It’s been quite the exciting year for Taylor Kungle.

In March her family purchased Falls Creek Farm, a 345-acre estate at the Connecticut-Rhode Island border. Two months later she graduated from Columbia University in New York City with a Master’s degree in Religious Studies. And, she spent the summer and fall continuing to assemble a most impressive show string, ranging from championship jumpers on the HITS Show Circuit to top American Quarter Horse Association contenders in Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Equitation and Ranch Riding.

“Taylor is very competitive and will always put her best effort forward both inside and outside the ring,” said Tara Buckley, who has been coaching the young rider for almost two years now.

Tara and her husband, William, for over 13 years owned and operated Buckley Quarter Horses, in Preston, Connecticut, where they trained Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle horses and coached youth and amateur competitors. They met Taylor, the daughter of Maureen and James Kungle, when she was Captain of the Connecticut College Equestrian Team. Kungle was already an accomplished English rider, showing throughout high school and competing in the Maclay Finals. But she wanted to improve her skills in the western disciplines. Her collegiate coach, Richard Luckhardt, encouraged her to seek help from the Buckleys.

Taylor and The Pineapple Xpress

“I loved riding western, and continued my progression with them,” Taylor explained.

Soon the young rider who grew up in Vancouver, Canada and got her boots dusty in Pony Club, was making her mark in AQHA competition, with the help of the Buckleys. In just her first year of AQHA competition she placed in the Top 5 of L1 Amateur Western Pleasure at the Region 6 Championship Show and 13th in Equitation. A couple of months later she placed in Amateur Aged Halter Mares in her first appearance at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress.

It made sense that when the Kungle family decided to purchase and renovate Falls Creek Farm, they again enlisted the help of the Buckleys. Now William, Tara and their daughter, Isabella, also a successful AQHA youth competitor, live at Falls Creek and train out of the facility.

“It has been a year of learning and growing, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Taylor said. “We put a lot of effort into renovating our facility, and will continue to upgrade going forward.”

The world class equestrian facility includes a 100-by-200 indoor show arena with bleacher seating for 1,200 people, two outdoor arenas, 230 spacious stalls for show participants, on-site tack shops, RV hookups and meeting rooms. It is already home for AQHA, Pinto and Open shows as well as barrel racing events. A fully-appointed 40-stall barn houses Taylor’s show horses and outside boarders and there are areas and acres of lush pastures and outdoor shelters for turn-outs.

The staff has also grown to include Western Pleasure trainer Doug Pratt, assistant trainer Amanda Roberto, office manager Chelsea MacMurray and barn manager Nicole Williams.

Assembling the very best staff was especially important to Taylor who, throughout the entire renovation process, continued to focus on showing at the top level on both the Hunter-Jumper Circuit and in AQHA competition.

At the 2018 Quarter Horse Congress she showed Roses Only to a fourth place in L1 Amateur Equitation and placed seventh on Busted For Lopenlazy in L1 Amateur Horsemanship.

“I was thrilled to even make the callbacks at such a prestigious show, especially as my horses were new to me going into Congress,” Taylor said. “Congress truly is such an awesome venue and I am always humbled and grateful to show there.”

While at the Congress Taylor spotted an ad for The Pineapple Xpress on Facebook and asked Tara Buckley whether she thought the two might make a good team. Paige Smith, of Hampstead, North Carolina and The Pineapple Express had just won the 11 & Under Youth Western Pleasure.

“I’ve always loved The Pineapple Xpress,” Taylor said. “I remembered watching her and Paige show and they were always a striking pair.”

Tara Buckley arranged a tryout and Taylor bought the 2012 bay mare, by Batt Man and out of RL Sudden Fancy, that same day.

“Apple has an exceptionally kind nature and is put together great – she’s built to be an ideal pleasure horse, and it comes easily to her,” Taylor said. “She totally knows her job, and excels at it.”

Taylor will show both The Pineapple Xpress and Congress Champion No Doubt My Maria, a 2014 bay mare by No Doubt Im Lazy and out of Hp Goodnkrymsun, in Western Pleasure events in 2019.

