The boss mare’s independence and leadership are what inspired a team of four powerhouse women in the equine industry to develop the nonprofit organization known as Boss Mares, Inc. The organization assists female entrepreneurs by giving them a leg-up in their careers and businesses.

The four women who founded the organization are Anna Morrison, Ph.D., co-founder and president; Kate Bradley Byars, co-founder and secretary; Patti Colbert, co-founder and treasurer; and Ellen Bell, member of board of directors. Each of these women present extensive resumes in the horse industry and connections that run deep. They came together with the same mission and goal of connecting women in agriculture.

The official kick-off of Boss Mares, Inc. took place December 1, 2023, in Weatherford, Texas.

Meet Anna Morrison

Founder Anna Morrison’s passion for horses developed during her childhood in Wisconsin. Anna pursued an education focused on horses first at Colorado State University (CSU) and later at Texas A&M University (TAMU), earning a Bachelor of Science in equine science and agricultural business, a Master of Arts in extension education, and a Ph.D. in higher education administration.

Her career path began in academics, teaching and developing curricula at CSU and TAMU. Later, Morrison served industry member organizations for the American Quarter Horse Association and the National Reined Cow Horse Association. Along the way, she received support and guidance from mentors and industry experts, which furthered her appreciation for just how important it can be to have a leg up.

“When I was going through a transition in my career, I had this feeling that there was a way we could work together to pay our experience forward to other women in the industry,” says Morrison. “Every single one of us who has been involved in the industry has had the help of other women, whether through mentorship, encouragement, or investment, and I thought there was a way we could work together to get those same opportunities to other women.”

Morrison knew who to call when the time came to present a proposal for Boss Mares, Inc. Ellen and Larry Bell have always been a part of charitable organizations, and they have started numerous businesses as well. In South Africa, they are involved with a project that empowers women to live life and provide for their families. Morrison recalls getting through just a few slides in her presentation, and the Bells were ready to kick off the organization.

“The goal is to help young women everywhere,” says Ellen. “We were involved in extreme situations in Africa, but to watch women have the opportunity to better themselves and their businesses and careers, and to learn how to do it properly, we were all in immediately.”

With the Bells’ experience with nonprofits and charitable organizations, they provided Morrison with the connections to begin forming Boss Mares, Inc.

Bringing on Kate Bradley Byars

As Morrison began thinking about who would make up the co-founders and board of directors, a few people came to mind. When Morrison asked Byars and Colbert if they would be interested in helping, they jumped at the opportunity.

Byars has a passion for telling people’s stories and making connections. Writing always came easily to her, and in college at TAMU, Byars pursued a degree in agricultural journalism. She rode through college, competing on the Texas A&M Equestrian Team and on the Quarter Horse circuit. After graduating with a Master of Science in agricultural leadership, education and communications with a focus on photography, Byars joined the Western Horseman magazine staff.

Since 2010, she’s worked extensively in the western performance horse industry as a writer and photographer. Working for western equine and lifestyle publications is Byars’ specialty, and she especially enjoys connecting with people in the industry.

“Boss Mares, Inc. is a passion project, and the mission and focus is something we all can easily get behind [to] help female business owners in the western industry,” says Byars.

Patti Colbert’s Extensive Experience

Patti Colbert’s resume in the horse industry and connection to the western lifestyle began through watching television. After moving to Texas in the mid-1970s, Colbert worked at horse barns and volunteered as a 4-H leader. She fell in love with the production of equine events.

Colbert began at the Texas Quarter Horse Association, managing the Quarter Horse racing and show industry. Her next move was to the AQHA, where she was responsible for raising millions of dollars for the American Quarter Horse Foundation’s scholarship, equine research, and preservation programs.

She then opened her own firm and worked with clients like the American Angus Association, the American Paint Horse Association, TAMU and more. She and her team took on the management of the Mustang Heritage Foundation, and in 2007 created the Extreme Mustang Makeover events, placing thousands of previously wild Bureau of Land Management Mustangs into private care.

Colbert received the 2014 American Horse Publications Innovator of the Year Award, the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Fern Sawyer Award, and was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Currently, she is on the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame board of directors and serves as advisory board chair for the Ride on Center for Kids.

