Texas Tech has appointed Tabatha Taylor, a longtime collegiate equestrian coach and former competitive rider, to lead its Department of Animal & Food Sciences Equestrian Team, the university announced. She officially assumed her post on Sept. 1.
“I’m thrilled to be working with Tech Equestrian Team,” Taylor said. “The healthy roster, awesome facilities, and supportive atmosphere work together to create an atmosphere of unlimited potential.”
Taylor, who brings decades of experience as a rider, coach, judge and clinician, joins Texas Tech from West Texas A&M University, where she served as head coach of the equestrian team and taught in the Department of Agriculture. She has also held leadership roles at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana and directed youth riding programs in Pennsylvania, alongside judging and clinic work across several states.
“I’m very excited that Tabatha Taylor will be the new head coach of the Texas Tech Equestrian Team,” said John Pipkin, executive director of the Texas Tech Equestrian Center. “Tabatha shares the vision for a commitment to excellence and pursuit of a national champion equestrian team annually, and she has the knowledge, experience, and expertise to coach the team to that accomplishment.”
In addition to recruiting and mentoring riders, the Amarillo native who grew up riding and showing horses will oversee the team’s competition schedule, eligibility compliance, travel, scholarship awards and finances. She will also teach horsemanship classes as part of her appointment.
Taylor holds a master’s degree in animal science from Oklahoma State University and a bachelor’s in agricultural media and communications from West Texas A&M. As a collegiate competitor, she placed in top finishes at national competitions hosted by the U.S. Equestrian Federation, the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association, the American Quarter Horse Association and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.
She’ll be based at the Texas Tech Equestrian Center, a 100-acre facility that supports the university’s equestrian, ranch horse, horse judging and rodeo teams, and houses the Therapeutic Riding Teaching & Research Center. The center includes multiple indoor and outdoor arenas, more than 400 stalls and a teaching herd of about 40 horses.
CONTACT: Chance Brooks, Professor and Chair, Department of Animal & Food Sciences, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-3517 or chance.brooks@ttu.edu
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