By MEGGIE I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Elementary teachers often ask, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

While many dream of being a star athlete, a Hollywood star or even President of the United States, most don’t end up in the profession envisioned during their elementary years.

At age 8, Kyle Taylor knew exactly what she wanted to be when she grew up. She wanted to be a horse trainer.

“I’ve been riding (horses) since I could sit up, started lessons at age 3 and bought my first horse when I was 10 with money that I had saved or got from selling my go-cart,” said Taylor. “You know it’s serious when your kid will sell their go-cart.”

Less than 20 years later, Taylor’s career aspirations came to fruition with the opening of Taylor Turn Stable just south of Indianapolis, Ind. Owned and operated by 24-year-old Taylor, her equine stable is fit with all the necessary equine amenities: an indoor riding area, stable with nine stalls, wash rack, tack house, seven horses, as well as the equine enthusiasts who own, lease or ride them.

Taylor Turn Stable services include: riding lessons for all ages, horse training opportunities and horse boarding.

Taylor’s determination and energy has truly propelled her toward her goals of being a horse trainer and owning a stable, regardless of the fact that neither of her parents ever had a stable of their own.

“My family didn’t have any facilities for horses, I’ve always had to board my horse,” said Taylor. “If we did, (have a stable already) this all would have been a lot quicker.”

One of her biggest fans and supporters is her father, Steve. Taylor said her father teaches her to be independent and serves as a handyman at the stable. Some of his handy skills include: helping prepare the plans and layout for Taylor’s stable, building the horse barn, the fences, fixing the tractor and fixing “all the big stuff.”

Taylor’s father was integral in helping her start her equine business.

“He really motivated me to go for it, because if I didn’t, I would always wonder ‘what if,’” she said.

Following high school graduation in 2002, Taylor had intentions of going to college to pursue a degree in business and, then make her move on starting an equine business. Still with an itch for horses, Taylor took a one-month summer course with world-renowned horse trainer Ken McNabb in Clark, Wyo.

McNabb is best known in the equine industry for his work in natural horsemanship training and development. Taylor defines natural horsemanship as “using the least amount of force to get the horse to do what you want.”

After becoming an accredited horse trainer through McNabb’s program, Taylor began giving lessons on her own personal horse Cinnabar and training other people’s horses in the surrounding area.

Taylor also worked closely with Ryan Gingerich, a John Lyons certified trainer out of Missouri.

Taylor said that she aspires to be a famous horse trainer one day, too; best known for her turning technique in barrel racing.

“They could call it the ‘Taylor Turn,’” she said with a glimmer in her eye.

Barrel racing, showmanship, English and western pleasure are all specialties that Taylor shares and teaches to Indy-area horse enthusiasts.

Looking for a stable to buy

With skills developed as a 10 year 4-Her in Hendricks and Johnson counties, as well as her professional training with McNabb and Gingerich, Taylor and her father Steve looked for a farm to purchase to satisfy her craving to be a famous horse trainer.

“When I came back (from McNabb’s clinic) I started to weigh the options of what I would be making now versus what I would be making coming out of school with a degree,” said Taylor. “I decided I wanted to invest it.”

Taylor used the college money saved by her parents as a down payment on a 10.5-acre farm south of Indianapolis surrounded by housing developments, which she hopes could prove to her advantage.

“This place came up for sale in 2003,” and it was “not horse ready,” when they moved in, according to Taylor and her father, Steve.

“The front was a wheat field, there was no fenced-in pastures, no barn, no riding arena or anything,” she recalled.

With support and handyman skills from her family, Taylor was able to build an equine enterprise and purchase seasoned lesson horses to fill her new barn.

“I’ve learned a lot from people I’ve worked with and places that I’ve boarded throughout the years,” she said. “I’ve learned what they do that I like and what they don’t do, that I know needs to be taught.”

For instance, one of Taylor’s biggest educational pet peeves is safety.

“Safety education for both the horse and rider is so critical and that is something that no one ever taught me when I took lessons,” she explained.

Taylor also emphasizes “before you buy a horse” education including, equine nutrition, health, behavioral traits and facility and pasture requirements.

Now that her operation is up and running, her focus is on advertisement and promotion of Taylor Turn.

“This year is really the first year we’ve advertised,” she said, indicating her participation as an exhibitor at the Hoosier Horse Fair in Indianapolis and the unveiling of her new website.

With hopes of growing and expanding all aspects of her business, Taylor encourages visits to her Taylor Turn website at www.taylorturn.com