Dreaming Big

Absarokee fifth-grader Taytin Young has been racking up the points at cutting horse and reined cow horse events across the West this year.
The 11-year-old took first place in the Non Pro Limited Spectacular and first place in the Youth Limited Class at the National Reined Cow Horse Association’s 2016 Stallion Stakes in Las Vegas on April 2.
“He’s undefeated in the Youth category,” said his father, Travis Young, who also competes in the events in Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, California and Idaho.
Taytin also brought home a belt buckle from the National Cutting Horse Association event in Nampa, Idaho in March.
Competitors in cutting horse events must cut three cows from a small herd in the arena in 2 ½ minutes. In the limited reined cow horse event, competitors must cut a cow from the herd, complete a reining pattern and then “box” the cow by holding it in position away from the herd for 50 seconds. Competitors are scored based on maneuvers, eye appeal and presentation, Travis said.
Competitors in the Youth Limited Class don’t cut cows, but Taytin also competes in the Non Pro Limited category, which includes all ages and genders.
Taytin’s goal is to win the NRCHA Youth Limited World Championship, so that means competing in bigger shows that have more competitors, which in turn means more points. As many as 150 riders up to 18 years old compete in the Youth category. Serious competitors must do a lot of traveling.
“The Las Vegas event ended at 8 p.m. and we were back in Absarokee by noon the next day,” Travis said. “You catch a little sleep and get back to work.”
Taytin’s partner in the events this year has been a nine-year-old gelding named Peptoboonlena 007.
“He started as a cutting horse and is now competing as a reined cow horse,” Travis said.
Taytin spends about three hours every day after school practicing and taking care of his horses at the Anipro Arena south of Absarokee.
His father helps out by riding toward a cow Taytin has cut out to make it want to escape back to the rest of the cows in the arena.
At the end of an hour, Peptoboonlena 007 is covered with sweat. Taytin’s also tired – he was at basketball practice before coming home from school. But both the horse and the rider had a great time.
“He can get to wanting to go too fast and you have to slow him down,” Taytin said.
While “schooling” a horse during practice, Taytin will lift his hands some to rein in a horse. But in competition, he can only use his feet to direct the horse. As they practice, Travis is shouting out advice on which foot to press against the horse’s side.
Taytin also competed in the Columbus Reined Cow Horse Show at the Keyser Creek arena, where he won the Youth class both days. He was second in the Non Pro Limited class on Saturday and won it on Sunday.
At the Montana Cutting Horse Association event at Miller’s Horse Palace in Laurel on April 16-17, Taytin won the 2000 Limited Rider on Sunday.