She will continue to show Busted For Lopenlazy, a 2012 bay gelding, by Lazy Loper and out of Absolutly Iam Zipped, in L1 Amateur Horsemanship next year as well as One Special Version, a 2011 bay mare, by One N Only and out of A Special Version, in Showmanship and Halter events.

She is also excited to be competing on two-time Reserve Congress Hunter Under Saddle Champion Relaxx Monn (Bob) in L1 Amateur Hunter Under Saddle. Relax Monn was a Christmas gift to Taylor from her mother last year.

“The Buckleys were in on it, and I got a huge box wrapped up with a photo of Bob inside,” Taylor recalled. “I was beyond excited.”

The new team got off to a strong start by winning a circuit championship at the Florida circuit last winter and Taylor is hoping to show the 2013 bay gelding, by Lazy Loper and out of Good Looks Are Vital, at some of the larger shows and futurities in 2019.

“Bob is a really funny, quirky horse,” Taylor said. “He loves getting cookies and scratches, I think more than he likes being worked.  A fun fact about him is that he hates taking pictures, and always tries to walk away during them.”

This year Taylor has also ventured into the world of Ranch Riding. She added Lil Ruf Peppys Gun and Pretty Lil Sioux to the show roster. Lil Ruf Peppys Gun is a 2012 sorrel mare by Gunners Special Nite out of Poco Peppys Girl and Pretty Lil Sioux is a 2014 Palomino mare by A Shiner Named Sioux and out of Smartly Dressed.

The newest additions to Taylor’s show string include James Blond and Hung Up On You.

James Blond is a 2016 sorrel stallion by Mechanic and out of A Zipped Affair. He is currently being prepared for 3-year-old Western Pleasure events next year. Hung Up On You is a 2016 bay mare by These Irons Are Hot and out of Arts Delicate Lace. She is being brought along slowly for 3-year-old Hunter Under Saddle futurities next year.

“They are both such cool, young horses and I’ve loved the journey of seeing them grow and develop every day,” Taylor said. “We’re taking our time with them, but are aiming to show them in the summer futurities next year.”

Tara Buckley said Taylor has a strong team assembled at Falls Creek, all designed to help her succeed in the show pen. Next year will be Taylor’s last in the L1 division and they all want to make the best of it.

“We all do our best to ensure that all the horses are prepped to their full potential,” she said.

But ultimately it is up to Taylor to perform.

“Taylor listens very well and is very eager to learn,” Tara Buckley said. “If something is not understood, she will ask for clarification. Taylor’s love for her horses always comes first.”

And she has a lot of natural ability.

“She is an absolutely beautiful rider to watch,” Tara said. “She is elegant and has a strong leg to support.  She is very competitive and will always put her best effort forward when in and outside the ring.”

In addition to her AQHA show partners, Taylor remains very dedicated to the hunter-jumper world. She currently has two horses in training at Sydney and Jill Shulman’s Back Country Farms in Greenwich, Connecticut.

“I’m really proud of my jumper right now,” she said. “Linus won several championships in the Adult Jumpers this season at shows like HITS and Tryon. The Shulmans and their trainer, Gabby Hero, have really shown me how a phenomenal show barn is run. I will continue to show my jumper and hunter and will be competing in WEF this winter with them.”

Beautiful Falls Creek Farm

Over the years, Taylor has had the opportunity to work with many talented horse trainers and each has contributed to getting her to where she is today.

“I especially appreciate the help of Richard Keller, my jumping trainer for most of my life,” she said. “Richard always emphasized perseverance and hard work. He taught me that practice and diligence make all the difference, more than all the talent in the world, and I’ll always appreciate that lesson.”

She also appreciates all the help she has received from the Buckleys and Doug Pratt helping her with her Quarter Horses and the transition into AQHA competition.

“They work so hard, managing the farm, shows, as well as spending countless hours training on top of it,” Taylor said. “We live on the same farm. We see each other every day, so we’re very close. They always help me do my best, and put in so many hours helping me not just with the horses, but with everything in my life. Tara literally organizes absolutely everything for me, including balancing my show schedule with the jumpers; she is beyond helpful. I am so grateful for all of them.”