“I know that women are the decision makers in the majority of this industry,” says Colbert. “I think more than 76 percent of the members of the AQHA are female. The reality of it is that women are the backbone of the industry in the agriculture and western lifestyles, and we need to help one another to continue to grow and be relevant and current.”

Lead the Herd Workshops

Boss Mares, Inc. focuses on five pillars: accounting and finance support, continuing education, leadership and career coaching, legal counsel, and marketing expertise. The organization will host Lead the Herd workshops to meet western women where they are already gathering. At these workshops, the keynote speakers are experts in the fields of each pillar.

The purpose of each workshop is to bring powerful expertise from both inside and outside the western industry in a setting that supports high-impact learning and open dialogue between presenters and attendees.

“We are here to provide a leg up to cowgirl entrepreneurs in the professional and agriculture industry,” says Morrison. “We do that by providing access to business resources at our workshops and by providing grants through our grant application process that help women invest in and advance their small businesses or invest in themselves and their career through continuing education.”

The first workshop was held at the Art of the Cowgirl in Arizona from January 19-20, 2024. With more workshops in the future of Boss Mares, Inc., the organization offered grants through an application on their website through March 31, 2024, for people in the agriculture industry.

“I hope that the women who have seen it now and have heard the speakers will want to be a part of it by giving financial aid or by participating in grants, whatever fits with their lifestyle,” says Ellen. “I hope they will be encouraged and say, ‘You know what, I can do this, this is something I’ve wanted to do, and I’m not going to let something get in my way because it is available to me.’ That is what’s exciting and what I hope to see in the future for us.”

This article about Boss Mares, Inc. appeared in the May 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Heather Wallace: Tell me about the first time you and Connie met.

Allison Malenfant: Our husbands work in the New York entertainment industry and often collaborate. We met occasionally, and Connie told me about her equestrian background. I always wanted to ride, but had no exposure. Connie agreed to teach me, and we became friends through weekly lessons in Brooklyn. And double dates!

HW: Were horses a childhood obsession or an adult passion?

AM: I took one lesson a week while working a corporate job in the athletic retail industry. Once I left to start Redingote, I increased my riding two days a week. It’s a slippery slope, of course. I bought my first horse in 2020 and now have two. I hunter pace and fox hunt, but also travel and compete. It has become a lifestyle.

Connie has horses in her blood. Her father was a Standardbred trainer in Monmouth County, New Jersey. She started hunter/jumper lessons and eventually had her own horses at home. She was very successful in riding and competing by age 16. She now owns and runs a small private facility in Colts Neck, N.J.

HW: What sparked the idea of Redingote?

AM: Connie owned a vintage men’s insulated coverall she found at a yard sale. She loved the functionality of a one-piece. She could wear it while teaching or working in the barn, and then take it off to ride. However, it lacked waterproofing and enough pockets. Plus, the men’s shape didn’t flatter.

People asked her about it wherever she went, loving the practicality or thinking she looked like a mechanic. There was an untapped market for a similar product that was warm, waterproof, and designed for a woman’s body. She shared her idea with me. I knew about the retail industry and the development of products, so I suggested a partnership.

HW: How did you come up with the name Redingote for your business?

AM: A redingote is a fitted outer coat with a cutaway front. It’s a French derivative of the English phrase “riding coat” from the 18th century. We came across this word while trying to name our brand, and it was a perfect fit, since we were reinventing the riding coat for the 21st century rider!

HW: What was the first step in launching your brand?

AM: Nailing a product we believed in was the first step. There was no brand if the idea didn’t work!

We started working on the idea in early 2017, sourcing an outerwear manufacturer that would work with a niche startup brand and develop prototypes for a year. There were many changes with the focus on flattering style but offering warmth and movement. We tested several levels of insulation to find the happy place between staying warm without bulk.

HW: What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?

AM: The horse industry is traditional, and people are skeptical about new products. A technical performance coverall for women was a completely new idea.

We are a small, self-funded business. Marketing was and is very grassroots. We wear our jumpsuits, driving to barns and horse shows to pass out flyers. It was fun to see the idea catching on. We’d sell one to somebody in one barn, and then their barn mates would order.

Marketing a business our size in a niche market is still a challenge, but our brand recognition has grown wonderfully!

HW: How do you work as successful partners?

