Kathy L. Williams Tail Extensions has a new owner.

Effective today, Kelley Mundrick, of Loganville, Georgia, takes over the reins of the highly-regarded mobile vendor that is a staple at most breed shows and futurities across the United States.

“I’ve owned and operated the business for 25 years. And loved every minute of it,” Williams said. “In the early years, it allowed my son (KC Knoch) and I to be able to afford to show. As the venture grew, I became too busy to continue to show.”

Williams started her business making tail extensions for horses competing in riding events.

“I really couldn’t afford to buy tails when they became popular so I taught myself to make them,” she explained. “Soon friends and others would ask me to make them for them. It grew from there.”

Over the years, the business expanded to include the highest quality show jackets, vests and in more recent years, rail shirts.

“I think the success I have enjoyed is due to great friends in the industry who are also great customers,” Williams said.  “I really have tried to provide customer service with each sale. I never put prices on my web page because I think it is important to talk to every customer.”

Williams said she can’t even venture a guess as to how many events she has attended over the years but she knows it’s “a lot.” And now it’s time to start slowing down and to spend more time with her family. But when it came time to look toward the future, her highest priority was identifying the right person to trust with the future of the business she worked so hard to build.

She has found that in Mundrick.

“I’m sure Kelley will bring it into the new generation with the internet and social media,” she said. “She as a background in business and has many horse show friends.”

Mundrick can’t wait to get started.

“I feel like the happiest girl in the world today,” she said. “I have worked very hard for the opportunity to own this business and now I am ready for the future with it.”

Kelley has been working with Kathy and KC for the past six months, learning to make the same quality tails they have provided to the industry for decades, learning the business and meeting the customers.

“I have been shadowing Kathy at different shows this year to learn her way of doing business and interacting with customers. Kathy has also agreed to stay on and help me for another year to make the transition happen smoothly, which I see as a big plus.”

Mundrick said the mission statement of the business will stay the same: Kathy L. Williams Tail Extensions is devoted to supplying one-of-a-kind custom tail extensions and designer show clothing to the competitive equine enthusiast so that the competitor has total confidence entering the show pen.

Her goal for the next five years is to continue the success that Kathy has had with the business and to also make her proud. 

“I am excited to bring value in partnering with past and future clients of the industry that I love so much,” she said. “I also want to focus on customer satisfaction and making my business a pleasure and ease to work with for customers.”

Most things about the business will remain the same. It will remain a mobile unit will be at all the industry’s biggest events. It will still offer high quality tail extensions and the relationship with all the designers will be maintained.

“The plan is to leave the business name as Kathy L. Williams Tail Extensions for another year,” Kelley explained. “Kathy has built her brand very well and I am getting married next May so my name will be changing to Martin.  Most likely, the business name will change to Kelley M. Martin Tail Extensions to stay on branding with what Kathy has established over the years.”

Mundrick brings with her strong ties to the stock horse industry. 

She competed in American Quarter Horse Association sanctioned shows and futurities, winning Reserve Congress Championships in Hunter Under Saddle, Western Pleasure and Equitation.

I have also had both Reserve and third place placings in Hunter Under Saddle, Trail, Equitation and Western Pleasure at the NSBA World Show over the years,” Kelley said.

“Some of the amazing horses that I have been blessed to ride are homebred and raised which is an indescribable feeling,” she explained. “We have a few babies that are up and coming as well including my current show partner, a 3-year-old named ShakeYourMoonieMaker.”

Mundrick graduated from The University of Georgia in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with a focus on Family Financial Planning. She was a Division 1 NCAA athlete and competed in Horsemanship on the two-time National and four-time SEC Championship equestrian team.

Following her graduation, Kelley worked for Boehringer Ingelheim (formerly Merial) for nine years, focusing mainly on Ulcergard, Equioxx and Legend. 

“I always was in marketing but worked on multiple species during my tenure including equine, cattle and swine,” she said. “Last year I went into the dental industry and my focus was on extraoral and intraoral equipment for dentists.”

Mundrick plans to lean on her years of marketing experience in the future.

“I would like to offer more of an e-commerce website as well as highlight the designers’ one-of-a-kind clothing on social media to reach a larger audience than people just at the shows I attend as a vendor,” she said. “I will also consider adding even more disciplines or breeds to my customer base by attending their shows.”

            Although she is disappointed that the 2020 Quarter Horse Congress has been cancelled and she will miss the opportunity to meet past and future customers, Kelley is looking forward to attending the Tom Powers Christmas Challenge Dec. 12-20 in Ocala, Florida and the Gold and Gulf Coast Circuits in Tampa and Venice, Florida.

“My plan is to continue the same major events that Kathy did but potentially add some new ones as well,” she said. “Since I live in Georgia, I will look at attending more southeast shows in 2021.”

But for now, she is excited to get started and grateful for the opportunity.

“This would not be possible without the support of my fiancé Kyle Martin, my parents, Doug and Sandy Mundrick, and my future in-laws support,” she said. “The support also extends to my trainers, Lori and Andrew Augsburger, Anthony Douglas, my barn mates at Pinetree Quarter Horses and some close friends that I am forever indebted to.”

You can visit Kathy Williams Tail extensions on the web at www.kathylwilliams.com or you can call Kelley at (678) 395-1257.