Small Business Profile: Lisa Stadt - Manito Equestrian Center

At peace at the Manito Equestian Center
On a photo shoot last year at the Manito Equestrian Center in Allentown, Pa. I was struck by the peacefulness of the location. I couldn’t believe that I was barely a mile away from Rt 22. As I was shooting images of the models and horses I was filled with a sense of tranquility and calm. I’ve gone back since then just to get that feeling back and I don’t even ride! I like taking pictures of the horses and learning their personalities. When I shared how the location made me feel with founder and president Lisa Stadt, she instinctively understood exactly how I felt.

Manito Equestrian Center is located on a 96 acre preserved farm. The Center boards and trains horses, offers riding lessons and runs summer day camps. It is also the home of the Manito Life Center, a 501© 3 corporation founded in 2002. The Manito Life Center provides equine and nature-based programming for at-risk individuals. Both of these organizations are visions realized for Lisa. She has always been aware of the positive influence of horses and nature and has managed to combine the things she loves: children, nature and horses into her life’s work.

Lisa grew up in Allentown and was exposed to horses at a very young age on her father’s farm. She counts riding with her friends among her finest childhood memories. Her dad was a physician, her mom a stockbroker and employment counselor. Lisa worked as a registered nurse in family practice and ob-gyn for seventeen years before deciding to found Manito in 1994.

As a single female in business Lisa has had to overcome many challenges, “The horse business is notorious for being a difficult one to manage. Finding trustworthy employees have been the most challenging aspect to my business.” However, during tough times Lisa relies on her own determination and long term vision to see her through, “My vision for having my farm used for current and future generations of children keeps me going through many difficult times”.

Success with Short Term Goals
Manito’s success working with children who are at-risk is creating more opportunities to reach a larger population. Lisa has been developing partnerships with local child welfare agencies and plans to have them in place by the end of 2010. Manito’s clientele has been increasing in both their mainstream and at-risk programs. Lisa attributes this to “a wonderful staff committed to the long-term future of the farm and our programs.”

Planning the Long Term Goals
Longer term goals include doubling the clientele and expanding the staff to include more instructors and trained therapists within 3 years. Within five years Lisa plans capital improvements to include classrooms and treatment rooms. She also plans to create a second indoor arena.

The best business advice she’s received was to maintain a documented employment agreement with a non-compete clause as well as finding a good lawyer to handle these types of agreements.  Apparently, it is common in the horse business for employees to develop customer relationships then try to take the client with them when they move to another farm.

When I asked her about influences, Lisa credits her dad for instilling in her the importance of remaining strong throughout life’s challenges.