Meet Alex Thaxton of Watkinsville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Thaxton.

Hi Alex, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My parents started a horse farm together before I was born, so I can truthfully say that I was raised in a barn. Growing up around horses helped me develop a strong work ethic, a love of the outdoors, and obviously a love of horses. I competed in a local Hunter/Jumper association until college, at which point I stopped competing. Toward the end of my time in college at the University of Georgia, where I majored in Art Education. I worked at a couple of different camps, finding a deep love for camp and for introducing people to horses through camp. In December 2013, I took over as the Beginner Riding Instructor at High Point Farm, working with my parents and my sister. With 12 years of experience under my belt (and counting), I feel extremely blessed by God to be able to teach other people about riding and caring for horses.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Running a horse farm and riding lesson program is expensive, exhausting, and often emotionally draining work. Horses constantly try to hurt themselves. Things break at the least opportune moments. Sometimes, the days seem endless, like there is always more to do. But at the end of the day, working with and taking care of horses, and teaching other people how to do the same, makes it all worthwhile.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
High Point Farm, founded and owned by my family, runs a boarding and training facility, as well as a riding lesson academy. I am the Academy Program Director, meaning that I run the beginner lesson program, manage the property where our lesson horses live, and run horse camps. I specialize in building horseback riders from the ground up. Most weeks, I teach 25-30 riding lessons, help with barn chores and farm maintenance as needed, ride a few times per week, manage workers, and coach students at horse shows on weekends. I am most proud of watching riders I have coached in the past begin to help with the younger, newer riders, in the same way they were helped by riders more advanced than them. As Christians, my family tries to encourage the servant leadership modeled by Jesus Christ whenever possible. Seeing riders take the time to help each other is a simple way to know that principle is being learned.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
High Point Farm is located in Watkinsville, which is over an hour from Atlanta. We enjoy being in a smaller town, away from a big city.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.highpointfarm.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highpointfarm_athens?igsh=NWRwNnJtdXpsMmJk&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1S1EPvyepU/?mibextid=wwXIfr