PG . 21
TAJ
CARSON on a mission ...
WORDS BY : LYN HOFFMANN © 2023 D PHOTOS BY : EV LAGOON / ACE PHOTOGRAPHY
HE LEARNED TO RIDE ON THE FAMILY FARM WITH HIS SISTER , CHASING
COWS AND JUMPING LOGS , BUT TAJ CARSON IS ON HIS WAY TO BECOMING ONE OF THE COUNTRY ’ S BEST YOUNG
WESTERN PLEASURE TRAINERS .
‘ Man What A Diva Q-80663 , shown by Taj Carson - NPHA 2021 ’
Since being introduced to the western industry by his Mum , Hayley Cove , 22yo Taj has been showing for seven years . While attending Summer Sizzler with his family , he met Kane and Holly Skopp . He looked up to them , and would help around their barn in return for a couple of dollars to buy ice-cream . He started showing , and it grew from there . At 15 , Taj showed in 14 -18 Youth . With family horses in training with Kane and Holly throughout his Youth career , Taj got to ride young horses , and some of the more broke horses that were in training with the Skopps . It was a massive advantage to him , as he got to feel what the horses felt like in all different stages of their training . Taj soon began showing in Open Futurities and Aged events .
‘ As a Youth I showed Undoubtaball , an amazing allround horse . He was 3yo in our first year showing , and we attained 149 points and 5 ROMS . I started showing Richelle Portelli ’ s imported mare , Too Lazy To Invest , in Youth Western Pleasure and Futurities . We had great major show successes , winning at Goulburn Valley Summer Sizzler , AQHA Nationals and the NPHA . Our most amazing win was the 2017 Open Junior Horse Western Pleasure at the AQHA Nationals . I was 16 and that was my first
2023 AQHA YEARBOOK ~ MAY / JUNE ISSUE