Modernizing a Legacy System to Power a World-Class Thoroughbred Operation
Taylor Made Farm is a family-owned thoroughbred management company based in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Founded on the principle that the customer comes first, the business employs roughly 125 people and manages between 600 and 700 horses at any given time across its 1,600-acre property. The company provides a comprehensive suite of services — from stallion selection consulting and nutrition management to public auction support and private horse sales — helping clients manage and grow their thoroughbred portfolios. "We're a full-service thoroughbred industry company that is really focused on taking care of our customers," says Mark Taylor, President and CEO.
The Challenge A 20-Year-Old System Holding the Business Back
As Taylor Made grew, its existing horse management software — a legacy system in place since the early 2000s — increasingly became a liability. What had once served the company's needs could no longer keep pace with the evolving demands of the business or its customers. Staff across departments constantly ran into bottlenecks. The system was never designed for the level of customization the business required, yet years of workarounds had made it slow, cumbersome, and frustrating for everyday users. The inability to surface real-time data or meaningful management dashboards left leadership flying blind on key operational metrics.
The stakes were high. In a relationship-driven, high-value industry like thoroughbred horse management, operational friction translates directly into customer dissatisfaction — and ultimately, lost business. The decision was made: the legacy system had to go, and a ground-up replacement was needed. The Challenge Continued "Since we were basically trying to customize something that was never meant to be customized, we finally got to the point where we said: this is really inefficient. It's affecting the customer experience. It's affecting our team's ability to do their jobs." — Jerry Felix , CFO, Taylor Made Farm
Taylor Made was introduced to Leaf Software through a trusted vendor relationship. The selection process was not without apprehension — Mark Taylor openly admits he had accumulated significant "scar tissue" from years of software vendors over-promising and under-delivering. Selecting a Partner "So many of them have told us they'll do this, they'll do that — promise you the sun and the moon — and then you get in there and it's slow service, slow response, and all of a sudden their passion for helping you fulfill your goal has really waned." — Mark Taylor , President & CEO, Taylor Made Farm Despite that skepticism, the team — guided by IT Director Chase Irwin — chose Leaf. What set Leaf apart wasn't just their technical capabilities, but their cultural alignment with Taylor Made's own customer-first values. The company was looking for a partner who would treat them as a priority, engage deeply with their business, and remain consistently responsive over the long term.
The Solution: TMC
A Custom Platform Built from the Ground Up Leaf developed TMC (Taylor Made Connect), a bespoke platform designed specifically around the operational realities of Taylor Made's business. Rather than forcing the company into an off-the- shelf solution, Leaf invested the time to understand the business from the inside out — learning the workflows, the language, and the nuances of thoroughbred management. The result is a system that touches every part of the operation. TMC functions as a mini-ERP as well as a comprehensive CRM, bringing together all customer accounts, contacts, notes, and history into a single unified database. Crucially, it connects teams across departments in real time — giving every user visibility into what others are doing and enabling seamless collaboration. Key Capabilities TMC handles the complete quote-to-cash cycle, supporting Taylor Made through each stage of the horse sales journey — from a horse's entry into a public auction all the way through transfer of ownership. The platform also manages private sale transactions, tracking opportunities when owners wish to buy or sell horses directly through Taylor Made. For leadership, TMC delivers the data visibility that was sorely lacking before. Management dashboards provide real-time metrics and reporting, giving executives a holistic view of operations and enabling data-driven decision-making. The system also serves as the connective tissue between departments, ensuring that finance, sales, client services, and operations are all working from the same source of truth.
Operational Efficiency and Employee Morale The impact of TMC has been felt across the organization. Employees who previously spent their days hitting dead ends in a clunky, outdated system now have tools that actually support their work. Morale has improved measurably, and the company is already exploring Phase 2 capabilities that go beyond what was originally envisioned. Results "We've in a certain way fixed their jobs. They used to just constantly be hitting walls that were slowing them down, stopping their progress. Now our people are a lot happier." — Jerry Felix , CFO A Partnership That Delivers Perhaps the most striking outcome isn't a software feature — it's the relationship itself. Leaf became so embedded in Taylor Made's operations that the team describes them as feeling like part of the family. Leaf's responsiveness, follow-through, and genuine investment in Taylor Made's success stood in sharp contrast to previous vendor experiences. For Taylor Made, the partnership with Leaf represents more than a technology upgrade — it is a long-term strategic relationship built on shared values, mutual trust, and a commitment to continuous improvement. "I would really stick my neck out and advise anybody that called me: this is a company you can trust, and they're going to come through and deliver what they promise." — Mark Taylor , President & CEO
Looking Ahead
With Phase 1 of the TMC implementation complete and the core platform stabilized, Taylor Made is now exploring Phase 2 enhancements. Additional capabilities within the platform — some not even on the original roadmap — are being evaluated to further streamline operations, deepen customer relationships, and sustain Taylor Made's position as a premier thoroughbred management company.
As Chase Irwin puts it, every day at Taylor Made brings a new challenge. With Leaf as a technology partner, the farm now has the tools — and the team — to meet those challenges head-on.
MODERNIZING A LEGACY SYSTEM TO POWER A WORLD-CLASS THOROUGHBRED OPERATION
Client
Taylor Made Farm — Nicholasville, Kentucky Thoroughbred Horse Management & Sales ~125 employees, 1,600-acre farm, 600–700 horses
Industry
Company Size Partner
Leaf Software
Solution
TMC — Custom ERP & CRM Platform Phase 1 complete; Phase 2 underway
Phase
Watch the full Success Story
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