We recently connected with Marta Renilla and have shared our conversation below.
Marta, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard
Definitely. My family and I have a business background on top of the equine knowledge. I have a Business Bachelor degree and my father and sister have worked in finance and marketing in different industries for many years.
Prior moving to the US, I was a semi-professional and Dressage was more a hobby than a job.
So what we have built in our community, is kind of a combination of my passion plus our business know how in order to create a livelihood for all of us. I work harder that I could ever imagine, including weekends, holidays and even nights! Sometimes a horse arrives from Germany in the middle of the night and I have to get up to receive the shipper, I create sales videos while helping my kids´ with their homework,… I need to evaluate the increasing prices of our suppliers in order to adjust our costs…. it´s pretty crazy. Horses and business. But at the end of the day, it all makes sense and I work in my passion, so it all balances up to make me happy.
Marta, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a United Stated National, International Grand Prix trainer and USDF Gold, Silver & Bronze Medalist. Originally from Spain, I operate out of my training facility in Houston: Woodlands Equestrian Club (known as WEC), I am considered one of the top up and coming dressage riders in the US. I live with my husband Anartz Chanca and our three boys by the facility.
We are a Dressage sales and training barn. We also offer riding lessons for riders of all levels.
What´s Dressage? It is an Olympic sport. It is a discipline where a rider and a horse perform in exhibition and competition, as well as an art sometimes pursued solely for the sake of mastery. As an equestrian sport defined by the International Equestrian Federation, dressage is described as “the highest expression of horse training” where “horse and rider are expected to perform from memory a series of predetermined movements.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Testimonials are more important that advertising. Create a good experience for ALL clients, including those difficult ones who do not buy a horse today are key. I work hard on making horse shopping a wonderful experience whether you buy me a horse or not. Quite often, clients who just start their search, return several months later, after realizing what we offer is unique and honest.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
Google and Facebook
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Susan J Stickle Photography LLC