Blue Ribbon Consulting Workbook Testimonials

People Are Talking...

What people are saying about the workbooks written by Lisa Derby Oden:

Growing Your Horse Business

“These unique companion volumes come like a ray of light into previously murky waters for budding equine business owners.

Growing Your Horse Business, in it’s plain brown wrapper, is a comprehensive text for analysis, career opportunities, and planning that take your horse endeavor into the business arena. Step-by-step instruction, worksheets, profiles and resources are highlighted by humor, quotations, and homey photos to which every horse lover can relate. The reader is entertained while gathering valuable information not available in many college texts.

Beginning your crash business course with analyzing the Business Cycle, and moving directly into an Industry Overview, Growing Your Horse Business includes a chapter on personal skill assessment, the nuts and bolts of creating a business plan and careful direction of where the equine businesses can look for financing. Established stables or those still in the field of dreams can benefit from this tight text on the tools necessary to succeed in the horse business.

The companion text, Bang For Your Buck, offers the same entertaining and educational approach equine marketing. This slim volume is packed with marketing information. Although written from a horseman’s perspective, with helpful worksheets and targeting ability, but it also broadens the education of the reader, as it takes classroom concepts and applies them to the stable venue. Reader, you can write these volumes off of your taxes as trade publications, and pat yourself on the back as you make immediate, dynamic changes within your business.”
- Gabriel Denison, Central Oregon Horse Journal, Sisters, OR

“Just a note to say I'm impressed - first off, you got my workbooks out very quickly, they got here very fast, and that means a lot more than some marketers are aware of. And secondly, while I haven't gotten through both yet, I have been able to read "Growing Your Horse Business" and I must say it is well written, quite comprehensive, and a good solid over view of what one has to do to ensure a solid business. Goodness knows how complicated THAT is these days!”
- Patricia Reszetylo, MN

"I bought your book on starting up a business in the equestrian field. It had quite a bit of information on developing business plans. I just wanted you to know I thought the book was very good and certainly helpful in the creation of our business plan and strategy for The Stone Pony Tack Shop. My wife and I opened the tack shop in May and so far we have been very pleased with the results."
- Jack Worthen, The Stone Pony Tack Shop, Amherst, NH

“I just wanted to thank you. I purchased both your books about two weeks ago and have almost finished my business proposal. I’ve been working on it for two months and had the information, but didn’t have an order to present it to the bank. Now I have an appointment in one week, and I am so excited about my new adventure. Without your books I would have had another three months in front of me."
- Carrie Freeman, Alexandria, Kentucky

“I received the book order this week. I've been glued to your books &
newsletters this week! FINALLY, examples pertaining to the Equine
Industry!!! Plenty out there on the market for business planning etc. for every business in the world (or so it seems) EXCEPT business related to the equine industry. So, thank you for your expertise! Your materials will really help me!”
- Horse farm owner,WA

“We have just purchased your workbooks, and are quite impressed! Lots of useful info. How much is a subscription to your newsletter, and is it possible to order back issues?”
- Suzanne Sheppard, Bob Jeffreys clinic partner and trainer, Centered Riding Instructor

“Lisa Derby Oden’s “Growing Your Horse Business” helps new business owners to understand what it really takes to plan a successful equine enterprise in a competitive industry. It is THE ‘toolbox text’ every new or existing equine business owner needs to get started or keep growing.”
- Lucinda Davis Griesey, Indiana Horse Council Executive Director and President of Griesey Farms Riding Academy

“Thank you so much for your books. I have already shared them with a farm I consult for. I will also use them for my fall class.”
- Nancy E. Jack, Ph.D., Director, Dorothy E. King Equine Program, University of Arkansas

"I digested your first workbook over the winter after your presentation at the NYS Horse Council Annual Meeting. Growing Your Horse Business is especially useful for its level of detail and exercises. It doesn't fall prey to the fluffy truisms and lack of implementational guidance that so many other books and articles succumb to. Growing Your Horse Business also has comprehensive, up-to-date, lists of business and equine resources. These references brought together in one place are alone worth the cost of the book. I am ordering two more copies to help some legal clients. Both want to develop sound business plans and Growing Your Horse Business is the best single resource for them to use."
- Fiona Farrell, Esq., Attorney and Owner of Full Circle Farm

