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For the complete photo essay of my visit, refer to the Bits N' Bunny Facebook Page

My deep desire to study and observe horseracing has unimaginably brought me up close and personal, to a place where the hopes and dreams of today’s thoroughbred horseracing begin.

 

Taylor Made, located in Nicholasville, Kentucky, graciously extended an opportunity to me to visit their incredible facility. Taylor Made is a brilliant balance of modern day thoroughbred sales and family farm.

My parents with their continual love, support and guidance, have and will always be an influence throughout my life, which is not unlike Joe Taylor’s impact on the lives of his sons Duncan, Ben, Frank and Mark. This became evident to me upon being introduced to Mark Taylor. Not even five minutes had passed when he spoke fondly of his late father.As written in Taylor Made literature, “Lessons learned from their father, legendary horseman Joe Taylor, that honesty, hard work, superior horsemanship, quality horses and quality people are the keys to long-term success.”I had the privilege of witnessing this in action.

At the dawn of major syndications in the 1970’s, new investors were purchasing broodmares to support the stallions in which they owned shares.As a result, stabling and pasture space began to run scarce at the major breeding farms.Joe Taylor’s oldest son, Duncan, saw the opportunity to board overflow mares booked to Gainesway stallions on a small farm that was owned by his father, who held the position of stallion manager at Gainesway.

At nineteen years old, Duncan Taylor, with his younger brothers joining the business, began expanding his boarding farm to include services that prepare the boarded mares’ foals for public auction.Taylor Made originally sold a mere three horses in their first ever consignment. The sales agency quickly became popular, selling three horses for one million dollars in its first five years and eventually selling $1.7 billion worth of horses since its first consignment in 1976.

In 1997, they opened their doors for stallions by welcoming Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champion, Unbridled’s Song as their first stud to stand as a Taylor Made Stallion.Their stallion division would be the home of legends and greats such as Artax, Saint Ballado, and Real Quiet.Though Saint Ballado was said to have a temperamental disposition, I was informed that he was an amiable stallion during his time at Taylor Made.

With laser-like focus on the pursuit of assisting customers towards success in the horseracing industry, Taylor Made provides its customers with a team of specialists to ensure the best care for the horses and strive for the best possible opportunities to create a positive financial outcome.It has been estimated that the Taylor Made crew has a total of four hundred years of combined experience.

Taylor Made sits on the tip of the sword of thoroughbred horseracing, constantly setting high standards of integrity and excellence that ripples throughout the industry as the ideal way of doing business. It is impossible not to realize this upon visiting their farm.

 

 

The Visit

Upon my arrival at Taylor Made, I was warmly met by their Stallion Executive Assistant, Tina Miller, who suggested I fill my pockets with peppermints before we head up to see the “boys”.As we walked up the stone pathway heading towards the stallion complex, you first pass through the farm cemetery, reminding us of the horses who have helped weave the tapestry that is now Taylor Made.

Finally reaching the top of the hill, surrounded by the Stallion Complex, I was faced with the sight of a beautiful chestnut with a white star on his face being led towards me.Eskendereya!The hot summer day cannot take credit for my sweating palms and beating heart at that moment.This magnificent horse that I have admired from afar was now within reach of my own hands. My eyes cast over his handsome red face and we were no longer strangers.

 

Eskendereya not only captured my heart with his spirit, but also impressed me with his physical size, strong legs, and level of maturity that will demand respect in the breeding shed.The promise of Eskendereya’s legacy will begin its journey with his first crop of foals in 2012.

The time came to say goodbye to Eskendereya, “Until we meet again my new friend.”Watching him walk down the path to his barn, is a moment that will be engrained in my memory for a lifetime, because waiting in the distance I could see Unbridled’s Song, the king of Taylor Made.The fleeting moment was surreal, Eskendereya and Unbridled’s Song gracing me with their presence in this storybook like setting.This was my reality.This is what teenage girls dream of!

