most important data, stories, and talking points needed to explain the NEC’s value clearly and responsibly.
This effort is not about promoting one business, one discipline, one organization, or one group of riders.
The NEC serves a much larger ecosystem.
It supports multiple disciplines, including reining, cutting, dressage, hunter/jumper, ranch, pleasure, saddle seat, driving carts, and more. It hosts shows, clinics, educational events, youth opportunities, college and university learning experiences, and activities that affect businesses and families far beyond the facility itself.
We are also grateful that the Parks Department has been willing to provide background and perspective. A facility of the NEC’s size and scope is not simple to operate, especially with deferred maintenance, repairs, and the normal pace of government systems. The NEC and Parks teams need community engagement, not just criticism from the sidelines.
That brings us to the most important request right now:
What information, statistics, stories, or data points do you believe the public needs to understand about the NEC?
Please comment below with your ideas.
You may also email us at [email protected].
The goal is simple: help the public understand that the NEC is not just a horse facility. It is a public recreation, education, community, and economic asset worth protecting.
Please share this post with anyone who cares about the future of the NEC.
More iHeartNEC materials will be released soon.
