Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chanel Rhodes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Chanel , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I was raised in a single-parent home by a wonderful, strong, intelligent, beautiful, wise, talented, and God-led mother, Valerie Griffin. As an active kid, I wasn’t the easiest to manage and often felt misunderstood by my classmates and a few of my teachers in elementary school. My mother was patient and loving, always striving to work with me. She took the time to understand my thoughts and nurture my creativity.

My mother encouraged me and taught me the importance of having a relationship with God. One of her memorable pieces of advice was, “Chanel, if you want to own horses one day, you better pray for them.” Oh, did I?! Now, I own two horses, work with a trainer who has several lesson horses, have filmed on horseback, run an equestrian-based business, and work with theme park horses. I asked for a place in the equestrian world, and He gave me more than I could ever imagine. I am truly thankful to be walking this path with Him.

From as far back as I can remember, I’ve always enjoyed creating art—teaching myself to sketch and designing my own hairstyles. My mother encouraged me to pursue what I loved, which motivated me to practice, practice, practice. She kept me busy with extracurricular activities like ballet lessons, Girl Scouts, summer camps, and more. We also enjoyed visits to my favorite childhood spots like Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland(my favorite). She introduced me to Disney’s classic animated features, which drew me to the magic and inspiring stories of perseverance. I saw my imperfections reflected in many Disney characters and related to their journeys.

My mother noticed my passion for animals early on and managed to squeeze in some goldfish, rabbits, guinea pigs, and later, dogs. But there was one animal I couldn’t stop talking about: horses. I even asked her if Black people rode horses, given the lack of representation in the equestrian world. She reassured me that we did and that I could, too. Despite being a single parent, she worked hard to help me pursue my passion for horses. I enjoyed sporadic horseback riding lessons throughout my childhood and trail rides during vacations. She also purchased my first horse. She could have easily told me it wasn’t achievable, but her support helped me carve out a place for myself in the equestrian world. She inspired so much more than that!

My mother isn’t just a woman with every color of the rainbow in heels; she’s a one-woman powerhouse. Growing up, I believed—and still believe—that she can fix anything. She always had a large selection of tools and even carried a Phillips head screwdriver in her purse. She inspired me to create and use my hands to fix and tinker, setting me up for success in my business Mane Tresses. I love using my hands to create and repair small projects and have even assisted my husband, a magician, with a few of his illusions.

These days, I’m an equestrian entrepreneur and barn manager for the happiest horses on earth! I run a creative equestrian business that features a unique, revolutionary invention. My mother has inspired my craft and career choice, supporting me every step of the way. To this day, she’s heavily invested in my upcoming projects for my new non-profit. The future is bright, we are excited to give back to our communities!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Although my products are very niche, they serve a few unique purposes within the equestrian community. Of course, I did not come up with the idea to add hair extensions to horses; this is something that’s done in the professional show ring all the time. The major differences between my pieces and traditional horse hair pieces are the materials, design, price, versatility, and variety. My pieces are made with synthetic hair instead of real horse hair like traditional products. This not only allows me to offer my pieces at reasonable prices, but it also provides infinite color variations and the ability to custom-match the hair pieces to the customer’s horse. The tail pieces that I offer are more lightweight, easier to install, do not require braiding or tying into the horse’s tail, and also work on docked tails, unlike traditional tail pieces.
It is extremely difficult to find extensions for anything other than tails, but I offer custom-sized, versatile mane pieces that come in one piece instead of individual extensions. I have also created a piece for the forelock. All of my pieces share a similar design and are versatile between horses. My products have been used in commercials to help horses look more uniform or simply to add long, luscious hair while still providing the flexibility the horse needs for its range of motion.
I am incredibly thankful that my products worked. I never set out to be an inventor; all I ever wanted was to become an artist and work creatively for Disney one day. I never imagined that teaching myself how to use a sewing machine and grinding through 60 prototypes would lead me down this path. There were times when I was extremely frustrated, wanted to give up, and didn’t believe in what I was doing. Now I have a whole business, and I am still in shock. I am thankful every time I receive pictures and compliments from my customers about how well my products work.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My greater mission is to open a ranch for my nonprofit. God put a vision in my heart, and I want to share the equestrian lifestyle with others, just as people shared it with me. I took to Canva and created a slideshow for the V&H Griffin Ranch, including the layout of the land and what we will offer to our visitors. This ranch is meant to be a unique destination for people from all walks of life to enjoy the equestrian and agricultural lifestyle while also giving back to the community by addressing food insecurity and bring unique entertainment to other non-profits programs(i.e Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs etc).

With Orange County’s equestrian community shrinking, I want to provide a destination for OC boarders who have had to move their horses farther away from home, while also serving as a sanctuary to rescue horses from the yearly fires. Although I am in the beginning stages of this mission, I am determined to share horses with the world in a unique way, while also loving and welcoming people and rescuing animals. I will never give up on this mission.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of my creative thinking is the number of ideas that cross my mind on a daily basis. My brain can get busy with thoughts and ideas, which is why I have to do a lot of brain dumps. But I consider it a gift; this way of thinking has led me to be innovative and resourceful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.manetresses.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manetressescc?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manetressescc/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chanel-rhodes-18353840?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cowgirlchanelmt?lang=en

Image Credits

Disneyland Picture- Tony Deluca

All other pictures- Andrew Garces