About
Team Troxler Arabians
During the past 20 years, we've each brought unique strengths and talents to Team Troxler Arabians, creating a challenging, safe, and fun environment. Committed to developing creative training programs to suit every individual - equine and human alike -, we believe:
- There is no short cut to good training
- Working with these magnificent animals every day is a privilege
- There's no bigger thrill than finding the right horse for the right rider
Team Troxler Bios:
Mike | Kathy | Mercedes Powers, Jamie Mobley & Morgan Tyler
Mike Troxler
Mike brings a knock-out one-two punch to Team Troxler Arabians that simply can't be found in many training facilities. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York City, Mike has a deep, extensive background in graphic design and multimedia. Add in the fact that he also has 20+ years in the Arabian horse industry - and you've got a powerful on-site training and marketing department. Having an on-site graphics department is a huge advantage. Mike is a skilled photographer and videographer, who can incorporate raw media into printed brochures and posters, as well as develop and edit professional, quality DVDs. In addition to handling all of the on-site marketing for Team Troxler Arabians, Mike is also available to hire for farm shoots and commercial photography. Click here to see an example of his photography, videography and web site development.
In 1982, when Mike and Kathy were married, Mike initially filled the role of driver and support staff at the shows. Through dedication and hard work, Mike has since assumed the lead role when it comes to starting the young horses at Team Troxler, and he is continually refining his skills in the round pen and show ring. Mike loves showing either western or english and is a terrific instructor!


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Kathy Troxler
Growing up an Air Force brat, Kathy Troxler knew that finding a pony in the yard on Christmas morning just wasn't going to happen. Moving every 2-3 years and living on Air Force bases just wasn't conducive to horse ownership. Fortunately her love of horses was genetic. Kathy's dad
, Elmer - a city boy - took every opportunity to play cowboy in the suburbs of Canonsburg, PA and always told his daughters that when the time was right, horses would be in their future. The first opportunity came in Edwards AFB, CA, when Kathy was five. The photo below shows her early affinity to not just working horses, but working obstacles - perhaps an early foreshadowing to the trail division she enjoys so much today. Then there was a horseless spell as the family (which by now included sister, Sharon) moved from assignment to assignment. The "horse bug" never
abated, and finally the family settled in horse-friendly Colorado Springs, CO. From there the story is a familiar one to any horse owner. One pony led to another...which led to a horse...that led to more horses... and trucks...and trailers and horse property.
Early on, Kathy and her sister Sharon assumed a teacher/student relationship, as Kathy read all of the horse books and tried out the theories on Sharon. So, we can either chalk it up to innate talent as an instructor, or an unusually strong sister relationship (or both), but Kathy's first student is one of her ongoing successes. From gymkhana pony, Grey Dawn, to their newest mare, Bey Cali, Kathy and Sharon continue to enjoy the challenge of developing horses to their full potential. Having had a lifetime to practice on Sharon, Kathy has become a trainer whose strong communicating skills definitely enhance the program at Team Troxler Arabians.
| Riding = A Lifetime of Learning |
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2007 |
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In 1976, under Kathy's coaching, Sharon and Gray Dawn won the CCHA All-Around Hi Point for the 10 & Under age division.
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In 2007, when Kathy matched Sharon and Bey Cali as a team, they went Top Ten at Scottsdale and earned multiple Reserve Champions at the Region 8 Championship Show. |
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Kathy also credits her father, Elmer, with the fact that Team Troxler Arabians is known as a barn whose clients genuinely seem to have fun competing. Kathy says, "In all the years of hauling us to horse shows, I can only remember him asking two questions after any class. Did you have fun? Did you do your best? Somehow, without him ever actually saying it, we knew that if we'd developed an "attitude", it would have been the last horse show we went to. Only two things were asked of us. To have fun and to be good sportsmen. It's this legacy from Dad that I hope to continue and encourage in everyone who comes to us".
While her father was a strong influence at the in-gate and ring side, mother, Patty, was the underlying support system and often part of the very machinery that enabled those early shows and gymkhanas to happen. All horse competitions -- from the smallest, local gymkhana to the largest national event -- rely on tireless volunteers. "In the early years, Mom was the entry-taker, timer, & point keeper", recalls Kathy. It is her example that now inspires Kathy and Mike to give back to the horse show community by working as volunteers within the Arabian horse show community.
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Mercedes Powers, Jamie Mobley & Morgan Tyler
The clients and trainers may be in center ring, but anyone involved with horse showing knows that it is the support staff behind the scenes that make everything work like a well-oiled machine. Fact: Anytime a trainer leaves to go to a show, they have to be able to do so knowing that the horses remaining at home are in extremely capable hands. Meet the ladies who keep Team Troxler running.
Mercedes Powers, a senior at Rampart High School, is active in DECA and is an avid skier. As if that weren't enough to keep her busy, most afternoons and evenings you can find Mercedes at the Team Troxler barn, where she feeds, cleans, grooms and exercises the horses. Says Kathy, "We'd love to start bringing Mercedes with us to more horse shows, but our challenge is that we haven't figured out yet how to clone her yet - and she's just so valuable to us at home."
Jamie Mobley knows the ins and outs at Team Troxer as well as anyone. Having lived with Mike and Kathy for the last 7 years, Jamie is familiar
with every aspect of Team Troxler. Through the years, she's moved through the ranks of cleaning stalls, feeding and taking care of the barn, grooming and showing several horses at the Class A level, including her beloved mare, Dee. Still an active member of the Team Troxler team, Jamie is now a full-time student at UCCS and a member of the Army ROTC. Her experiences wrestling baby horses and driving the tractor at Team Troxler might have given her some advantages in facing the physical challenges of being in the Army, but one thing's for sure - Jamie is too determined not to succeed at anything she puts her mind to. Hooh-rah, Jamie Rae!
Morgan Tyler began taking lessons at Team Troxler Arabians when she was 10 years
old. Roll your mouse over the photo below to see how much she's grown. Now a senior at Hanover High School, Morgan is the ultimate student athlete. Whether she's riding and competing in the show ring, driving the lane for a lay-up in basketball, or studying for an exam, Morgan is driven to excel. Since even Morgan hasn't mastered a way to be three places at one time, she hasn't been riding as much lately. As captain of the Hanover girls volleyball and basketball teams, Morgan has focused her energies on successfully leading the Hanover through the last several seasons, but she still finds time to help at the barn and is a valued member of our team.