Tri C/V Performance Horses

12/07/2025

Stinky barn this morning! 😷

23/05/2025

19/05/2025

Velvet and I have been boarding horses for 45 years now and have experienced much of this. This life is not for everyone! 😁Quick edit! We are currently and for quite a few years been fortunate to have had some of the greatest clients. For this industry that's pretty nice to be able to say. But over the years we've had some pretty interesting clients. 😁

By JAMIE SINDELL There was a time when I boarded my horse and got heated. I’m talking full-blown righteous fury over what I saw as egregious examples of poor care. Mistakes that made me seethe with rage. But now? I own my own farm. I’ve spent almost three years caring for my own horses. And […...

14/04/2025

The Real Cost of That $3 Deal from China

Let’s talk real for a minute.

Every day, I see more and more people jumping on the “deal” bandwagon—buying clothes, bags, and accessories from TikTok shops, Shein, Temu, and other direct-from-China platforms. And I get it. Who doesn’t love a good deal? You see a trendy jacket for $9 or a designer lookalike bag for $12 and think, “Score! I just cut out the middleman.”

But here’s the truth: you didn’t just cut out a middleman. You cut out a designer. You cut out a business owner. You cut out a rep who worked hard to help that business owner bring a product to life. You cut out layers of people in this country who pour their heart, time, and creativity into something that’s getting knocked off and sold for a fraction of the price—without a second thought.

A lot of those “bargain” products? They’re knockoffs. Straight-up copies of ideas from American artists and small businesses who spent years perfecting their craft. You might think it’s no big deal—it’s “just a bag” or “just a shirt without the label”—but it is a big deal. That bag was someone’s dream. That shirt was someone’s original artwork. That product was someone’s late nights, financial risk, and entire heart wrapped up in a package.

Let’s clear something up while we’re at it: just because something is made in China doesn’t mean it’s cheap or low quality. Many of us small American businesses do manufacture overseas—but with intention. We go through real reps. We use vetted factories. We insist on high-quality materials. We pay for samples. We work back and forth for weeks, even months, to get a product just right before it ever hits a shelf. And yes, some of those high-quality pieces come with a label that says “Made in China.” But that doesn’t make them the same as something mass-produced and rushed to market for a TikTok sale.

Here’s a real-world example: if I sell you something for $68, chances are I paid about $34 for it. That’s a 2x markup, which is completely standard in retail—and honestly, on the low end. You might be thinking, “Well dang, she’s making 50% profit!” But that’s just the surface. That doesn’t cover marketing, photography, packaging, payroll, shipping supplies, business software, websites, taxes (oh the taxes), online protection from scammers, or the time it takes to answer every email, pack every box, and write every thank-you note by hand. Let’s not forget that some stuff ends up getting marked on sale too! That zero profit that’s just the retailer getting their money back to try and buy something they think you’ll like more.

At the end of the year? If I’ve done everything right and worked my tail off, I might see 30% profit. And then guess what? I pay taxes on that, too. This is NOT me complaining! This is justt transparency. I sell enough to be happy but I don’t take shortcuts.

So when people act like China has exposed retailers—that we’re just marking stuff up from $3 to $60 and rolling in cash—that’s not only wrong, it’s disrespectful. Because the $3 version you’re buying? That’s not the same thing. That’s a shortcut. That’s skipping over the people who actually made the thing real in the first place.

And let me just say this: it hurts to see your ideas stolen and sold for pennies. It hurts to see someone hold up a cheap copy of something you poured your soul into and say, “Why would I pay full price when I can get this for $10?”

Because it’s not just a price. It’s a principle.

So the next time you’re tempted by one of those “too good to be true” deals, think about who you’re supporting—and who you’re not. Shopping small doesn’t just keep a business going. It supports artists, designers, makers, reps, photographers, moms, and dreamers. It keeps creativity alive and ideas protected.

And you better believe we notice and appreciate every time you choose to shop with us instead.

06/12/2024

MLR Livestock Therapy is COMING TO MICHIGAN! 🚗

We will be in the Imlay City area 12/18-01/10ish
Our time will fill up fast so be sure to get on the schedule!

As usual we’ll be offering some pretty good deals:

💲Buy 2 get your third session 50% off
💲Barn owner- Set up a MagnaWave Day! Set up 5 sessions at your place get one of your animals free
💲New client 20% off first session

Don’t forget about our gift certificates as well! They make the perfect Christmas gift 🎁

18/11/2024

It was exhausting is an understatement, but so much fun and so worth it! A huge thanks to everyone that joined us for the sale Saturday. Between the quality of vendors and the character of customers coming through the doors, it was a pretty sweet day. And the icing on the cake was how great the food was. Holy Smokes def. set the bar as far as food goes. From Stephanie, Velvet and myself thanks you so much for being here. Hope everyone had as much fun as we did.