Taylor Lynn Prince and One Flashy Sensation Are Unanimous in Classic Am Trail

By: Brittany Bevis

Balancing a college workload with showing horses on a national level can definitely be a daunting task, but Taylor Lynn Prince appears to be doing just fine. Better than fine, actually, considering she was just named the unanimous World Champion this morning in Classic Amateur Trail at the 2014 APHA World Championship Show.

However, the celebration will have to be put on hold for the moment, because Prince is headed back to Texas Christian University, just down the road, to attend an afternoon class before competing in the Classic Amateur Western Riding this evening.

“I have class at 4 o’clock today, so I’ll go over there, and then I think I will go straight from class to Western Riding today,” Prince says. “It’s Global Trade, which is a major class in Fashion Merchandising.”

“It’s nerve-wracking [not being able to practice as much], but the great thing is I’ve had my horse for seven years. I know her really well and Sara [Simons] knows her like the back of her hand.”

Prince and nine-year-old “Mel” also achieved a Reserve Champion finish in Classic Amateur Showmanship and placed fourth in Classic Amateur Horsemanship earlier in the show. This unanimous win in Trail is very special, because it’s Prince’s favorite event.

“I haven’t been unanimous at the World Show since I had my last horse, ‘Macy,’ Mystical Machine,” she says. “I won Trail four times with her. Trail is my favorite class. I like that it’s hard, and I like the technical aspects of it. I like that I have to be thinking the entire time. If you win, it’s a concrete accomplishment.”

Today’s Trail course designer, Robert Dehn, served up a difficult pattern for competitors with plenty of raised poles, challenging steering combinations, and intricate maneuvering. Prince was especially pleased with Mel’s trot serpentine, which turned out to be a point deducting obstacle for many of the top competitors.

“The course was intimidating at first,” she says. “It was difficult and really tight. The next element was coming up right after you finished the one you were on. We call Mel a ‘teacup horse.’ She can get really tight and weave in and out; that definitely worked to our advantage. A lot of people had trouble with it and that was one of our best elements, so that was exciting.”

The Reserve Champion in the class today was Erin Bradshaw with John Simon. Third place was Ashley Wildes with Heza Texas Hobo. Fourth place was Desarae Gilley with A Sudden Legacy. Rounding out the top five was Jennifer Humphries with A Subtle Impulse.

Classic Amateur Trail-

1-One Flashy Sensation/Taylor Lynn Prince

2-John Simon/Erin Bradshaw

3-Heza Texas Hobo/Ashley Widles

4-A Sudden Legacy/Desarae Gilley

5-A Subtle Impulse/Jennifer Humphries

6-JZA Lil Leaguer/Tristin Morgan Chastain

7-Who Painted Me/Kimberly Love

8-Sensational Blonde/Chelsea Bain

9-Jettn Champagne Chex/Linne Beason

10-Must Be Sensational/Megan Ryden