AM: Business partnerships are like marriages, and each person has different strengths. I think this has been the foundation of our partnership. We’re very different. I am hyper-organized with a retail background. Connie is a dreamer with an equestrian background. I am better at project management. Connie has a sales and marketing brain.

We agree with a lot of things, but we navigate any disagreements. I think we’ve learned a lot about each other over the years—just like a marriage!

HW: Have the challenges changed over the years?

AM: They just get bigger! I say that with a sense of humor, but it’s true. The bigger the business, the bigger the challenges. The challenges stay the same (i.e. marketing, staying competitive in a growing industry, funding, supply chain, et cetera) but the scale grows.

HW: How has your business evolved?

AM: It’s amazing to look back on the way Redingote has grown. Our winter insulated jumpsuit is still our No. 1 product, and new customers are discovering it all the time. We are always innovating. Redingote has launched winter outerwear separates, a schooling collection, rainwear, and our signature one-piece for men and kids. We have a new scrim jacket coming out this spring so we can stay protected in the summer while still enjoying short sleeves.

We’ve even added another brand to our portfolio, acquiring FITS Riding, a beloved breeches company, in November 2022.

HW: Where do you see Redingote going?

AM: We have a big vision! Our highest concentration of customers is the Northeast U.S. English market, where we live. Ultimately, we have some exciting projects and collaborations in development. We plan to expand across all equestrian disciplines, markets, locations, and into other sports—we have many clients who use our outerwear for skiing, sailing, fishing, hiking, camping and more.

This article about Redingote appeared in the May 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Hofstee is the founder and owner of Unicorn Trails, a company that organizes and leads horseback riding vacations around the world. The trips can last from a few days to several weeks.

Born in Holland and raised in South Africa, she moved to Britain after qualifying as a veterinarian. A dedicated traveler, she would work for six months, then travel for six months. Whenever possible, she’d find a way to work horses into the itinerary.

Seed of an Idea

The idea of turning her passion into a business came in 1999 while on a lengthy riding trek in the Amazon with friends. People often asked about her adventures and were interested in trying something similar.

Using her South African connections, Hofstee started arranging riding safaris. Using her dining room table as an office, she soon organized trips to South Africa, Botswana, and Madagascar. She now has a network of nearly 200 employees, partners, and guides.

“I’m very passionate about getting as many people as possible on the back of a horse and exploring,” says Hofstee. “My philosophy is that if you can persuade a significant proportion of the population to strap two sticks on their feet and throw themselves down a snowy hill, why can’t you persuade them to get on the back of a horse?”

Cultural Exploration

One of her main goals is learning about the culture of other countries. Horses, she says, are the ideal starting point.

“You find horse cultures in the most unexpected places,” says Hofstee. “Who would have thought that the highlands of Ethiopia had a horse culture? When you speak the language of the horse, you’ve got a common language. You can communicate.

“I remember riding into a little village in the Amazon, and people immediately came out and started asking questions about our horses—how old they were, what did we pay for them, where did we get the saddles, all sorts of things,” she recalls. “We always try to ride the local breeds and use the tack and local habits. Those things usually develop that way for a reason, and understanding that is one reason we travel on horseback.”

Gentle Riding

The notion of a riding vacation can be simultaneously exciting and intimidating.  Galloping across the savannah with a herd of zebras sounds thrilling, but also terrifying for people who are nervous on strange horses and in strange surroundings. Hofstee stresses that her trips are designed with that concern in mind.

“Most rides are taken at a walk,” she says. “The vast majority are for people who want to have a nice ride on a well-schooled, well-trained horse. Maybe we have a few trots and a gentle canter, but we don’t want anyone to feel unsafe or uncertain. I understand that. I don’t bounce anymore when I fall, either. Our horses know their jobs and take care of their riders. Someone who is a novice and spends a day or so learning how to handle a horse is often a better rider for these trips than an experienced rider who wants to direct the horse all the time.”

Out for Adventure

Hofstee does keep a list of riders who want more adventure. She’ll often invite them on scouting trips—initial rides to see if a new destination will fit her needs. Even if the trip doesn’t work out as hoped, the group adapts to the situation and has a unique adventure.

Even with planned trips, the unexpected can happen, like the time a herd of elephants casually strolled through their campsite one night. The group had inadvertently stopped on a trail regularly used by the local herd.

