Photo by Crystal Young of Royal Equine
An Interview with Marissa Gentner of The Distinguished Rider
One of the primary goals of The Equine Professionals Club is to unite members of the equestrian community from all backgrounds. In this article, we are proud to feature The Distinguished Rider’s founder and owner Marissa Gentner, with whom EPC also shares a mission of increasing accessibility in the equestrian community.
The Distinguished Rider strives “to supply all riders with beautiful boots that fit and make them feel good regardless of size, budget or design needs,” and Marissa has built a thriving business that celebrates body positivity and inclusivity in every way. During our discussion, we focused on her journey from college student to becoming everyone’s favorite “fairy boot mother.”
The Distinguished Rider:
The Distinguished Rider (TDR) is based in Quakertown, PA, offering its clients a choice among boot brands to meet their unique individual needs and design goals: Kingsley, Deniro Boot Co., Chester Boots, and Quality Horse Products (QHP). In addition to boots, TDR is an authorized dealer for Christian Lowe Leather Care, IRH Helmets, and Novella Equestrian.
Introduction to the Equestrian World:
Marissa believes in the importance of being open about the life experiences that have molded her into the person she is today. During our interview, she shared that she was introduced to horses as a struggling teen attending a therapeutic riding school. That experience has led to her life-long love and devotion to horses.
Education and Career Development:
Marissa attended Loyola University of New Orleans earning a double degree in Sociology/Philosophy and a minor in Women Studies. During college, she boarded her horse at a dressage-centered facility in PA where she developed a love for the discipline. Upon completing college, Marissa pursued a career as an equine professional but quickly determined that it was not the right fit. Having an affinity for mathematics, she explored finance and wealth management, which provided an excellent base of business knowledge and experience. She then transitioned into customer service, followed by working as a personal care assistant for grade school students with special needs. These experiences formed her client-focused attitude as well as brought out her innate empathy and strong desire to make a difference. Amidst this chapter, Covid struck and left her without a job. It was during this time that the opportunity to become a Kingsley Boot Representative presented itself, and TDR was born.
Healthy Boundaries and Work-Life Balance:
During her time as an equine professional, Marissa realized that the amount of sacrifices she was making of her time and energy were not worth the mental health toll. Marissa passionately believes that the culture, pay, and hours of equestrian working students need to change across the industry, not just in the dressage community. She believes that burnout is real and balance is necessary. Marissa stands by one of her professor’s philosophies that “if we can put people on the moon, we can figure out how to balance our lives.” Ultimately, Marissa decided that if she was ever going to work that hard, she was going to work for herself.
In running her own business, Marissa has set healthy boundaries with her clients to ensure that she maintains a balanced lifestyle. For example, she limits contact with her clients through email and blocks out time in her daily schedule for personal activities and family time.
She believes that people too often overwork themselves to please others, and that encouraging this is unacceptable. As a small business owner, she encourages her employees to make their private lives a priority. Marissa shared, “I am not so desperate for business that I will sacrifice my own happiness and balance”.
Success from the Beginning:
While some businesses were struggling during Covid, TDR hit the ground running in 2020. Because shows and events were canceled, equestrians were eager to purchase luxury items, and Marissa’s clientele quickly grew. With the rapid business growth, came challenges to her work/life balance. During our interview, she mentioned that at times the number of clients felt overwhelming, and she had to recognize her limits and manage her time effectively. In the first year, Marissa personally conducted all fittings, traveled for all events, and performed all administrative tasks and customer service. Lesson learned: Successful startups are stressful and, as a result, we must make a concerted effort to achieve the balance we need.
Building a Community:
The client has to do what is right for them. That said, Marissa made a conscious decision to be impartial with regard to company/brand comparison and her fittings are “judgment free” zones! She has fostered an extremely diverse community of riders, and because of her dedication to inclusivity, Marissa has built relationships with her clients based on trust and integrity. Marissa feels that it is important to be straightforward with clients even to the point of letting them know when she cannot help them. This requires maturity and integrity, which Marissa exemplifies in all aspects of running her business.
Growth and Expansion:
TDR has grown from representing one brand to several over their 4 years in business. While she used data and details from her sales to evaluate each new brand, Marissa said that her decisions were ultimately customer driven. She mentioned that adding each brand of boot was intentional because each brand serves a specific purpose and therefore attracts a particular clientele. While the boot companies may be in competition with each other, TDR exists to bridge the gaps and offer options to accommodate all riders’ needs and preferences. By including brands with different design features, sizes, and price ranges, Marissa has been able to increase her number of clients as well as the diversity within her client base.
Advice to Riders on a Budget:
Every individual has their own unique needs as well as limitations. Marissa encourages all riders to be confident, have pride, and find joy in caring for their boots and other tack no matter the cost. Being on a budget for a long time, Marissa rode in whatever she could afford, including Walmart polo shirts! She encourages riders to play the “matchy matchy game” and have fun with t-shirts and non-luxury items such as belts, spur straps and guards, and even colorful socks.
The Future of TDR:
Marissa’s goal has and will always be to foster an inclusive community and increase accessibility of all riders to quality products that fit well and meet their unique design needs. She will continue to source the highest quality products at the most reasonable prices for her customers. Not only is Marissa expanding her product line, but also offers a variety of payment options for clients to finance purchases.
Mentor Spotlight:
Marissa was fortunate to have a very close friend, Tiffany, as a mentor and life coach. Tiffany was infinitely kind and generous and taught Marissa dressage on her full Percheron draft while Marissa explored becoming a professional in the equine industry. But most importantly, Tiffany encouraged Marissa to explore other career options as well. Marissa shared that Tiffany was instrumental in helping her become the person and business professional that she is today.
