ApHC of Tennessee

Hello,

My name is Kaylee and I am so excited to see the growth in this club! I am originally from Oklahoma, grew up showing in 4-H, team penning, participating in playdays, and local open shows. I  found my love for appaloosas through her grandparents’ halter horse breeding program. They introduced me to a big flashy black leopard pattern stud named Intimidating Jeans, shortly after I acquired one of his daughters.

The appaloosa mare Eyes a Denim Doll, affectionately known as Silky, was a teenager’s self-made dream come true. She was a true all arounder from barrels on a Friday night into a western pleasure pen Saturday morning. Silky took me into the breed show pen for the first time at the 2009 at the Reichert Celebration Tulsa 2009. This mare’s trainability and easy-going nature had me hooked on the Appaloosa Horse.  

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In 2013 I was again in search of an appaloosa and Wendy McCain had just the right filly. Fine Piece of Art, aka Roz, joined our family at Fort Campbell, KY. Here we have competed successfully at the open show level for many years winning multiple year-end Hi-Point awards for everything from Extreme Obstacle Challenges, Western, Over Fences, to All-Around. I also served on local riding club boards for 3 years to help grow their equine presence and activities.

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Coming from Oklahoma originally, I found the horse world quite different in Tennessee. Whereas before, on any given weekend all it took was a 30-minute drive to find a show to attend, it was disappointing to find no breed shows and few open shows in the central Tennessee area. That is why I joined local riding clubs and helped to promote any horse-related activities. When a new Tennessee Appaloosa Club was discussed I jumped in with both feet to help promote the breed and bring shows back to Tennessee. I am proud of the progress our club has made in just a few years! We have big plans for the future and hope you are able to join us!

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-Kaylee 

My name is Taylor, and I've been serving the ApHC of Tennessee since it's creation in 2020, though my history with Appaloosas goes back much farther. Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, it was many years of being a horse-crazed little girl before my mom gave in and enrolled me in Saturday lessons at a nearby Hunter-Jumper facility. These lessons were where I was first exposed to the Appaloosa breed; my absolute favorite horse to ride was a big, rat-tailed, varnish gelding with a bad attitude, named Clyde.

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Over the next decade I continued my weekly lessons, but it wasn't until my time at Murray State University working toward an Animal Science/Equine Management degree that I encountered Appaloosas again. As many people do when they're away from home for the first time, I made new friends, and one happened to have a family member that rescued and rehabbed Appaloosas. Later on, I bought my own Appaloosa colt that I named Titan as a graduation present, and he is my heart horse.

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After graduation, I settled in a small town called Dover, TN where I met my husband and became involved in the local equine community. In 2015 a group of likeminded enthusiasts and myself formed the Stewart County Riding Club, and I've been a dedicated member there ever since by serving in various roles on the BOD and being the show manager. When I was approached by Kaylee in 2020 about helping form the ApHC of Tennessee, I was thrilled to be able to contribute to the breed that I enjoy so much.

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Being a part of this organization has reignited the passion in me to show and promote this breed, and I've been blessed to meet some amazing people along the way. I'm thrilled with how we've grown since we started in 2020, and I strive to continue that growth into the future!

-Taylor

My name is Jeffery Oaks and I am serving as your treasurer and am a founding member for the Appaloosa Horse Club of Tennessee. I want to share with you a little about myself in hopes that you will be comfortable contacting me for your Appaloosa needs.

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I grew up in the mountains of southwest Virginia in a small town called Pennington Gap. My family had no history with horses and were always shocked that my interest in horses grew at such a rapid rate. My family always said that once I knew what a horse was that was all I would talk about. At a very early age I would find any way I could to be involved in the horse community to learn as much as I could. I would spend hours watching local horse events and dreaming of being able to compete on my very own horse one day.

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Attending Saturday night gatherings at my local arena helped me to make great connections and landed me in my first 4-H horse and pony club meeting with the Lee County Loping Lunatics. For me, this club meant the world. 4-H gave me the chance to grow as a horse enthusiast and allowed me to participate in hippology as well as horse judging and showing. 4-H club leader Elizabeth Hyde operated a local barn, Willow Bridge Quarter Horse, where she dedicated herself to growing the horsemen and woman of the future. Elizabeth would be my mentor, greatest remodel, and my biggest fan – for this I will always be thankful. In Elizabeth’s barn were horses of many varieties, but I was always drawn to the abundance of POA ponies that her and her family showed. I loved the spots these ponies wore, but once I reached six-foot-tall in my late teens I realized riding ponies was just out of the question.

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Being too big to jokey ponies gave birth to my love for Appaloosa horses. I knew with this great breed of horse I would get to keep the color and characteristics of the ponies I adored so much but the Appaloosa would have the size to carry. Little did I know that my love for this breed would take me down a path of championing for the Appaloosa horse and now aiding in starting a new club here in Tennessee. I couldn’t be happier to be here working so closely with others who love this breed as much as I do. There is so much more to my story and if you ever want to know more please reach out; I would love to share stories and get to know each and every one of my fellow Appaloosa enthusiasts!

Coming Soon!

Coming Soon!