Students choose Willow Bend Academy for various reasons.  Often it is to enable them to pursue activities that are very time consuming and are not normally associated with school activities.

Taylor Flores (pictured with Superintendent Ed Pilkington) is one of those.

Taylor’s day begins  by feeding and grooming Spice, Big Bertha, and Reba, her three horses.  She also cares for an additional six horses that belong to other people.  Following that, she makes her way to Willow Bend Academy for her academic studies.  Later in the day she practices her  horsemanship and barrel riding skills.

Many weekends include competing in various rodeo events which she began at the age of 14 as a participant in local races.  At age 15, she began racing in sanctioned races throughout Texas and Oklahoma.  At age 16, she qualified to compete in the April 2015 BBC World Finals in Oklahoma City, OK.

Barrel racing combines horsemanship skills with the training and athletic ability of the horses. Since  beginning her riding career only two years ago, she has won numerous awards in local rodeos in Allen, and Farmersville, and winning first place buckles (trophies) and cash prizes in Glen Rose and Marshall, Texas rodeos, and her recent qualification to be a contestant in the World Finals in Oklahoma City.

Taylor would not be able to pursue her horsemanship activities were she to be enrolled in a traditional public or private school.  Willow Bend Academy’s scheduling flexibility has enabled her to spend quality time improving her riding skills while continuing to receive an excellent education.

“Master Learning.  Master Life” is the motto of Willow Bend Academy.  Thank you, Taylor for choosing Willow Bend Academy to guide you through both processes.