Sixteen year-old Taylor Clark of Bonifay, Florida is surrounded by beautiful beaches and scenery but her current passion and favorite pastime is showing her long-time partner, Hot N Zippo.
Clark says that her 16 year-old bay gelding by Radical Rodder and out of Make Mine A Zippo by Zippo Pine Bar is very inquisitive and loves being around people. Taylor shows “Doc” in the 14-18 All-Around events, but her strongest classes would be showmanship, western pleasure and horsemanship. They have also recently added trail, western riding and equitation.
“I have been involved with horses all of my life. My parents were team ropers and had bought a retired pleasure mare to train for roping, but, after riding her a few times, my mom caught the show fever and that’s how it began for me,” Clark recalls. “I had a few hunter jumper ponies and even showed my dad’s roping mare in the walk trot at open shows. I also showed my mom’s friend, Daphne Downard’s horse, Eternal Smokey Sun, until my parents purchased Hot N Zippo for me when I was ten years-old. I have been showing him ever since!”
The duo has placed in the Top Five and Top Ten multiple times at the Congress in Horsemanship and Western Pleasure. They have earned their Youth Performance Championship, Youth Championship, Superiors in Showmanship, Horsemanship, and Western Pleasure, as well as, numerous All-Around titles. Most recently, Clark and Doc won the 14-18 All Around at the Region 10 Experience with Championships in Performance Geldings and Western Pleasure and a Reserve Championship in Horsemanship.
“I enjoy the competition. I love going out there with Doc and doing our best to perform well together,” says Clark. “I also enjoy traveling and meeting new people at the shows.”
Taylor and Hot N Zippo are under the guidance of Jamie Higgins from Forsyth, Georgia.
Taylor mentions that she likes that Jamie has an easy going personality and how he cares for the
horses in his barn. “I never have to worry about Doc being with him
because he ensures that he stays ‘Fat and Happy!’ and that we are ready
show!”
Higgins also adds his thoughts about Taylor, “She has so
much natural talent. She really understands what I tell her to do and
she does it. She makes my job easier, and she has that little bit extra
that makes her a winner.”
Clark’s tells us that her favorite show is the Congress and her proudest equine accomplishment was the first year she showed in Columbus in October of 2008. She placed third in Novice Youth 13 and Under Horsemanship, fifth in Novice Youth 13 and Under Western Pleasure and made the finals in Novice Youth 13 and Under Showmanship.
“I was thrilled because most people show there for years and never get their name called out, so this was a huge accomplishment for my horse and me,” says the now senior in high school.
The avid photographer who has contributed to GoHorseShow.com’s candids and water sports lover said that last year when Doc became ill was one of the most difficult challenges she had ever been through.
“Doc became sick last spring with salmonella toxicity. The vet was surprised that he was still alive; and after five months of recovery, it just shows how big this horse’s heart is in his will to live, show, and perform,” Taylor told GoHorseShow. “Ever since then, it’s made me really appreciate every ride that we have together.”
Like any competitor, Taylor says that she would love to place at the Youth World and win at the Congress. She hopes to ride on a collegiate equestrian team for a Division 1 college and pursue a degree in Animal Science. Clark would like to thank her parents, trainers and everyone who’s helped and supported her throughout the years.
Click here to view Taylor’s ad in the June 2012 issue of GoMag.
