Kent Ray Taylor’s philosophy on life is straightforward: you live life once, so do it well. While these words adorn motivational posters and fill the chorus of country songs, it’s rare when an individual really takes them to heart. Kent is one of the few. In every aspect of his life, Kent strives to go “all in,” to be authentic, and to live life to the fullest. It’s this passion and drive that made Kent a top AQHA competitor as a youth and amateur. That then inspired him to pursue a successful career away from the horse industry, and, now, after a 28 year hiatus, has brought him back to the show arena with a bang.

For many of us, the horse is the one constant in our busy and hectic lives. The horse carries our dreams on his back, absorbs our sorrows in his mane, and keeps our secrets hidden in his heart.

It seems impossible to lose a man whose very presence and lifetime work became part of the fabric that wove us together as an industry. But we did lose Don Trout on July 26, 2017, after a long battle with cancer.

Every once in awhile, a family will have an outlier, a kid who has a passion that no one can explain. For those of us who come from non-horsey families, the passion to ride, care for, and compete with horses can often be viewed as curious, a bit odd, and from the perspective of the bill-paying parent, somewhat horrifying with a fervent wish for a short duration