Long-time breeder and Non-Pro competitor Susan Scott of Haylo Farms started attending Quarter Horse Shows in 1966. After turning 16, she traveled to the shows in her midnight blue Oldsmobile convertible and matching two-horse inline trailer. Scott competed in the pleasure, halter, and western riding with her Quarter Horse mare, appropriately named, Tammy Wynette.
“Of course, back then if you leaned and kicked hard and were lucky enough for your horse to change leads, you won the Western Riding,” Susan fondly recalls. Back in the day, Susan was known to have quite a bit of fun and there are numerous stories floating around. One story involved Susan missing a turn when traveling with trainer Joey Shortino and friends ending up in the Cumberland Mountains of West Virginia. The trip was only supposed to be for the weekend and ended up being six weeks traveling to different horse shows across the country.
According to Dianne Eppers, the Director of the NSBA, they started keeping track of money earnings in
1985. This past year, Dianne informed Susan that she was nearing the
$250,000 mark in NSBA money earnings and that she would be the first Non
Pro to reach that mark.
In August of 2011, Susan will be the first Non-Pro inducted into the
newly created Quarter Million Dollar Club at the banquet held during the
NSBA World Show. This is a new club that NSBA has formed that is
separate from the Hall of Fame. Susan will now have to be nominated for
the Hall of Fame. As well as being a top competitor, the Scott’s were
also leading breeders in the Quarter Horse industry for several years.
Allison Harris, who is Carol Harris’s daughter and Susan Scott’s best friend for over 40 years, says that she is very proud of Susan on winning this award. “She has definitely earned it.,” she said. Harris goes on to say, “And about those past wild stories you have heard about when Susan and I were younger–I have been put under a gag order by Susan’s husband, Stanley, to not mention any of our wild stories and since I work for both of them, I don’t want to lose my job. But, there are some humdingers!”……Oh well, we tried!! But, GoHorseshow.com did get some great family pictures of Susan and a few back in the day when she first started showing, and the picture of Susan, an ultimate animal/dog lover, with one of her puppies. (see pictures below)
Due to her doctors advice, Susan quit riding and decided to just show in longe line classes only. This year because of a foot problem Susan missed many longe line classes and knew she wouldn’t be able to reach the $250,000 mark. Against doctors’ orders, she decided to attempt riding in the western pleasure classes again. Being able to reach this milestone was too tempting for her to pass up. This past summer she rode for the first time in two years at the Reichert Celebration. “I got on five minutes before I showed and my horse was wonderful,” says Susan. “I can say that I still have the same amount of pain that made me quit two years ago. I love watching Nancy and Stanley (her husband) ride and show, but it has been really hard for me to not participate and show like I have been able to in the past.”
Susan is a long time diabetic who relies on an insulin pump. She has endured two broken femurs, quadruple bypass surgery, and almost lost her foot due to poor circulation which resulted in her having leg bypasses in the late 90s. It is an ongoing debate at the stalls as to how they are going to get Susan on her horse. As she laughs and says “It takes a crane, three trainers, a step stool, and many other supportive friends and family members to help her get on her horse.” Susan wants to thank all the trainers, judges and friends that have helped her through the years to be able to achieve this goal. Now, she is trying acupuncture to see if that helps ease her pain and depending upon how she feels, Susan may continue riding even though she has officially reached the $250,000 mark in money earnings.
Haylo Farm, located in Ocala, Florida, currently has approximately 150 horses. We asked Susan if they were cutting down on the number of horses at her farm, and she laughed, “We actually have been trying to cut down and the number of horses are less then usual,” she said. “We have been lucky enough to have many great horses and been involved with many great trainers though the years.”
Some of her favorite horses include, Forever Zippo, Hubba Hubba Huntin, Huntin for Chocolate, Mr After Shock, Docs Outta Town (pictured right), and, also Huntin For Money who she raised. Her favorite win was with Forever Zippo when they won the Amateur Western Pleasure at the Congress. “There were over 180 entries. It was the first time I had won the Amateur Western Pleasure, and they awarded a trailer at the end of the class. It was a lot of fun, and one of my favorite wins.” Her daughter, Nancy Wilkerson is also following in her mother’s footsteps. Nancy just won the Amateur Western Pleasure this year at the Congress with Troubles A Blazin.
“It has been a lot of fun over the years. I loved riding horses and being able to teach them different things,” Susan said. “I also like to see them go on to new owners and succeed in the show arena. Horses are my passion, and I am glad I have been able to stay involved.”
