Hooked on horses for as long as she could remember, Renee Genther grew up on the move, following her dads career in the Air Force. Still, she managed to always find horses or ponies to ride wherever she lived.Her love for horses never faded even into adulthood. After Genthers husband retired from the Coast Guard in 2001, the family decided to call Florida home, relocating to be near both of their parents with their two children, Emily and Kyle.Genther set her sights on horse-friendly Ocala, Fla. A dressage rider, Genther competes at the FEI level with Hector, an imported Lusitano from Brazil with a puppy personality. The pair is working on advancing their skills enough to show at the Grand Prix level.Renee Genther aboard Hector with her husband, Doug. Her family has helped support and grow her business venture.By day, Genther supports her equestrian lifestyle as a full-time oncology nurse practitioner. And now, shes also an entrepreneur.Inventing Something NewWhen the pandemic hit in 2020, Genther and her adult daughter, Emily, started making their own sugar cubes for their horses. Covid was causing issues with the supply chain, and there wasnt a cube in sight for the horses.Hector is a notoriously a picky drinker. When planning to travel to a horse show, Genther was concerned when she saw that temperatures were going to drop. It felt like a perfect storm for colic. She considered scratching from the show.When a friend suggested adding electrolytes to their sugar cubes, the mother-daughter duo decided to give it a try. She passed out a surplus of extra cubes to fellow riders, also concerned about water intake at the show. The horses drank. The next day, riders started approaching Genther, requesting more sugar cubes and wanting to know where to purchase them.Then it just kind of took on a life of its own, she says. We did some research and didnt see anything out there that was similar, so we started making them in our kitchen at 4 a.m. before work.The cubes were poured into molds before the sun came up and distributed into tubs after work, ready to sell.We started selling them locally to tack stores, and an owner of a store at the World Equestrian Center [in Ocala] gave us a big break, says Genther. The cubes were a hit. The motto for our products is Horse treats with purpose, because we all want to reward our horses, but we want it to be with something thats going to benefit them. Meeting a Demand Once the electrolyte cubes gained popularity, Genther realized her kitchen was no longer going to be able to make enough for their customers. She was encouraged by fellow riders and friends to keep the business going, ultimately starting her quest for mass production.After reaching out to several candy and pharmaceutical companies about making the sugar cubes, it was proving to be a daunting task. The goal was always to create a human-grade product, fed to horses. As soon as a manufacturer heard the product was for a horse, they said no. After striking out, Genther connected with Courtney Varney, DVM, an FEI veterinary delegate and competitor, who has competed through the Grand Prix level in dressage. Impressed by the product, Varney helped formulate the recipe into a cold, compressed forma sugar cube made into a fine powder and compressed, like an Altoid. Genthers creation, officially monikered Funky Unicorn Treats, finally found a medical director and a pharmaceutical company in the United States to make their treats. The treats are available in three flavors: apple, banana and mint.Every single cube has a precise amount [of electrolyte] in it, so theres no question about the dosage, says Genther. Its made the same way you would create Tylenol.Wholesale accounts have been quickly picking up Funky Unicorn Treats, and direct online sales are steadily growing as customers begin to learn about them.Every opportunity I get to educate people and tell people about them, I do, Genther says. Im a horrible salesperson, but because I know theyre going to help horses, its easy. Its something I believe in, so I can do it.Emily helps with the business when it comes to social media, and she enjoys interacting with new customers at events. Occasionally, Genthers husband Doug helps with shipping or some heavy lifting, making it a family affair.A Rewarding Product Genthers unplanned journey to create electrolyte cubes has brought on a new level of learning and challenges. But she loves hearing about how much this product helps her customers horses.Ive had veterinary schools tell me that theyve ended up with our product somehow, and its really made a difference for the horses in their care, Genther says. Thats the goal for us; thats everything. I did it for my horse to make sure he was safe and happy.Follow along on Instagram @funkyunicorn_treats and Facebook (Funky Unicorn Treats), or learn more at FunkyUnicornTreats.com.This article about Renee Genthers Funy Unicorn Treats business appeared in the November/December 2023 issue of Horse Illustratedmagazine.Click here to subscribe!The post Boss Babes: Renee Genther of Funky Unicorn Treats appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.