Taylors Take On Rodeo

SWAN VALLEY - Justin and Crystal Taylor of Condon enjoy their hobby of working with their horses and competing in rodeos and jackpots in their spare time. While Crystal's focus is barrel racing and Justin's specialty is team roping, they enjoy the love of horses and passing that love to their children.

Both Taylors started riding horses at a young age. Crystal said that she probably began riding her family's horses when she was about three years old. "My mom, [Lily Wood of Condon], gave me my first horse [named] Fancy when I was six-years-old. We were the same age so we grew up together. My friends and I belonged to the Swan Valley Saddle Club and we traveled to O-Mok-Sees [games on horseback] together all through grade school and high school. After Fancy died, I quit competing."

Justin was born in New Hampshire and moved to Montana when he was eight years old. He started riding when he was about 10 years old.

"Being raised on a ranch in Ovando just went hand in hand with roping," said Justin.

He said when he was in high school he went to a few jackpot roping competitions. Jackpot competitions allow contestants to compete against others in their same ability class and the top competitors win money from the pooled entry fees. He first competed in the Helmville Rodeo round robin roping in 1995 when he was 15 years old. He then took about a 15-year break.

Justin said he always liked competition. "When I was younger and played sports I loved the pressure in clutch situations. Team roping, which I got into around 2010, is a part of me and I think it is a great environment to raise my kids. It has taken a lot of hard work and discipline to stay in the money but I love every bit of it. There a lot of great people I look up to in the cowboy world. It makes me want to better myself."

The Taylors knew each other when they attended Seeley-Swan High School but didn't date until they were in their twenties. They have been married for nine years.

The Taylors came back to live in the valley in 2012 after working on a ranch in Wolf Creek, Mont. where Crystal and Justin took lessons from the equine managers and got interested in competing again.

Crystal owns two mares, Stormy and Irish. After she bought Stormy six years ago, she said she started going to the National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) jackpots in the Flathead Valley. Now she says she is hooked on it. "Stormy", she said, " Is a once in a lifetime horse." She said she has won money and numerous prizes against tough competitors riding Stormy. "I am lucky to have her."

When Crystal works with her barrel horses she makes sure they have a good foundation first. She said there are a lot of drills that help the horse learn the barrel pattern.

"I also do a lot of trail riding so my horses don't get sick of the arena. I have heard it takes about four years to have a nice finished barrel horse," said Crystal.

Crystal belongs to the NBHA District 5 in Kalispell, Mont. that holds jackpot barrel racing competitions for the riders. Crystal explained that there are more chances to win in jackpots. The winnings depend on the total of the entry fees, the number of contestants and their times. The finals for all the districts in the state are held in Great Falls, Mont. Crystal said her district has won first place the past three years. In 2015, she was second in the top division in District 5.

In 2016, she set the goal of participating in National Rodeo Association (NRA) and some larger barrel race rodeos around Montana. She won money and prizes in many of them including placing in the top ten at the rodeo in Eureka, Mont.

Justin belongs to the Wrangler Team Roping Championships (WTRC) organization and competes in team roping competitions around Montana. He has won money and a saddle in 2016 at a WTRC competition in Kalispell, Mont. The saddle fender is stamped with, "Champion Heeler."

Justin's roping horses are Ace and Reba. Justin said that he keeps his horses in tune by roping the dummy steer and practicing roping steers with friends. "Everyday I also practice roping a dummy steer while I am standing on the ground," said Justin. "Sometimes I do some roping with Justin." said Crystal. She practices roping the steer's head while Justin ropes the steer's heels.

Crystal said that she and Justin usually go separate directions, Justin to roping competitions and she goes to a rodeo or a jackpot. "But the last few years we have competed in the July Fourth play day. It's really fun to compete against friends and family," she said.

Crystal said their two children Bryar age six and Colt age three love horses. Bryar now has her own horse Cowgirl and competes in the annual O-Mok-See on the Fourth of July in the Swan Valley arena. Bryar also rode at the Helmville NRA rodeo and many more around Montana.

Crystal said that Bryar and Colt help Justin practice roping. They pull a dummy steer behind the four-wheeler so Reba can learn the proper position while Justin ropes.

She said that she is grateful to her family who watched her kids so she could pursue her dream by working at it.

Crystal said someone can't just ride and compete when they feel like it.

"Well, maybe you can but you won't be as successful. Horses are a lot of work; feed twice a day, clean pens daily, exercise four days a week and go to competitions on the weekends. Sometimes it feels like a job," she said. "I have to work hard to win. We have to win to be able to stay with it. It is a very expensive hobby."

Crystal thanks TarpMate for sponsoring her efforts.

The Taylors practice and compete spring through fall. "In the winter with all the ice and snow and no indoor arena to work in, I feel like it's a good break for all of us," said Crystal.

However, Crystal said that she likes to compete because it gives her a goal to work towards. "I like setting new goals to see if I can achieve them," she said. "It is amazing to see my horses learn. The more time I spend working with them, the more results I see."

Crystal offers advice to those who would like to compete on horseback: "Don't be afraid to ask questions. Try to surround yourself with people that are positive and have more knowledge than you do. There's always something new to learn."