Tayo’s passion for horses and riding started when he was first introduced to his babysitter’s horse when he was only 12 years old. Although his exposure to horses was still limited since he was more heavily involved in competitive soccer and football, Tayo’s love for these incredible animals steadily grew.

After graduating from university, Tayo knew he wanted to pursue a full-time career with horses. At that point, and with only minimal formal riding experience and training, he made the decision to relocate to Europe to pursue his passion. This was not an easy decision but knowing Europe holds the highest standards when it comes to horsemanship and riding, Tayo felt the move was imperative as it would be the best place to fast track his horsemanship and hone his riding abilities.

TAYO MCLEAN

While working for Canadian Desiree Johnson in Germany, Tayo had the unique opportunity to closely watch and learn from two top Olympians on a daily basis; Mexican Jaime Guerra and New Zealand’s Daniel Meech. After spending some time in Germany, Tayo then moved to the south of Holland to ride for well-known dealer John Steeghs.

While working in Europe, he was fortunate to meet and work with some of the industry’s most well-known and respected trainers, riders, and dealers. These various opportunities allowed Tayo to learn the most important aspects of the industry in an all-encompassing manner from the large dealing barn with over 30 horses to top 5* competition stable.

Upon his return to North America, Tayo has had the opportunity to work for some of the industry’s best—most notably, Olympic bronze medalist Norman Dello Joio from the U.S.A. . It’s been with excellent guidance and expertise that Tayo was able to continue riding and further develop his already refined horsemanship.