New York-based horseman comes to Aiken to compete in mini prix

Taylor Knapp is a young professional trying to hold her own. The New York-based horseman is competing this week at the Progressive Show Jumping Aiken Winter Classic Week I Highfields Event Center.

The 24-year-old professional comes from a family of horsemen. Knapp's parents own Crosswinds Equestrian Center in LaGrangeville, N.Y. The rider/trainer and her family are very supportive of one another, are passionate about being able to walk with horses and enjoy working together.

"My older sister and I train at the farm," said Knapp. "I have another sister that's not involved with horses, and another sister that works for a trainer in Pennsylvania, who's actually down in Wellington, Fla. at this time."

One horse that played a critical role in Knapp's career was her mare Iris.

"Iris was my children's jumper," said Knapp. "She kind of got me into the jumper divisions. We were super successful in the children's jumpers, and when I moved out of the children's division and into the amateurs, and then became a professional in the open jumper divisions. I owe everything to Iris."

Knapp's primary reason for coming to Aiken was to compete in Sunday's $10,000 mini prix with Volante, a horse she's had for the past year and a-half. A friend of the horseman had exhibited at the PSJ Aiken Winter Classic last year, and suggested she come to the show to exhibit Volante.

"He's been great," said Knapp. "He just moved up to the 1.30 meter classes this fall. He's been very successful. He's still figuring it out, but has been really good. He's a blast."

The horseman will return home for the rest of the winter after the Aiken Winter Classic Week II, and will show locally before going to exhibit in Atlanta at the end of March.