About Us
Taylor Patterson
Taylor Patterson like most little girls was bitten by the horse bug before she
could walk. Her first ride was at 10 months old! Taylor first started off doing
Hunter/Jumpers and Equitation for about 10 years, training with the legendary
Robert “Bob” Woodington. At Virginia Intermont college,
she got introduced to
the Dressage world and loves that just as much! Always up for new things as well
as huntseat, Taylor has ridden saddleseat, western, endurance, gaited, racehorses,
and driven!
Since she was 12 years old, people at local barns started to ask her to ride
their horses for rehab, starting, showing, and for pleasure, Taylor received tons
of experience with all types and breeds of horses. At 15, she began working with
a trainer breaking and training horses which led to her start with Friesians. Working
for Don and Lisa at French Creek Stables, is where she refined her technique and
realized (for the millionth time) this is what she was going to do for sure with
her life. In 2002, she headed East to the heart of horse country and earned a 4 year
degree in Equine Studies and Business at Virginia Intermont College. There, she
gained valuable experience in veterinary, teaching, riding, and all the wonderful
business aspects of running stables, shows, and riding programs. She also competed
on both IHSA and IDA teams and was champion rider on both teams for her divisions.
On both teams, you draw a horse and must go jump or perform a dressage test without
ever have ridden the horse before! After college, Taylor worked for Denise Youell
of Farpoint Farms as an assistant trainer and at a Warmblood breeding farm, training,
showing and selling the young stock.
Nick Patterson
Nick Patterson is the Jack of ALL trades. A Firefighter, welder, apprentice farrier,
horse wrangler, and maintenance man who will fix ANYTHING, he is the one who makes
Topshelf Training run smoothly or at all. Born around all types of farm animals,
horses were like cows until he met Taylor. Now he knows different and is very educated
on horses and is like a sponge soaking up anything he can on everything about them.
He bought his first horse out of a field of 15 horses, brought her home, broke her and
will never sell her! Patron is one of the most bombproof horse you can find!! He is
great at handling the horses, especially the wild stallions who need a manly hand
sometimes!
Our Home
If you visit our home, you will more than likely first be greeted by our dogs,
Toppy (Topshelf), Quilla (Tequila Rose) and Porter. Yes and no, Topshelf Training Center
was named after the dog. He was named first, but Nick had always wanted to call his
business that name as well.