Alice Sims-Gunzenhauser and Taylor Made (NJ)
Team #1,020: Alice Sims-Gunzenhauser and Taylor Made
From: Ewing, New Jersey
Ages: 73 & 30
Combined Age: 103
Test: Training Level Test 1
About 30 years ago, I was looking for a riding teacher for my 11-year-old daughter. My friend Lindsy Gumbiner told me about Tracy Wagner. A couple of years later, Lindsy bought a 3-year-old Quarter Horse with the registered name Explosive Motion. This was not her ideal horse vibe, so the gelding became Taylor Made. They worked on dressage together for a long time—I remember seeing them pirouetting several years later. Gradually, Tracy’s students also had the opportunity to ride Taylor, who took many kids to equitation ribbons.
Around the turn of the millennium, I also started training with Tracy, building on my basic foundation from intermittent lessons as a teenager and young adult. Such a revelation! I loved the idea of riding as a conversation between the horse and rider. I have never owned a horse, but I’ve been privileged to ride, and occasionally show, many that belonged to Tracy—as well as Lindsy. I love focusing on dressage. In recent years, Taylor and I have spent many rides together. He has taught me, in ways that are unique to him, to really think about posture and to ride with lighter aids much of the time.
My gratitude to all of them, human and equine, is deep. Thanks to Tracy and Lindsy, to Waldo, Ian, Gray Monet, Sage, DeDe, Liam, Hugs, Shayna, Skip and Troubadour. You’ve taught me so much and seen me through many ups and downs. As the saying goes, it’s been a great ride!
