Both Bill and Gail grew up riding and training horses and being involved in the Thoroughbred industry.  With their combined talent and experience, Bill and Gail formed Mitchell Training Center upon their marriage in 1989. Much of their Thoroughbred experience and tradition has carried over into the Mitchell’s’ current horse program today. 

As a young girl, Gail has special memories of assisting her father, a trainer, with the exercise and training duties of his Thoroughbred horses.  The late Don Emmons of Vincennes, IN  was a talented well-respected trainer, and Gail attributes much of her ability and success to him. Going through the ranks of 4-H member, leader, judge, parent and coach, Gail understands the importance of a good foundation in horses.  She has an eye for detail and especially enjoys training  “green” horses along with their riders, turning them into world-class competitors.  Life with horses, to her is more than just making a living, it is a gift that isn’t taken for granted.  Gail loves helping others to achieve their goals, and along the way, making some dreams come true.

Bill, a Lexington, KY native, spent his early years with the Thoroughbreds, as well as  showing Appaloosas and Quarter Horses, he also helped his family with the “pulling teams”.  He learned the value of “knowing” about each horse while working as an exercise rider, which later lead to the acquisition of his trainer’s license.  As a young man, the opportunity came for him to manage a Thoroughbred-breeding farm in Lexington, which proved to be very rewarding. In addition Bill began shoeing horses as a teenager. He learned the trade from his grandfather and subsequently attended Martinsville, VA Farrier School.  This combined training reinforces his belief that  “proper hoof care and shoeing makes a huge difference in how a horse travels”.  Bill has to his shoeing credit 80+ World and National Champions as well as several greats in the Thoroughbred world.   

Since the formation of Mitchell Training Center in 1989, originally located in the Evansville, Indiana area, there have been many success stories for them:

• In 1991, Bill and Gail enlarged and enhanced their training business, moving theirhome and business to Henderson, Kentucky, where they did much of the early
  training on several of the outstanding, successful horses in the Quarter and Paint
  Industry today. 

• In 2000, they were commissioned to spend a year in Australia, training and showing.  While there, they earned 18 National titles in both the Australian Quarter Horse and Appaloosa Association horse shows.

• In 2001, Mitchell Training Center moved to Gallatin, Tennessee, where they re-established a successful training business.

• They have conducted clinics for 4-H, judging teams, barn management, novice amateur clinics, and were honored to present three clinics at the Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio.

 Bill and Gail have trained World Champion Quarter Horses, Paints, Pintos and Ponies Of America, All American Quarter Horse Congress winners and have multiple honor roll winners to their credit. They are proud of their very well rounded program, meeting the needs of each individual horse and rider. The Mitchells equally take pride in their reputation of recognizing talent in green horses, turning horse projects into outstanding winners in the show pen as well as devoted companions for their owners.