“The horses were on a picket line and panicked, of course,” Hofstee recalls. “We spent some time tracking them down and getting them back.”

Her catalog of trips covers the world and is constantly changing.

“It depends, in part, on our partners,” she says. “Some guides do many trips, while others specialize in one or two specific experiences.  We’re subjected to changes as the world changes. One of my favorite trips was to Lake Baikal in Russia, but with the political situation, it’s not safe to go there now.”

Her other favorite is Iceland.

Personal Touch

At a time when many tour companies use impersonal websites, descriptions, and reviews, Unicorn Trails works one on one with customers. About 40 percent of her customers are return clients.

“People get very addicted to exploring the world in this way,” says Hofstee. “A lot of people buy five or six trips a year. Our highly trained people match [customers] up with a trip individually. We make sure that people get the experience they want.”

Hofstee wants the world to appreciate the magic of discovering the world on horseback.

“There’s a quote that says, ‘Wherever man has left his footprint in the long ascent from barbarism to civilization, we find the hoofprints of a horse beside it.’”

This article about Wendy Hofstee of Unicorn Trails appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Her love for horses never faded even into adulthood. After Genther’s husband retired from the Coast Guard in 2001, the family decided to call Florida home, relocating to be near both of their parents with their two children, Emily and Kyle.

Genther set her sights on horse-friendly Ocala, Fla. A dressage rider, Genther competes at the FEI level with Hector, an imported Lusitano from Brazil with a “puppy personality.” The pair is working on advancing their skills enough to show at the Grand Prix level.

By day, Genther supports her equestrian lifestyle as a full-time oncology nurse practitioner. And now, she’s also an entrepreneur.

Inventing Something New

When the pandemic hit in 2020, Genther and her adult daughter, Emily, started making their own sugar cubes for their horses. Covid was causing issues with the supply chain, and there wasn’t a cube in sight for the horses.

Hector is a notoriously a picky drinker. When planning to travel to a horse show, Genther was concerned when she saw that temperatures were going to drop. It felt like a perfect storm for colic. She considered scratching from the show.

When a friend suggested adding electrolytes to their sugar cubes, the mother-daughter duo decided to give it a try. She passed out a surplus of extra cubes to fellow riders, also concerned about water intake at the show. The horses drank.

The next day, riders started approaching Genther, requesting more sugar cubes and wanting to know where to purchase them.

“Then it just kind of took on a life of its own,” she says. “We did some research and didn’t see anything out there that was similar, so we started making them in our kitchen at 4 a.m. before work.”

The cubes were poured into molds before the sun came up and distributed into tubs after work, ready to sell.

“We started selling them locally to tack stores, and an owner of a store at the World Equestrian Center [in Ocala] gave us a big break,” says Genther. “The cubes were a hit. The motto for our products is ‘Horse treats with purpose,’ because we all want to reward our horses, but we want it to be with something that’s going to benefit them.”

Meeting a Demand

Once the electrolyte cubes gained popularity, Genther realized her kitchen was no longer going to be able to make enough for their customers. She was encouraged by fellow riders and friends to keep the business going, ultimately starting her quest for mass production.

After reaching out to several candy and pharmaceutical companies about making the sugar cubes, it was proving to be a daunting task. The goal was always to create a human-grade product, fed to horses. As soon as a manufacturer heard the product was for a horse, they said no.

After striking out, Genther connected with Courtney Varney, DVM, an FEI veterinary delegate and competitor, who has competed through the Grand Prix level in dressage. Impressed by the product, Varney helped formulate the recipe into a cold, compressed form—a sugar cube made into a fine powder and compressed, like an Altoid.

Genther’s creation, officially monikered Funky Unicorn Treats, finally found a medical director and a pharmaceutical company in the United States to make their treats. The treats are available in three flavors: apple, banana and mint.

“Every single cube has a precise amount [of electrolyte] in it, so there’s no question about the dosage,” says Genther. “It’s made the same way you would create Tylenol.”

Wholesale accounts have been quickly picking up Funky Unicorn Treats, and direct online sales are steadily growing as customers begin to learn about them.

“Every opportunity I get to educate people and tell people about them, I do,” Genther says. “I’m a horrible salesperson, but because I know they’re going to help horses, it’s easy. It’s something I believe in, so I can do it.”