 

 

My mother put her arm around me and whispered, “Look who is coming to see you.”Unbridled’s Song is a horse with great accomplishments both on the racetrack and in the breeding shed.None of that mattered.What I saw before me was the single most beautiful sight ever before my eyes.He is what fantasies of winged horses with magical powers are made from, an unearthly beauty.Dripping with elegance, his long neck stretched out from his strong back reaching for a peppermint.The stallion projected an air of nobility, leaving me reserved as I stood beside him. Respectfully touching his shoulder, I was mesmerized by the mirror-like shine of his coat that has grown white over time.It was a true honor to have met Unbridled’s Song.

 

 

Shackelford’s sire, Forestry, was enjoying his day grazing in a paddock, quarantined before he ships to Argentina for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season.Not compromising his security, it was a look but don’t touch situation.He ventured over to the fence to “check us out”, and his beautiful face displayed that signature blaze which he passes on to many of his progeny.

 

 

 

Old Fashioned and Northern Afleet were turned out in their side by side paddocks hanging out nearby one another.Once Old Fashioned heard the crumple of a peppermint wrapper, he wasted no time in abandoning his stablemate.

It was time to switch gears and head to the broodmare divisions. I was overwhelmed by the acres of green rolling hills bordered by black fencing.The mares and their foals dotted the landscape enjoying a peaceful time together as mommy and baby, with the nuisance of the flies being their only concern.I’m sure there were some future greats in my sights, but I only saw little, sweet, sugar babies.

 

 



 

 

Tina took me searching for the 2010 Kentucky Oaks placer, and Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint third placer, Evening Jewel.Not being in foal, she shared a paddock with another mare who did not have a foal on the ground.I not only found her conformationally impressive, but also she has a charming look and personality.What a surprising treat to meet this accomplished mare, and real sweetie to boot.

We gladly hopped back into the car to head over to the Yearling complex.I don’t know who invented air conditioning, but I feel a deep desire to send someone a Thank You card!The heat that day was pushing the thermometer into the high nineties.

The yearlings were being hosed down and returned to their large stalls that were deeply bedded with clean straw.A box fan hung on each door and every stall front was labeled with the horses’ relevant information on a white board.I found it so interesting to stroll through the aisle, read all the crosses, and see the result of that breeding. I saw Forestry babies with those big blazes, Tiznow, Distorted Humor, Medaglia d’Oro, Unbridled’s Song, Songandaprayer, Horse Greeley, and more.A buffet of bloodlines!

 

The yearlings represent the end of the long wait for Taylor Made.Breeding the mares, foaling and raising healthy, strong candidates for public auction is a journey that has required a tremendous amount of manpower and luck.Each yearling I saw had all their ducks-in-a-row, ready to go to the sale, hopefully to begin a prosperous career for their new owner.

The meticulous care that Taylor Made provides their horses is amazing when seen firsthand. They rub mud on foals’ legs, which not only keeps them cool to fight off inflammation, but also keeps them from stomping to combat the irksome flies. Not once did I see manure in any of the stalls and barn aisles were constantly blown clean.The best example I can provide to explain Taylor Made’s gold standard of attention to detail is the gravel walkways leading up to the barn entrances are raked into a checkerboard pattern. Since arriving back home, I’ve been half expecting my mother to suggest to me that I rake the areas in front of our chicken coop and goat paddocks in that fashion!

 

Two things fuel the engine of Taylor Made: the horses and the people.The spirit of Taylor Made is represented in every person I saw.One could imagine any of these people being a great neighbor.I recognized their friendliness and positive energy while doing any task as it is a value that my parents work hard to instill in me.

Yes, I unabashedly relished my visit to Taylor Made!Along with the obvious star struck moments, there was another feeling that took me a few days to identify correctly: comfortable.Okay everyone, not a like a sofa!Sometimes when I’m learning about or watching horseracing, there are those moments that I am uncomfortable about what I am hearing or seeing.It is usually a result of people just wanting to “get it done”, taking short cuts.However, Taylor Made’s DNA is drenched in the “get it right” factor which seeps into every corner and crevasse of this farms existence.

 

Unbridled's Song