FORHORSEPEOPLE • ABOUTHORSEPEOPLE
SIDELINES JUNE 2014 71
Shay stands in front of theTroxel helmet display during anAETA
trade show.
eventually plastic injection molded parts. The company was
originally known for introducing the banana bicycle seat. Timms,
Sr., eventuallybecame theCEOof thecompanyand thebusiness
became a family-owned business.
Shay’s father, Richard Timms, Jr., studied medicine and
practiced as a physician for 25 years. He specialized in critical
care, and has taught as a research professor at The Scripps
Institute and University of California. His commitment to public
health and injury prevention kept him connected with Troxel
Company – first through the development of bicycle helmets and
then through helmets for equestrians.
The company was eventually divided into two distinct
businesses. Troxel Company is now an employee-owned entity
that remains based in Tennessee. Troxel, LLC, owned and
managedby theTimms family, is located inSanDiego,California.
“Itmade sense to spinoff thehelmet divisionandwe stillmaintain
a close relationshipwith the original company,” Shay explained.
Working as CEO of Troxel, LLC leaves Shay little time to ride,
but every now and then she enjoys a trail ride on her friend’s
horses. While she’s not a horse owner herself, she appreciates
the culture of the horse industry.
“Far and away this is the most pleasing industry to work
with than any other business environment I’ve worked in,” she
concluded. “Ultimately, I’m working with people who have a
passion for outdoors, animalsandnature. [Riders] haveagenuine
love for the industry and are passionate about the lifestyle.”
About thewriter: KatieNavarra hasworked as a freelancewriter in the horse
industry for 12 years. She has been a lifelong horse lover and recently purchased a
dunQuarter Horsemarewith hopes of re-entering the show ring in 2014.
Photos courtesy of Shay Timms
