In Loving Memory of Multiple Congress and World Champion, Hil Have A Taco (2014-2020)
By: Brittany Bevis
Our sincerest condolences go out to AQHA amateur exhibitor, Katie Grossnickle, and family following the sudden passing of their multiple Congress and NSBA World Champion earning gelding, Hil Have A Taco. At only six years of age, the uniquely named Trail specialist had accomplished more during his young career than most horses will in a lifestyle. But more than the trophies or accolades, what made this particular horse so special is the community of people he brought together.
“My mom and I weren’t even looking for a horse,” Katie says. “We had a mare named Marilyn, that we bred and raised, and that my trainer, Brent Maxwell, was starting to show in Trail. We had all come to the conclusion that she wasn’t going to be enough for the open and amateur Trail classes, so at the 2017 Congress we talked to Kim and Shelly, the girls at R11 in Sturgis, MI. We told them that we wanted to sell her and asked if they would be interested, because she was by Too Sleepy To Zip and out of our Invitation Mare, so she had great broodmare bloodlines.”
“They were very interested in her, but they said that they had a three-year-old by Charlie Hilfiger and out of Whoz Ben Good that we should look at. Brent rode him and we immediately knew we needed him! We essentially traded Taco for Marilyn. We all saw it as a win-win, which is then how our hashtag #BestTradeEver came about.”
When Katie and Taco first became a team in October of 2017, the gelding was a three coming four-year-old with plenty of potential. He had already been started in Trail and Western Riding. But initially, the plan was to keep Taco as an investment horse that they would sell later on. However, as time progressed, it quickly became apparent that Taco was too special to let go of.
As a four-year-old, Taco won Green Junior Trail, 4 & 5-Year-Old Trail Stakes, and Amateur Trail at the 2018 Congress. He also placed in Junior Trail, Junior Western Riding, and 4 & 5-Year-Old Non Pro Trail Stakes that year as well. At the 2019 NSBA World Show, he won 4 & 5-Year-Old Open Trail, was Reserve in 4-6 BCF Non Pro Trail, and had an additional six, top ten placings.
“There wasn’t anything that horse couldn’t do!” Katie says. “He had so much try. He was truly a special horse for so many people! Everyone fell in love with him. He was for sure a once-in-a-lifetime horse.”
Sadly, the 2019 NSBA World Show was the last time that Katie was able to show Taco. “Taco was born at R11, and he had been living at the ranch since November. When it came time that he needed to be put down, we decided on a Tuesday. Since he’d been born on Taco Tuesday, hence his name, we thought it was only fitting that he leave on Taco Tuesday as well.”
Taco will be remembered not only for his excellence in the Trail pen during his promising young career, but also his larger than life personality. “He was always up to something, and it was usually something he shouldn’t be doing. He destroyed sleazies. I would go on used horse clothing sites and buy anything and everything, because they would only last one night.”
“It got to be a running joke. Have you seen Taco’s sleazy? Taco sat on another bucket and broke it. Taco ate his hay bag. Taco ate his sheet. At home, Taco would suck water into his mouth and dump it into his feed bucket so he could play in it. He had to have two sheets on at home. I found this hideous, plaid fly sheet that he loved, and he would not mess with it. So we would put that over his nice sheet so he couldn’t destroy it. He had so many toys hanging in his stall. He also liked to toss his Jolly Ball to his neighbors. He loved people and hated when he wasn’t being messed with. He was so sweet but still ornery!”
In loving memory of the one and only Hil Have A Taco.
(3/31/14- 1/21/20)