Emily helps with the business when it comes to social media, and she enjoys interacting with new customers at events. Occasionally, Genther’s husband Doug helps with shipping or some heavy lifting, making it a family affair.

A Rewarding Product

Genther’s unplanned journey to create electrolyte cubes has brought on a new level of learning and challenges. But she loves hearing about how much this product helps her customers’ horses.

“I’ve had veterinary schools tell me that they’ve ended up with our product somehow, and it’s really made a difference for the horses in their care,” Genther says. “That’s the goal for us; that’s everything. I did it for my horse to make sure he was safe and happy.”

Follow along on Instagram @funkyunicorn_treats and Facebook (Funky Unicorn Treats), or learn more at FunkyUnicornTreats.com.

This article about Renee Genther’s Funy Unicorn Treats business appeared in the November/December 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Chanel Rhodes is a first-generation equestrian in her family. Growing up in the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, Rhodes didn’t have access to horses in the city. However, she always dreamed of owning a horse one day.

As a young girl, Rhodes didn’t see Black cowboys or cowgirls being represented on TV or in magazines. She asked her mom, Valerie Griffin, if horseback riding was something she could do. Griffin encouraged her daughter to pursue horses, cultivating Rhodes’ love and passion for the equine industry.

As a busy single mom, Griffin instilled a hard work ethic in Rhodes and took her to riding lessons sporadically throughout her youth.

Finally, Horses

Rhodes spent her entire childhood dreaming of and praying for a horse. When she turned 20, she began a serious search, determined to find a way to be around horses without having a lot of money or resources.

She began her journey and became a working student for Cliff Salter, a trainer in Long Beach, Calif. Under Salter’s guidance, Rhodes learned about training, horsemanship and horse care.

After seven long, dedicated years and with the help of her mom, Rhodes finally purchased her first horse, a dependable bay gelding named Cha-Cha. Fast forward another five years, and she’s currently a working student for a hunter/jumper program at Mountain View Farms South in Anaheim, Calif., with trainer Jasmine Wheatley.

Rhodes currently has two horses: Lady, a 16-year-old Paint mare, and Gabriel, an 11-year-old OTTB who belongs to her mom, whom Rhodes inspired to ride.

The Art Project

In 2019 during Black History Month, social media and other news outlets shifted the focus to Black cowboys and Black equestrians in the industry.

“I noticed a lot of people doing a lot of different projects with their horses during Black History Month,” says Rhodes. “That’s kind of the time when the media started to shine a light on Black cowboys and we finally got discovered.”

She felt inspired to try her own project. Creative by nature, she had been doing her own hair for years. Rhodes made a prototype wig for Lady to match her flashy tobiano colors and emphasize her beautiful mane.

Initially, the wig didn’t work how Rhodes envisioned, but her fiancé (now husband) Andrew Garces wanted to capture a video of the pair together. She called this art project “Afrocentric Pony.”

Shortly after releasing the video, the Young Black Equestrians podcast (now called Black in the Saddle) contacted Rhodes about coming on as a guest. When she was asked about her plans for her creation, Rhodes’ initial reaction was that this wasn’t a business. But that burning question fueled something in her, propelling her to push forward into the unknown.

Meet Mane Tresses

Product development for the hair piece proved to be challenging and frustrating for Rhodes. If it was going to be marketed and sold, it had to be perfect.

“Every time I wanted to try the wig, I’d have to drive 10 miles down the street to the barn and wait for my product to fail,” says Rhodes. “And then I’d go back home to the drawing board. It became very tedious; I resented it for a little bit.”

When Covid came along and put Rhodes out of work, it gave her unexpected time to focus on product development for Mane Tresses. A professional manufacturer was unaffordable, but Rhodes’ mom bought her a sewing machine, so she began to watch YouTube videos and learned how to sew her wigs.

After going through about 50 prototypes, the result is a flexible, colorful, synthetic hair piece that seamlessly attaches to the mane, tail or forelock. Mane Tresses officially launched in 2021.

Being a Role Model

Despite all the roadblocks and struggles along the way, Rhodes maintains a positive, can-do attitude and encourages anyone with a dream to make it a reality.

“Ignore those outside voices,” she says. “If you have a passion for something, that’s what life is all about. If you have something in your heart that you love, you should work toward it. Start that business, get it off the ground, and never give up, because you’re going to fail 100 times. But those failures just propel you forward.”

