PR, Marketing & Fundraising Consulting for the Equestrian Industry
Whoa Communications, a division of O Communications, combines more than 30 years of local/regional/national PR and marketing communications experience with a decade of equine nonprofit experience and a lifetime in the equestrian world.
Services
Strategic Planning
Public Relations
Marketing Communications
Media Relations
Nonprofit Consulting
Issues Management
Sponsorships
Social Media
Volunteer Management
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Non Profit PR and Fundraising
We share lessons learned from a decade building an equine therapy nonprofit from the ground up. We work with you to understand who you are to develop your messages and images and then help you build your nonprofit’s reputation and help you grow. And we are very mindful of small budgets and how to be creative to still meet your goals.
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Consulting
Every client is unique and client service and customization is our specialty. Let our experience and knowledge of the PR industry and equine industry help guide you and your organization. From implementing best practices to designing systems to make projects turn key ( and make your life easier!). We pride ourselves on becoming an extension of your team. Often times our creative strategy sessions allow organizations to handle the logistics and details themselves, if they prefer!
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Horse-Based Businesses
From horse training and riding lessons to boarding facility, broodmare operations, and equine chiropractic and massage therapy businesses, we can help you spread the word about what you do and help you build new relationships to expand and grow your business.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“What Sheryl has done at Smiling Goat Ranch is absolutely exemplary. It’s bananas what she has managed to achieve in the time she started. Having watched her through it – and we all know in the equine world – all the ups and downs there are – she made a go of it in a way that few do. Reach out to Sheryl, she’s extremely generous with her knowledge.”
New York Times bestselling author "The Horse Boy" and "The Long Ride Home"
Long time human rights activist
Autism advocate
New Trails Learning Systems founder – an approach for addressing neuro-psychiatric conditions through horses
Rupert Isaacson
Sheryl Barto
Sheryl Barto grew up a horse-obsessed young girl in Pennsylvania, the daughter of a veterinarian, having shown horses from age 12 through college as a member of her college equestrian team. She loves skiing equally as much as horses and moved to Aspen, Colorado in 1988 to be a ski bum.
A degree in journalism eventually led to work in public relations that has been her day job ever since. She founded O Communications in Aspen and Carbondale in the early 2000s, and Whoa Communications in 2024.
Sheryl’s oldest son is on the autism spectrum. She combined her experience as an autism mom, horsewoman and PR professional to start Smiling Goat Ranch in Carbondale using horses to help children with autism and veterans with PTSD. SGR is an equine-assisted therapy center based on the Horse Boy℠ Method and principles of neuroplasticity. Sheryl is a certified Horse Boy℠ Method trainer. Horse Boy Centers are now in 23 countries. She bases SGR training on classical dressage and collection and working equitation.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“Sheryl runs one of the most prominent and successful Horse Boy and Movement Method programs. She is also an autism mom, so she knows of what she speaks. She has a successful PR company – and she never stopped running while starting and continuing Smiling Goat Ranch. We all know the insane amount of work it takes to run only an equine program. It’s a real achievement.”
Joell Dunlap
Founder of the Square Peg Foundation, Sonoma, CA
Book author, A Damn Fine Hand
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