Changes

'''.horse''' is a delegated [[Community gTLD]] with [[ICANN]]'s [[New gTLD Program|new gTLD expansion program]] for the horse industry. The proposed application succeeded and was delegated to the [[Root Zone]] on 31 March 2014.<ref name="delegation">[http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/delegated-strings Delegated Strings, ICANN.org] Retrieved 15 April 2014</ref>

'''.horse''' is a delegated [[Community gTLD]] with [[ICANN]]'s [[New gTLD Program|new gTLD expansion program]] for the horse industry. The proposed application succeeded and was delegated to the [[Root Zone]] on 31 March 2014.<ref name="delegation">[http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/delegated-strings Delegated Strings, ICANN.org] Retrieved 15 April 2014</ref>

The [[Dot Horse Project LLC]] applied for the '''.horse''' string and became the registry operator of the string. [[Minds + Machines Group Limited|MMX]], also known as [[Minds and Machines, LLC|Minds + Machines]], applied for the gTLD in behalf of the company and its subsidiary.<ref>[http://www.dothorseproject.com/ Dot Horse Project]</ref> <ref>[http://www.tldh.org/ ANNOUNCED TLDH GTLDS]</ref>

The [[Dot Horse Project LLC]] applied for the '''.horse''' string and became the registry operator of the string. [[Minds + Machines Group Limited|MMX]], also known as [[Minds and Machines, LLC|Minds + Machines]], applied for the gTLD on behalf of the company and its subsidiary.<ref>[http://www.dothorseproject.com/ Dot Horse Project]</ref> <ref>[http://www.tldh.org/ ANNOUNCED TLDH GTLDS]</ref>

The application for the '''.horse''' TLD is supported by the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government, Keeneland Pony Club,Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce, Inc., Kentucky Equine Humane Center and the Inforatag Racing Stable LLC. <ref>[http://www.dothorseproject.com/category/supporters/ Supporters]</ref>

The application for the '''.horse''' TLD is supported by the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government, Keeneland Pony Club, Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce, Inc., Kentucky Equine Humane Center, and the Inforatag Racing Stable LLC. <ref>[http://www.dothorseproject.com/category/supporters/ Supporters]</ref>

==Intended Use==

==Intended Use==

'''.horse''' is a generic top level domain targeted to equine industry professionals, including trainers, instructors, breeders, faciality mangers, bloggers, or horse enthusiasts.  

'''.horse''' is a generic top-level domain targeted to equine industry professionals, including trainers, instructors, breeders, facility managers, bloggers, or horse enthusiasts.  

==Delegation and Availability==

==Delegation and Availability==

The following is excerpted from the applicant's response to question #18:

The following is excerpted from the applicant's response to question #18:

"The purpose of the .horse gTLD is to offer horse owners, service providers, horse industry employees and volunteers the opportunity to clearly define their presence on the Internet and to help potential customers gain access to content about horses.

"The purpose of the .horse gTLD is to offer horse owners, service providers, horse industry employees, and volunteers the opportunity to clearly define their presence on the Internet and to help potential customers gain access to content about horses.

As horse owners begin to take advantage of ecommerce and other Internet technologies, horse enthusiasts are looking for easier ways to find equine information and products online. The .horse domain will serve as the definitive home of horse-related content online.

As horse owners begin to take advantage of e-commerce and other Internet technologies, horse enthusiasts are looking for easier ways to find equine information and products online. The .horse domain will serve as the definitive home of horse-related content online.

There are 9.2 million horses in the United States alone, or roughly 3 horses per hundred people. 4.6 million Americans are involved directly in the industry as service providers or owners--tens of millions more participate as spectators. The horse industry directly provides more than 416,000 jobs and represents an overall market of $39 Billion. (Source: http:⁄⁄www.theequestrianchannel.com⁄id3.html)

There are 9.2 million horses in the United States alone or roughly 3 horses per hundred people. 4.6 million Americans are involved directly in the industry as service providers or owners--tens of millions more participate as spectators. The horse industry directly provides more than 416,000 jobs and represents an overall market of $39 Billion. (Source: http:⁄⁄www.theequestrianchannel.com⁄id3.html)

In the United Kingdom, 43 percent of households have at least one member with some form of interest in equestrianism. This interest is also growing. In 1999, only 2.4 million UK residents had ridden in the last 12 months. In 2011, that number had almost doubled to 4.2 million. According to the British Horse Industry Confederation, the equestrian sector is the single largest sporting employer in the UK.

In the United Kingdom, 43 percent of households have at least one member with some form of interest in equestrianism. This interest is also growing. In 1999, only 2.4 million UK residents had ridden in the last 12 months. In 2011, that number had almost doubled to 4.2 million. According to the British Horse Industry Confederation, the equestrian sector is the single largest sporting employer in the UK.

==Restrictive Policies==

==Restrictive Policies==

We specifically examined more restrictive registration policies, such as limiting registration to members of organizations with a specific tie to horses. We rejected such limitations because they would interfere with '''.horse'''’s primary mission, purpose and goals--which is to encourage as many registrants as possible to associate themselves with horses for any legal purpose. Factors that we took into account when considering a more restrictive registration policy included:

We specifically examined more restrictive registration policies, such as limiting registration to members of organizations with a specific tie to horses. We rejected such limitations because they would interfere with '''.horse'''’s primary mission, purpose, and goals--which is to encourage as many registrants as possible to associate themselves with horses for any legal purpose. Factors that we took into account when considering a more restrictive registration policy included:

* Our recognition that registrants of a .horse domain name will self-select because they have an interest in horses, naturally reducing the number of potential registrants; and, because restrictive policies such as, for example, requiring membership in a specific organization or organizations, would exclude many legitimate registrants from obtaining a '''.horse''' domain name. For example, and by way of illustration, if membership an organization were required for registration, businesses and charitable organizations that would find a .horse top-level domain name an effective marketing tool would be excluded from registering a '''.horse''' domain name as they might not be eligible to be members in an organization that accepted only natural persons for membership.

* Our recognition that registrants of a .horse domain name will self-select because they have an interest in horses, naturally reducing the number of potential registrants; and, because restrictive policies such as, for example, requiring membership in a specific organization or organizations, would exclude many legitimate registrants from obtaining a '''.horse''' domain name. For example, and by way of illustration, if membership an organization were required for registration, businesses and charitable organizations that would find a .horse top-level domain name an effective marketing tool would be excluded from registering a '''.horse''' domain name as they might not be eligible to be members in an organization that accepted only natural persons for membership.

With respect to protecting registrant privacy and confidential information, we will comply with all applicable ICANN rules, including Whois policies, and all applicable laws, rules and regulations of appropriate jurisdictions. Registrant privacy and use of confidential information are set forth in our Privacy & Whois Policy. Information concerning updates and changes to the Privacy & Whois Policy will be promptly and prominently displayed on the '''.horse''' web site."<ref>[http://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/1723 Application Download, gTLDresult.ICANN.org] Retrieved 28 Feb 2013</ref>

With respect to protecting registrant privacy and confidential information, we will comply with all applicable ICANN rules, including Whois policies, and all applicable laws, rules, and regulations of appropriate jurisdictions. Registrant privacy and use of confidential information are set forth in our Privacy & Whois Policy. Information concerning updates and changes to the Privacy & Whois Policy will be promptly and prominently displayed on the '''.horse''' web site."<ref>[http://gtldresult.icann.org/application-result/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/1723 Application Download, gTLDresult.ICANN.org] Retrieved 28 Feb 2013</ref>

==Contract Signed==

==Contract Signed==