Ken Eppers has a reputation, and it's a good one. He is known in the reining horse industry as a trainer, showman, coach - an all-around, knowledgeable horseman. Since Star Ranch, Aubrey, Texas is dedicated to the advancement of the sport of reining, Ken's position as Resident Trainer is a perfect match.

Ken made his connection with good horses at an early age. He grew up on Northern Pump Farm, just north of Chicago, Ill. His father managed the 4300 acre cattle ranch that had 1300 purebred Hereford mother cows and all the trimmings. They worked their cattle on horseback. You would think that cutting would have been his sport of choice, but in the mid 1960's, Ken turned his attention to reining and he has never looked back.

Ken went to work for Dean Ames. Together, they hauled Gypsy Chips Cody and Tookies Two to AQHA Honor Roll titles in Jr. and Sr. Reining. It was the start of a long and successful career, highlights of which include the 1999 Saddlesmith World Championship and NRHA Open Reserve World Champion title on Skeets Peppy and his 2002 NRHA Derby Intermediate Open win and 2002 AQHA Reserve World Championship in Junior Reining on Catomic. Ken's NRHA Lifetime Earnings are in excess of $233,696!

Ken has an eye for a good horse. He has selected, trained and shown such standouts as Lil Peppys Sugar Bar, Smart Little Jewel and Smart Sugar Doc. He guided the initial purchase of, then trained and competed on, Skeets Peppy. They placed 5th in the 1998 NRHA Futurity. The stallion is currently making an impact as a breeding sire.

Smart Like Juice was bred to be a cutting horse, top and bottom, yet Ken saw the potential in the stallion when he encouraged Justin Zimmerman to buy him at the 1996 NCHA Sale in Fort Worth, Texas. Ken and Smart Like Juice were 7th in the 1997 NRHA Futurity. Smart Like Juice has since become an NRHA Million Dollar Sire.

Early in his career, Ken became highly regarded as a coach. He influenced the show ring careers of many prominent non-pro competitors such as Jerry Moncada, Richie Greenberg, Mike Simmons Sr., Mike Simmons, Jr., Adam Donahue and Justin Zimmerman. His wife Nancy is a successful non-pro reiner and his daughter, Valerie is a successful open rider.

At Star Ranch, Ken Eppers will be training young prospects, maintaining finished horses and showing everything from aged event horses to USEF international qualifiers. He will also be coaching and sharing his knowledge with non-pro riders. His varied talents fit the bill.