She got her start with show horses when she placed an ad on Craig’s List looking for a trainer. Now, just a few years later, Alexandra Chavez is in the process of building one of the premier Quarter Horse breeding, training and show horse operations in the country.

Chav3z Enterprises consists of two facilities – Alex’s original home and horse farm in Paradise, Valley Arizona and the new state-of-the-art operation she’s renovating in Pilot Point, Texas.

The Pilot Point facility includes a newly remodeled show barn and office, guest lounge, mare motel, indoor and outdoor arenas, covered round pen, outdoor walker, indoor walker, equisizer, and three homes on the property.

“Our newest additions include a swimming pool, basketball court, batting cage, and over 40 mature trees,” Chavez explained. “The main focus is the horses, but I also wanted to build a fun place where my family and friends could also come and enjoy.”

Alex Chavez & Rock County Kid

Family is extremely important to Chavez. She grew up in Seattle, Washington and learned to ride with her father, who owned ranches in California, Washington and Montana. In 2003 Alexandra married professional baseball player, Eric Chavez and the couple have three children – Diego, 11; Dolce 9; and Cruz,7. They made their home in Paradise Valley weather and the baseball spring training locale made it the perfect place for them to live and raise their children. Alex bought a couple of ponies and horses for the children to enjoy. The boys drifted into sports, like their dad but Alex’s drive to improve just got stronger.

Through that Craig’s List ad, Chavez hired trainer Christy Snyder, who introduced her to American Quarter Horse Association, American Paint Horse Association and National Snaffle Bit Association competition. Since then, success has come quickly for Chavez, who has now earned Congress and NSBA World Championships (in Hunter Under Saddle and Western Pleasure), a Reserve title in Showmanship at the AQHA Level 1 Championships and numerous futurity wins with horses like The Best Sign Yet, Cruzin Softly, Pretty Assets, Hot Lopin Goodbar, Only Smokin Hot and Beautiful Maiden.

Coming almost as quickly as success in the show pen was Chavez’s longing to “get my hands dirty and become involved in the breeding side as well.”

Maggie Grandquist & Born Legacy

“That is how Chav3z Enterprises developed,” she said. “I love this industry and I want to be a part of promoting and creating some of the greatest horses in the country. I believe that by breeding for things such as movement, durability, size and trainability, I can produce horses that will go on to have long, promising show careers.”

Helping Chavez out in her mission is what she calls her “village of the best talent in the business,” including two head trainers – Troy Lehn and Maggie Grandquist; a ranch manager, Jenna Gibbs; a ranch hand, Modesto Gonzales; and her personal assistant, Brandy Button.

Lehn is a Quarter Horse Congress Champion and APHA World Champion. He trains all the Chavez all-around and Hunter Under Saddle contenders.

Grandquist, a Congress Champion and NSBA Reserve World Champion handles the training of the Western Pleasure horses.

APHA World and Reserve World Champion Jenna Gibbs serves as ranch manager. In that role, she takes care of the breeding, paperwork, selling, social media and other business that is associated with the ranch, as well as riding and helping at the shows.

“Modesto Gonzales is our ranch hand and he keeps everything running smoothly at home and at the shows,” Chavez said.

Troy Lehn

Brandy Button is Chavez’s personal assistant. She handles all the building design and improvement going on at the ranch. She also designs the Chav3z Enterprises stall fronts for the big shows.

“I have a large team, and what I believe to be some of the best in the industry,” Chavez said. “It definitely takes a village.”
Headlining this year’s show string is multiple Congress and World Champion Rock County Kid, a 2011 bay gelding by Good I Will Be and out of JDZ Madison County. Chavez purchased the 2014 NSBA Horse of the year in January and she will show him in Amateur Western Pleasure while Grandquist will present him in open events.

“He is an amazing animal that truly loves his job and the show pen,” Chavez said. “I don’t think there is a bigger character than Rocky!”

Chavez has three horses competing in Trail this year. She will show World Champion Chex Me Im Cute, a 2004 sorrel mare by Zippo Pine Chex out of Cuiton Magnolia Bars, in Amateur and Novice Amateur Trail. Lehn will show her in open events, along with Congress Champion Only In Showbiz, a 2007 brown gelding by Invitation Only out of Show Diva. And this year, Lehn has also started Reserve World Champion Western Pleasure horse Zippin A Breeze in Trail. The 2013 sorrel gelding is by Invitation Only out of Zippin The Breeze. He will also continue to be shown in Western Pleasure events by Grandquist and Chavez.
And, Chavez will show Only In Showbiz (affectionately known as Juan) in Amateur Western Riding.

Also joining the team is The Al Capone, a 2015 gray stallion by Allocate Your Assets and out of Only Blue Couture.

Jenna & Jackson Gibbs

“I purchased him in April from Wendy Whittington,” Chavez said. “Keith Miller started him, and he will continue to stay under his guidance for the remainder of the year. I fell in love with him the moment I saw him. He has so much cadence and natural ability. I really feel that this young stallion will make a great addition to my breeding program next year.”

Parker will be shown this year at major horse shows with Miller in open Hunter Under Saddle events and Chavez in Non-Pro classes.

The Born Legacy, Chavez’s 16.2-hand, 2013 bay stallion, by Good I Will Be and out of Pretty Hot In Sonny, just completed his first year as a breeding horse.

“We were fortunate enough to breed him to some outstanding mares this season, including Congress and NSBA World Champion Hot Lopin Goodbar, Congress and AQHA World Champion Beautiful Maiden, and multiple Congress Champion Pretty Assets, just to name a few,” Chavez said. “We couldn’t be more excited to see his babies hit the ground in 2017.”

The Born Legacy has always been special to Chavez. In 2016, he was the Hylton Maiden 3 & Over Western Pleasure Reserve Champion with Grandquist and placed in the top five at both the AQHA and NSBA World shows in Green Western Pleasure.
This year he has already won circuit championships in Amateur and Open Performance Halter Stallions, as well as in Junior Trail.

The Al Capone & Keith Miller

“He continues to amaze us with his athletic capabilities and I believe that his future as an all-around stallion and producer looks very promising,” Chavez said. “He has a presence about him, and he demands your attention. He is extremely kind and beautiful to look at, which helps. He is also quite the clown around the barn and is usually getting into anything and everything within his reach.”

Although Chavez enjoys showing horses she is really enthusiastic about her breeding program.

“This year we have some exceptional crosses which include Hot Lopin Goodbar x Invitation Only, JDZ Madison County x Good I Will Be (full siblings Rock County Kid), Only Ever After X No Doubt Im Lazy, and we crossed my mare, Beautiful Maiden, with Its A Southern Thing and These Irons Are Hot,” Chavez said. “I thoroughly enjoy breeding different crosses each year to see what works well! I love the excitement that comes along with breeding and raising the babies.”

Chavez is also passionate about supporting and building the youth programs.

“My children are involved with the horses and I feel that it teaches them compassion, patience, and responsibility, among other things,” she explained. “Giving back to the industry that has given so much to me, and being involved in promoting the future of the industry, is fulfilling and very exciting at the same time.”