Longtime Amateur competitor Kent Ray Taylor of Mesa, Arizona is joining forces with trainer Blake Weis of Moberly, Missouri. The new partnership, KRT Show Horses presented by Blake Weis, will be based in Pilot Point, Texas starting in January.
Taylor has owned and shown multiple Congress and AQHA World Show Champions including winning the Amateur All-Around at the AQHA World Show in 1987 with Imperial Bid. Some of his other famous horses include Count McChick, Fancy Career, Zippopotamus and current mounts, Rock County Kid and Dont Think Twice.
Weis is one of the industry’s hottest young all-around trainers with multiple Congress and AQHA World Championships under his belt with horses like two-time Superhorse winner, Snap Krackle Pop, Dunit On The Range, The Extreme Machine, Cool Cruzen Lady and So Good To B Me. His specialties include the trail and western riding. Weis won the AQHA World Championship in the Junior Trail an impressive three years in a row (2015, 2016, 2017) on three different horses. This year, Blake won the Junior Western Riding at the AQHA World Championship Show with Cool Kruzen Lady for the second year in a row.
GoHorseShow asked Taylor how this new partnership with Weis was formed. “What was so awesome is that I did not solicit him, rather he approached me this year at the Red Bud Spectacular in Oklahoma City. Blake said that he had heard that I wanted to hire a personal trainer,” Kent told us. “I like having my team, and I love being back showing horses. So, we talked once a month about what we each wanted, needed and what our goals were. And we kept aligning more with each meeting.”
Taylor and Weis (pictured right with 2015 and 2016 AQHA Superhorse Snap Krackle Pop) sealed the deal in November at the AQHA World Show. “Halfway through the AQHA World Show, I finally submitted him my offer which, we really crafted together, and he accepted. I am so excited to be a team, so KRT Show Horses presented by Blake Weis was officially formed,” Taylor says. “We will be renting a facility in the Pilot Point, Texas area. I want all my horses in the same city, and now it’s going to happen. Blake will be responsible for all my horses except my hunt seat horse (All Good) that will remain with Beth Case or my futurity western pleasure horse if and when I buy one of those.”
Weis, who is fresh off the 2018 AQHA World Show having won a gold globe in the Junior Western Riding and silver globes in both Senior Trail and Senior Western Riding adds, “I’m excited and ready for something new and to grow as a person. It’s happening so fast, and I plan to be in Texas by January 1st. Kent is great to work with from a business aspect because he wants to know where I want to be 20 years down the road, not just next year. He is very interested in helping me develop a successful life plan.”
The agreement allows Weis to have five additional customers in the barn including Jane Humes, Caroline Cavallo, Rhonda Wade, Giorgia Medows and Twylla Brown. Weis explains, “I’ll still be working closely with my mother, Kendra, and some of the horses will be going back and forth to Missouri. I look forward to providing more personal time and focus on these select clients.”
We asked Taylor why he picked Weis for this new venture. “What I love about Blake is that he is fun, communicates great, he is honest and he lets me be me without trying to control what I do. He is always positive on my riding and showing talent. He has made my two mares more incredible than ever. I can’t wait for us to show them next year. They are so broke, mature and talented.”
Taylor will be showing his three horses, Rock County Kid (pictured left), Dont Think Twice and Believe It Or Not in the all-around events while Weis will show them in the trail and western riding. Taylor says his goals for next year are the same every time he shows, “to have fun and do the best we can.”
Kent would like to wish everyone the best of luck in 2019. “Please remember to never take anything for granted. These horrific California fires have reminded me of that.”
Photos © Shane Rux and Hollie Byers
