Alexandra ‘Alex’ Baugh is a top-level event rider based in Lexington, Kentucky, with a proven track record of success at the eventing FEI 4* level.
She has developed numerous young horses into successful competitors and was the 2021 USEA Young Rider of the Year.
A longtime member of the USEF Emerging Athlete Programs (E18 & Developing 25), Alex continues to make her mark on the sport, competing and producing top-quality event horses. With a passion for horsemanship and performance, Alex trusts Excel Equine to keep her horses in peak
condition.
“All of my horses are on Trifiber Complete, and the difference is incredible. They not only look healthier, but you can feel the improvement in their condition and performance.”
When she’s not competing, Alex runs a training and sales program at Altorac Farm,
helping horses and riders reach their full potential.
Chris Bennings with wife Celia own and operate Morning Line Equestrian, a hunter jumper sales facility and thoroughbred/sport horse breeding farm in Paris, Kentucky. A lifelong equestrian Chris has many regional and national championships as well as coaching his students to multiple Horse of the Year awards.
“We regularly have 50 or more horses on the farm ranging from foals to retirees and everything in between. Everyone eats Trifiber and supplement the hard keepers with Enrichment, adding Toplyte for the horses in training. With that combination, we’ve never felt the need to
add any supplements.”
Kelly Boos owns and runs Fox Hill Farm in Alvaton, KY. She moved to Kentucky in 2020 so is fairly new to the area but doing well for herself and her horses thus far, building a successful program and career. Kelly’s primary focus is eventing and dressage as well as bringing along young horses.
Kelly says, “I came from a very horsey family so I have been riding since before I could crawl. We feed TriFiber Compete, Enrichment and also Senior plus. We absolutely love all the supplements (hoof pro plus, equiedge, toplyte, equigleam, and equilistic) and feed those daily as well. All of our horses from old retirees to young horses have done absolutely amazing. With our busy show season(s) we don’t have time to worry if our horses are getting absolutely everything they need nutritionally but with Excel Equine it has removed the stress and we can rest assured their needs are being met.”
Jaelyn Cooper has had horses all her life, but got her first barrel-racing/pole-bending horse when she was 8 years old. Now, at 19 years old she is still loving every second of this sport! About 4 years ago, Jaelyn started working as a trainer.
She says, “I thoroughly enjoy the training process of barrel racing and pole-bending futurity horses. Starting in 2024, I am opening “Cooper Ridge Equine Center” offering barrel racing and pole bending training, aquatic treadmill conditioning or rehabilitation, Electro Acuscuope and Myopulse therapy system sessions for performance optimization, maintenance, and rehabilitation, along with many other therapies to aid equine athletes in any way I can! Excel Equine is a staple in my program no matter what I am trying to accomplish. All my horses look outstanding, from my 27-year-old retired barrel horse to my high-caliber barrel/pole horses to my babies. My performance horses, growing babies, and older hard-keepers are all fueled by Trifiber Compete. My broodmares are fueled by Pro16. I have had outstanding results with this breeding blend for my mares and foals! They all look phenomenal and I am always getting compliments wherever I go. I am excited to see what this year holds, and I am incredibly grateful to be a part of Excel Equine for 2024!”
Stefanie and her husband, Jeff, own and operate Finest Hour Farms in Cynthiana, Kentucky. The farm’s primary focus is sporthorse breeding and young horse development. The farm also offers a retirement program. Stefanie says: “Enrichment and Mare Cube are our most commonly feed product, but with the various stages of growth and influx of new horses, EquiEdge, TriFiber Complete, and Stability are used as well! I absolutely LOVE Enrichment! Every horse on my farm gets it, from foal to retiree and my horses have never looked better. We constantly receive compliments on the coat condition, dappling, and toplines of our horses. Their inner health shines outward!”
Stefanie is also an active dressage rider. She competes with her KWPN gelding, Finest Hour. Over the years, the two have won multiple CDS, MSEDA and USDF championships, high score awards, perpetual trophies, and have twice ranked #1 in the nation as the USDF KWPN Horse of the Year. Her up and coming superstar is 10 month old KWPN colt, Baby T (Timeless FHF) and was bred by she and Jeff. Stefanie plans to attend USDF Breed Shows and the Young Horse Show Series with him this year.
Lee Hart has spent many years developing as a horseman by working on ranches, training horses, competing in various horse disciplines and instructing people in riding and horsemanship. He has travelled over much of the United States, as well as Europe, Australia and New Zealand conducting horsemanship clinics.
He says: “I am passionate about teaching (and learning from) horses. I am also passionate about teaching people to better read and develop a feel for their horse so they can become stronger, more confident leaders. Being a cowboy has been a passion and a dream fulfilled for me. I have been blessed to live my life as a nurturer, confidence builder and caregiver for these amazing animals that I love as well as help people achieve true horsemanship with a confident and logical approach. I call this Cowboy Logic.”
About Excel Equine, Lee says: “My wife and I are proud to feed Excel Equine to our competition horses and broodmares. I think the product is very high quality. I appreciate that it is a local, Kentucky manufactured feed. The customer service has been exceptional. We are super excited to see our horses’ progress with Excel Equine feeds.”
My name is Brent Maxwell and I’ve been training horses for over 40 years. I moved my Ohio based business to Simpsonville, Kentucky in January of 2024 to where I manage and train for Shane and Darla Leavell and Leavell Farms.
I have hauled horses for many national titles and have Congress, AQHA and NSBA champions. Outside of the training I am past president of the Ohio Quarter Horse Association and am currently chairman of the executive committee. I am also President of the Eastern Ohio Quarter Horse Association. I carry my AQHA open judges card as well as NSBA and judge across the US and internationally.
I’ve been feeding Excel Equine feed for a year now. Our show horses diets are easily managed with their products and the horses maintain their weight easily during competitions and travel. Customer service is also exceptional and any answers to my questions are just a phone call away.
When and where did you begin your Riding Career? I was four years old and I started riding at Stoneplace Stables with Angela Ariatti. I had a 13.2 pony that ran Angela over, reared up over water jumps, and was basically very naughty. I still have this pony, Rocket, and competed with her up through training level.
What was your first professional training/teaching job in the horse industry? I was a working student for Steven Bradley in 2013 in Virginia. Before that I galloped racehorses at Skylight Training Center for Ian Wilkes in 2012.
Do you have a career highlight? I won the National Junior Rider Championship CC1* in 2012 on a horse I had gotten as a yearling and trained up to that level.
Do you have a favorite horse? Two…one is Kaiser, the one that I won the Junior Rider Championship with. He is just a sweet horse. I raised him so I am just emotionally attached. The best quality horse I have worked with would be Crunchy at Stephen Bradley’s. He was imported from Germany and pretty tough to ride but a very talented eventer.
Who do you look up to the most in the horse industry? Andrea Kroll is my mentor and trainer. She has reached out to me the most over the years and has offered me the most guidance and help. She cares about me beyond the riding lesson.
What are your professional goals for the future? I would love to compete at Rolex one day. Also, simply to be able to continue having my passion be my career and how I am able to support myself. I hope to have my own barn one day and teach and train in eventing and dressage.
Any advice for those just starting out as professional trainers/instructors? Hard work and time management eventually pay off!
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