Pushing Boundaries – Kent Taylor Returns to the Show Pen

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186 – October, 2017

BY ALISON FOSTER

Kent Ray Taylor’s philosophy on life is straightforward: you live life once, so do it well. While these words adorn motivational posters and fill the chorus of country songs, it’s rare when an individual really takes them to heart. Kent is one of the few. In every aspect of his life, Kent strives to go “all in,” to be authentic, and to live life to the fullest. It’s this passion and drive that made Kent a top AQHA competitor as a youth and amateur. That then inspired him to pursue a successful career away from the horse industry, and, now, after a 28 year hiatus, has brought him back to the show arena with a bang.

Kent can’t remember a time in his life when he didn’t love horses, but unlike many of the youth he competed with growing up, Kent wasn’t raised in the saddle. In fact, he didn’t begin riding until he was a teenager, when his parents finally gave into years of pestering and begging and surprised him with a retired Hunter/Jumper as a Christmas present. “It was only in my teenage years that I started taking riding lessons and eventually showing horses at small local shows in Arizona,” Kent remembers.

Yet, Kent was undaunted by this late start. His passion for riding, and for showing, was immediate, and he was determined to become one of the best. He says, “When I got my first Quarter Horse, I only had two or three years of youth left. I remember going to my first local ‘Blue Ribbon Show,’ and even though I was new to the sport and had so to much learn, I knew that I wanted to compete with the best – that I wanted to be as good as it was possible to be.” Kent began working with a variety of trainers, learning from each of them, and practicing with single-minded determination. Soon, he was adding classes, eventually becoming a true “all-arounder” and competing in Showmanship, Western Pleasure, Western Riding, Trail, Horsemanship, and even Equitation, Hunter Under Saddle, and Pleasure Driving.

It wasn’t long before Kent’s hard work and commitment paid off. Hauling to horse shows nearly every weekend, he established himself as a force to be reckoned with, winning all-around awards and circuit championships across the United States on his horse Count McChick. Kent’s accomplishments included winning the National All-Around title and Youth Versatility award on multiple occasions, as well as winning the Youth Horsemanship and Youth Western Riding at both the AQHA World Championships and the All-American Quarter Horse Congress. “I just loved everything about competing in all-around, and I was single-mindedly passionate about it,” he says. “I was also incredibly lucky to own incredible horses and have wonderful trainers who helped me along the way,” he says.

Click here to read the complete article
186 – October, 2017