“I purchased your “Growing Your Horse Business” book recently, and find it extremely informative.”
- Jane McClain, Owner/Instructor of Living Oaks Equine Experience Center

“It is time for business operators in the equine industry to realize that they are involved in much more than the day-to-day workings of a horse operation. They are in business. Equine businesses, like all businesses, are faced with the same issues of management, employment, and profitability struggles. Operators of equine businesses pay far too much attention to their horses and forget about improving their bottom line. As a result, they pay dearly in lost revenue, trouble with creditors, and trouble with the government. With an approach that is both interesting and non-intimidating, Growing Your Horse Business shows equine business operators how to develop tools to succeed. Buy this book.”
- Julie I. Fershtman, Esq., Attorney, Speaker, Author of Equine Law & Horse
Sense and MORE Equine Law & Horse Sense

“Many of the horse “Careers” people aspire to are really small businesses. Lisa guides hopefuls through the critical stage of business planning so they can turn their dream into a reality that actually supports them. Clear, common sense worksheets make the process painless. GROWING YOUR HORSE BUSINESS is an essential resource!”
- Bonnie Kreitler, Author of 50 Careers With Horses

“The first in Oden’s Good Footing Workbook series, this volume introduces basic tools you need to start a business. From assessing your skills and needs, to explaining the ingredients of a business plan, she carefully leads the reader through the steps, in a down to earth, methodical manner. The examples are real, the references horsey, and the approach is light-hearted. But the lessons are sound, and essential. This should be bedtime reading for anyone who wants to make the leap from horse hobby to horse business.”
- Janet Blevins, Knight Equestrian Books

“Just received the workbook. It’s great – if only I could get it out of my husband’s hands I’d be able to fully read it!”
- Kathryn Brignardello, Pat Parelli Natural Horsemanship student and Jerry Brignardello, future Pat Parelli Natural Horsemanship instructor

“I have read your book cover to cover and got a lot out of it.”
- Crystal Stover, NARHA Registered Instructor

“I have now acquired copies of your books through our Library and am
impressed with your well-considered but practical and down-to-earth
approach.”
- Richard Bacon, Equine Senior Curriculum Leader and Lecturer in Equine
Business Management, Warwickshire College, UK

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Bang For Your Buck: Making $ense of Marketing For Your Horse Business

“Subtitled, “Making $ense of Marketing for Your Horse Business,” this covers how to make your horse habit a paying proposition. It helps you determine your marketing profile, the marketing process, and marketing mix. Chapter 4 examines the consumer’s location, demographics, and thinking trends, then looks at your customers. Chapters 5-7 explain how to build a marketing plan, implement it, and monitor its progress. This is a must for all horsemen and women.”- Small Farm Today magazine

"I took your books home with me this weekend and poured over the material. What I found was very well written well supported guide materials! I was very pleased with the organization and approach you used to guide us through the maze of marketing and developing a horse business...! Thank you for your great work!"
- Julie Bottum, Sons of the Wind - School of Equestrian Arts, NH

“BANG FOR YOUR BUCK hands business owners all the tools they need to analyze their customers, weigh the competition, and develop a solid marketing plan. The worksheets and practical examples make the process painless. Don't spend another dime on marketing until you've bought this book!”
- Bonnie Kreitler, Kreitler Marketing Services, Author of 50 CAREERS WITH HORSES!

“You definitely get the best bang for your buck by purchasing Lisa Derby Oden’s marketing workbook. Her business and media profile approach allows readers to see what marketing strategies really work in the equine marketplace.”
- Lucinda Davis Griesey, Indiana Horse Council Executive Director and President of Griesey Farms Riding Academy

“I’ve taken time to go through “Bang For Your Buck.” There are some planning tools in there that I really like. Especially the media catalog. For some reason, I just never sat down and put all that information on paper –which I really should do.”
- Terrie Meyers, Heartwood Arabians

“We horse owners yearn to make our horse habit pay its own way. Oden has combined practical marketing information, probing questions, and lists of resources you’ll need to get beyond the dream. Using these tools you can gather solid information on which to base your marketing business plan. Her style is pragmatic yet approachable. The workbook gives you the tools and then leads you through the process. This is a valuable review for those already in business and an indispensable tool for beginners! Book 2 in the Good Footing Workbook series.”
- Janet Blevins, Knight Equestrian Books

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