Along the way, Rhodes has had the Hollywood spotlight shown on her entrepreneurial spirit. She was on “Access Daily” with Mario Lopez, “Tell The Truth” on ABC, and a commercial for Facebook.

While these are notable highlights, she says her proudest moments come from positive feedback from customers. She ships worldwide and is always humbled when she hears from a mother or grandmother who has a child that looks up to Rhodes as a role model. Those are the moments that make it all worthwhile.

For more information on Mane Tresses, visit www.manetresses.com or @manetressescc on Instagram and Facebook. Follow along with Chanel at @cowgirl_chanel on Instagram.

This article about Chanel Rhodes and her business Mane Tresses appeared in the July 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Painter began her career with leather in London, England, where she became a Master Saddler. After an apprenticeship in Perthshire, Scotland, at which time she began Clever with Leather, Claire relocated to the United States in 1992.

Leather Goods on the Racetrack to Horse Shows

In Kentucky, Painter began selling handmade halters, focusing on the bustling Thoroughbred racing industry. She discovered that the business was very seasonal, and her customers disappeared in the winter.

To make Clever with Leather a year-round business without leaving Kentucky—she had a young son at the time so she couldn’t travel much—she needed to expand. Painter expanded her business to include English saddlery. She didn’t want it to be too broad in order to make sure she had time to produce quality work that kept her customers happy.

Her focus then began shifting towards sport horses instead of racing, and Painter started producing padded halters. She then made it her goal to create things that made people happy in addition to being practical, and began to find joy in her work again.

“If you repair something and you make it look nice again, it makes people happy,” she says. “If you create something for a person’s horse, or for them, they are happy. It’s a happy purchase.”

A Leather Niche in the Equine World

Painter then began to use the quiet season in winter to build up her inventory and website so people knew what she had to offer. She says that slowly but surely, it began paying off.

She relies on her clients to help figure out the details on her items to make them the ideal product.

“I’ve got a lot of great customers who know their stuff,” says Painter. When developing one of her most popular items, a neck strap, she had sponsored eventing rider Jenn O’Neill test out the prototype.

Painter says that working with people who know what they’re doing and listening to what the customers want helps ensure she is producing functional products and learning from the riders who use them.

The eventing community has been the cornerstone of Clever With Leather for many years. Painter sets up a booth at Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event every year to showcase and sell her products, and in all her years of being a vendor, she says she has never noticed anything being stolen. She believes this is due to her customers truly valuing the work she puts into her products.

“They like the fact that I’m a small business and I enjoy the business now that I’ve found my niche,” Painter says. “I’ve found my people. They see the value in a handmade purse. They don’t bring me another purse to copy. They want my version. They see the value in what I do. I feel really lucky.”

She says that the Kentucky Three-Day Event always “feels like doing business with old friends. It doesn’t feel like business.” People come back to her booth year after year. Often, people come back just to say hello and tell her that their previously purchased products are still going strong.

Focusing on the Goal

In college, Painter studied leather goods manufacturing and design before beginning the saddlery program. This, in addition to her artistic eye and listening to what her customers want, has allowed her to expand her business further, making wearable items such as chaps and purses.

With the growth of her company, Painter had to learn how to streamline her business.

“I used to do everything,” she says. “I never said no to a job. Now if someone wants something I don’t focus on, I send them to someone else. I’ve narrowed down what I do.”

Painter sees herself staying in Kentucky long-term. Her son is in his second year of college and once he graduates, she likes the idea of possibly starting to ride again.

“I love living here,” she says. “I love the community in Lexington. Everyone sort of knows everyone. It’s quite a safety net.”

Currently the neck straps, made to provide a grab strap for riders, are Painter’s best-selling products. While other companies have produced similar products since she came out with her version, she says that since her customers are loyal and she offers a variety of color options and a quality product, her neck straps keep selling.

“Eventers are loyal,” she says. “They always tell each other they need to get a Clever with Leather neck strap.”

Reputation for a Reason

Painter’s halters are still a huge hit, as are the dog collars. Her products have a reputation for lasting a long time and being functional for years.

“That’s the good and bad side,” she says. “The products last for years, but thankfully people are always getting another horse, and they are always getting another dog.”

