Taylor Dixon navigates the tricky trail course aboard My Sensational Cookie in Youth Trail 14–18 to win a world championship.
Taylor Dixon lays down a sensational trail pattern with My Sensational Cookie in Youth Trail 14–18.
Jog- and lope-overs abounded in the 2011 AjPHA World Show Youth Trail 14–18 finals course, challenging riders and horses alike. Devon, Delaware, native Taylor Dixon rose to the challenge aboard 2005 sorrel overo gelding My Sensational Cookie, capturing her first world championship with the horse she's owned since January. Fifteen-year-old Taylor rides with Simons Show Horses in Aubrey Texas, as does her barnmate, reserve champion Taylor Prince. Read on as the world champion rider shares with the Paint Horse Journal her experience with "Junior" at their first Youth World Show together.
Q: Congratulations! How does it feel to win?
Taylor: Great. It was really good. I didn’t expect to do this well. This is my first world show with this horse. I’m really excited.
Q: When did you get this horse?
Taylor: I got him in January.
Q: What’s his barn name?
Taylor: Junior.
Q: Walk me through your pattern. Were there any tough spots?
Taylor: I think it went really well. It was a long pattern. I think it was a very good pattern. I think that everyone had really nice rides.
Q: What other classes have you shown in?
Taylor: I did showmanship and I’ll be doing Western pleasure.
Q: Tell me about your horse’s personality?
Taylor: He is really sweet and he’s really easy to get along with. He works really hard and he tries really hard. When you make mistakes, he always tries.
Q: What do you love about him?
Taylor: I just love his personality. He takes everything in stride. He just makes learning everything a lot easier.
Q: What was your mood this morning going in? How was he acting before the class?
Taylor: He was acting really good, which made it a lot easier to prepare for today. With his beginning, going in and him being relaxed, it made everything a lot easier.
Q: If your horse was a celebrity, who would he be?
Taylor: I would say, he would be Matthew McConaughey, because he is very handsome but he’s down to earth.
Q: How old are you?
Taylor: I’m 15.
Q: What grade are you in?
Taylor: I’m in the 9th grade
Q: Do you have any superstitions or good-luck rituals?
Taylor: I wear lucky socks.
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World Champion Stats Horse: My Sensational Cookie, 2005 sorrel overo gelding
Pedigree: Zippos Sensation x Cookie Leaguer (QH)
Exhibitor/Owner: Taylor Dixon, Dover, Delaware
Trainer: Simons Show Horses, Aubrey, Texas
Breeder: Stanley and Susan Scott, Ocala, Florida
Total Class Entries: 38
Class Sponsor: Texas Paint Horse Club
World Champion Prizes: Gist buckle, courtesy of APHA; monogramed jacket, courtesy of APHA and Tioga Territory; insulated carryall, courtesy of Paint Horse Journal; $50 APHA General Store gift certificate, courtesy of APHA; and AjPHA letter jacket patch, courtesy of APHA
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