A little over 10 years ago, William Taylor borrowed a stock trailer and travelled to Centerville to buy some horses. He purchased seven animals on that trip, the last of which was an unremarkable 2-year-old that he picked up for only $300. The brown gelding was the last one to squeeze on the trailer.
Something about that little quarter horse with the distinctive white blaze caught Taylor’s attention. Once he got back to Camden, Taylor showed the horse to his granddaughter Raegan Taylor, age 12 at the time, and told her he wanted her to ride it.
She didn’t find the horse impressive at first, but they started working together and began to find their rhythm. She broke him, trained him as a cutting horse, and taught him to race barrels. It was the start of a beautiful friendship.
Fast forward 10 years, and the barrel racing team of Raegan and Keyote are on their way to Casper, Wyo., for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR). The last time someone wanted to buy Keyote, the offer was $30,000.
“I’ll never sell Keyote, not for any amount of money,” Raegan said. “We are a team. He is my once-in-a-lifetime horse. I’m so lucky I got to have him when we were both so young.”
A native of Camden, Raegan is the daughter of David and Michelle Taylor and a graduate of CHS. She recently completed a B.S. degree with a major in health and human performance at UT Martin, graduating with honors, and will continue her studies this fall in Memphis. Raegan plans to become a dental hygienist while living with her sister Ryleigh Taylor in Germantown.
When asked how long she has been riding, Raegan replied, “Since I could walk. I can’t remember a time I wasn’t around horses.”
While at college, Raegan was a 4-year member of the UTM Rodeo Team, racing barrels. This year, she amassed 800 points during the regular season, earning second place status in the Ozark Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, and eighth place in national standings. She also received a UTM student-athlete award for being the MVP of the ladies’ rodeo team, and earned a slot to compete in the CNFR.
“I think the UTM Rodeo Team is one of the most special teams to be on. I have a lot of memories of my team and I cherish every single one of them,” Raegan said. “I’ve been really blessed that I’ve been able to rodeo at UTM these past four years.”
Raegan’s goal for her final season was to make it to the college finals. She did that by taking it one rodeo at a time to finish the season strong and reach her goal. Having qualified, she and Keyote literally were in for a long journey, driving the more than 1,335 miles to Casper for the CNFR.
“I rode Keyote all four years at UTM. There are many strong competitors in barrel racing, so it is tough and tight each year. I hadn’t really shown what my horse could do, but this year I got to do that – to show how special he is,” Raegan said. “My horse has excelled at all levels this year and I’ve been really proud of him. To be not only competing, but winning on a horse I trained myself is something really special. Anybody who has done that understands what a great feeling that is.”
Accompanied by her boyfriend Robbie Van Holten, who also rides for the UTM Rodeo Team, her friend Savannah Stanley, and her dad David, Raegan and Keyote set off for Wyoming on Tuesday morning, June 4. They plan to take it easy, stop often, and arrive in plenty of time to rest up for the CNFR contests that begin on Sunday, June 9.
After they return from the CNFR, Raegan noted that Keyote will get a “long, well-deserved break to just be a horse for awhile.” He will remain on her grandfather’s land, which is the Taylor Century Farm, while Raegan completes her studies in Memphis.
Anyone who wants to watch Raegan compete at the CNFR can do so by watching ESPN3, which can be viewed on the WatchESPN app if it is not part of your cable or satellite package.
The final “short-go” barrel race will be held on Saturday, June 15. Win, lose, or place, that Saturday will mark the end of Raegan’s college rodeo career. We all wish her and Keyote their best run ever.
