52 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Mackenzie and
Inky in action
Photos by J. Ryan
Crowley
By Lauren R. Giannini
Mackenzie Taylor is the frst American mounted games rider
to advance past the qualifying session of the world individuals.
She has been involved all her life with US Pony Clubs, which
encourages the kids to play all sorts of crazy fun games for their
vital lessons in teamwork and horsemanship.
“Flat out” describes mounted games. They race back and
forth, popping balloons, spearing objects on the ground and on
poles, moving props from one bucket to another, hopping off for
“stepping stones” – a fast test of rider agility, then vault aboard
keen ponies revving into mach 2 gallops.
Mackenzie and Inky won the under-17 title at the 2012
International Mounted Games Association
Individual
Championships, July 12-15 at the David Broome Event Centre,
Chepstow, Wales. Mounted games are a major sport in Europe,
and the best of the best had gathered: 180 from 11 nations. In the
under-17s only three of the 56 contestants were female. For the
American duo, it was an impressive victory.
Mackenzie and Inky’s world title holds even greater signifcance:
the pony is a rescue. Five years ago, she was found neglected with
her dam and several other equines in a Maryland feld. The fve-
year-old spotted mare proved to be more than her intended new
junior could handle. About a year later Inky went to TaylorMade
Stables for remedial training. From the frst time Mackenzie rode
Inky, she loved the feet-footed pony mare with the unquenchable
spirit and adventurous nature that embraced hunting and mounted
games. They teamed up to take on the world. The hotheaded
rescue had met her match.
All in the Family
Mackenzie was born to ride. Her father Robert Taylor serves
as joint-Master of Foxhounds and huntsman for Goshen Hunt.
Her mother Kathy Taylor, an avid foxhunter, is an integral part of
the training and lesson program at TaylorMade. Kathy’s mother,
Karen Jones whips in to Robert, and her father, Rick Jones spent
13 seasons as MFH at Goshen where he also whipped in for a
long time.
Horses, hounds, and mounted games are a Jones-Taylor
family affair. Robert and Kathy share a long history of competing
and coaching mounted games. In 1974 Robert moved from his
native Ireland to Australia where he continued his association with
horses and, among other activities, served as the Pony Club’s
International Games coach. Robert met Kathy Jones when they
both coached mounted teams at the 1990 Royal Welsh Show.
Four years later, he moved to the United States and married his
rival.
Mackenzie loves hounds and hunting, earned her colors at the
age of 12, carries the horn on junior days, and happens to be the
youngest honorary whipper-in of Goshen Hunt. She events at the
training level, competes jumpers and, a chip off the old blocks,
she’s crazy about mounted games.
“One day when Robert couldn’t ride Inky, we put Mackenzie
on and they just hit it off – it was magical,” recalled Kathy. “Inky
loved to hunt, but after that frst year Mackenzie stopped hunting
her, because she proved too valuable as a games pony. Inky had
been competing in games and was one of the best in this country.”
The Taylors started thinking that Inky could compete with the
best in the world. In fact, they made history when they won.
Mackenzie and
Inky show off
their ribbons
and trophy.
“Mackenzie and her pony have done so much for the United
States,” said Kathy. “Our team fnished sixth at IMGA this year,
the best it ever has. We used to say, ‘if only we had our own
horses over there’… This year there was no question. Mackenzie
started saving and we put on fundraisers.”
The trip cost about $25,000, but selling the celebrated games
pony to cover expenses was never an option. Inky, 11, and her
mother, 16, have found their forever home at TaylorMade Stables.
“Inky will never be for sale. Mackenzie would die,” admitted
Kathy. “She’s a great kid, tough, strong-willed. She’s like her
father. She had a goal and worked hard for it. When she won the
world championship, Mackenzie was very humble. She doesn’t
know how to react to all that attention. All she wants to do is ride
horses.” Especially Inky.
For more information about mounted games: http://usmga.us/
e