By Sarah Gee
©Voice, April 2007

Darren Gray
Pleasure Horse Vice President

Originally from Greensburg, Indiana, Darren Gray has been a resident of central Florida since he was 11 years old. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the University of Central Florida and he is currently serving as the Assistant City Manager for the city of Clermont, Florida.

Darren is married and he has two beautiful daughters. Discussing how he met his wife, Rachel, he relates, “While I was in the Navy I was stationed in northern Japan at Misawa Air Force Base and that is where I met the love of my life. Rachel was in the Air Force and stationed there as well.

Ironically, Rachel also grew up in the Orlando area and we went to rival high schools. Little did I know I would have to go half way around the word to find someone from my own back yard. It’s amazing how God puts people together!” Darren and Rachel have been married for 14 years. A true family man and Christian, when asked what his greatest accomplishments are, Darren replies, “My family (my wife Rachel, my daughters Taylor and Ashley) and accepting Jesus Christ as my savior.”

Turning to his horse habit, Darren explains that he actually learned to ride when he was a kid. His breeds of choice back then were Quarter Horses and POAs. The switch to Tennessee Walking Horses occurred after he married Rachel. He elaborates, “After Rachel and I were married and moved back to Orlando, I was dying to ride again. It just so happened that Rachel’s aunt, Cathy Botts, had horses. She invited me on a trail ride and it was then that I discovered that she owned Tennessee Walking Horses.
All it took was that first step and I was hooked! I still blame Cathy for my addiction to the Tennessee Walker.” Continuing on about his, and our, breed of choice, Darren remarks, “The thing I remember most about my first ride aboard a Tennessee Walking Horse is my smile. When I went on that ride I could not stop smiling! I couldn’t believe the smooth gait and ground the Tennessee Walking Horse covered. I am a firm believer in our motto – ‘Ride One Today – Own One Tomorrow.”

Following that first ride, the Grays set off down the road to horse ownership. Soon Darren was in the show ring with Taylor and Ashley following in due time. Always supportive of Darren and the girls, Rachel is the perfect ground person at the shows, getting everyone ready and keeping things organized for Team Gray which currently saddles two horses – Delight Silver Design and Maximus Dollar.

When asked to recall his favorite horse related memory, Darren responds, “Winning my first Reserve World Championship at the Celebration with Mr. Reach. I bought him from the Singletons and he was the perfect horse for me. In all, I won three reserve work champion titles with him.”
A very gracious individual, Darren is quick to credit those that have helped him foster his horse habit. He credits trainer Sherrie Szucs with giving him a foundation in pleasure horses and with giving him confidence. He is also very complimentary of Sheryl Skala-Carl saying, “She does an excellent job with my trail pleasure horse Delight Silver Design. Sheryl and her staff are simply the best.”

In addition to showing and trail riding, Darren is very involved with the Florida Walking and Racking Horse Association. He served the Association as president for four years, director for two years, and treasurer for two years. He has also managed multiple shows in Florida. On the national scene, besides being the Pleasure Horse Vice President at TWHBEA^SM, Darren currently sits on the Walking Horse Owners’ Association Pleasure Horse Committee.

Contemplating his current role as TWHBEA^SM Pleasure Horse Vice President, Darren reveals that he has always wanted to serve in this position.

Regarding his goals as Pleasure Horse Vice President, he declares, “Expand! Expand! Expand! I love the pleasure horse. Our horse is so versatile that we need to get it out into every market. The partnership with RFD-TV’s Best Of America By Horseback is a huge opportunity for great exposure for our horse. I want to continue having organized trail rides all over the country. But most of all I want the Pleasure Horse Committee to think beyond 2007. We need to look two, five, and ten years out. There is no reason why the Tennessee Walking Horse can not be the number one choice for horse enthusiasts everywhere. We need to push forward with positive exposure of our horse. It’s like people have always told me, ‘Get out of the way, the Tennessee Walking Horse will sell himself!’”