For other women looking to go out and start their own business, Painter advises not to be afraid.

“People told me not to go out on my own and start a business here, but it’s worked,” she says. “If you believe in what you do, and you love what you do, don’t be afraid to give it a go.”

Check out Clever with Leather at www.cleverwithleather.com.

This article about Clever with Leather’s leather goods for horses appeared in the March 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Inspiration & Action

Growing up, Barratt moved several times. Each new home offered her mother an opportunity to redecorate. Barratt always recalls being captivated by the prints and fabrics selected for curtains and trimmings. Fast forward to adulthood, when Barratt married and settled down in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, with her husband, Tom.

Whenever she browsed through equestrian clothing and apparel at a tack store, she felt like something was missing. She’d envision bold printed collars and vivid colors. Barratt didn’t have a background working with fashion or fabric, but one day she expressed her ideas to her husband.

“My husband gave me $500 and bought me a new computer to give it a shot,” she says. “I set off to do what was in my head and try to make it come to fruition, which was a total trip because I didn’t know anything about clothing fabric.”

Initially, finding the right clothing manufacturer for her equestrian-inspired vision wasn’t easy. Many companies wouldn’t talk to or help Barratt since she didn’t understand the manufacturing language or have a design background. There were a lot of clicks and hang ups as the search persisted.

“Once you think about something like starting a business, it takes on a life of its own and becomes an obsession,” says Barratt. “You eat, sleep and breathe bringing something out of thin air and actually making it happen.”

One day, she began looking into companies making men’s form-fitting shirts for executives. She finally found a company online that agreed to make her samples, only to realize they were based out of Thailand. Determined to create the clothing she had envisioned, she jumped through frustrations of language barriers and communication to bring her shirts to life.

“I ended up having 18 samples made because I didn’t know anything about manufacturing clothes,” says Barratt.

Armed with her gorgeous new sample shirts, Middy N’ Me’s first debut into the world was at the Chagrin Hunter Jumper Classic. Her friends excitedly invited Barratt to be a vendor when a booth turned up empty.

“I got a mannequin, I ironed my shirts, and I went,” she says. “I didn’t even bring anything to write with. It never dawned on me that anyone would actually buy my shirts. We had a very successful show, and that’s how it all started.”

Meet Middy

Middy N’ Me is appropriately named after Middy, Barratt’s beloved Belgian/Quarter Horse mare. Middy is boarded close to home at a large estate in Hunting Valley. It’s the perfect property for the fox hunting duo to spend their days riding through the expansive acreage.

“I bought her sight unseen, and she didn’t even have a name,” she says. “I named her Middleburg because I’m a fox hunter and I love Middleburg, Va. My husband started calling her Middy.”

Middy is a beautiful buckskin who happens to be a PMU rescue and an unexpected heart horse; Barratt describes her as an angel.

“She had never been handled and was very aloof and distant—emotionally wounded,” she says. “But she and I became very good friends, and she’s the horse of a lifetime. She’s taken care of me. There are no words to describe how much joy she has given me.”

Building a Brand

Middy N’ Me celebrated 10 years of business last summer. The brand has evolved and grown over the years. Initially, Barratt thought she would be designing shirts for women to ride in, but it turned out, women want to wear the shirts in everyday life, too.

“Equestrian style is a universal desire—people like it—it’s very pretty,” she says. “We don’t position ourselves as an equestrian company, but a lot of equestrians wear our shirts.”

Barratt’s true passion shines when she’s designing behind a computer screen. She loves fuchsia, kiwi green, turquoise, yellow and bright colors paired with ginghams and solids.

Every shirt, skirt or dress is made to order. The fit is an important part of the style and overall look. Every shirt is cut, sewn and made in the United States. After Kimberly’s wild ride making samples, she was able to find the factory in America she had searched for to produce her clothing.

Kimberly’s days are spent designing, keeping in contact with her factory, working with customers, and tackling her never-ending to-do list.

“It’s not for the faint hearted, but I love every minute of it.”

◆ Middy N’ Me website
◆ Middy N’ Me Instagram (@middynme)
◆ Middy N’ Me Facebook

This article about Middy N’ Me’s success in creating equestrian clothing and beyond appeared in the September 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Middy N’ Me: Equestrian Clothing and Beyond appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.