Starting a business in any industry is tough and people have many different reasons for doing so.
At 27-years-old, Taylor Holt founded her mobile bar in search of a creative spark in her life, a drive to challenge herself and to push through her perceived limits.
“I inspired myself to start this adventure. My husband and I had been struggling with infertility for over 5 years and unfortunately it started to consume me as a person and as a wife.
I wanted to find something I was passionate about, something that lit my creative fire, something that I loved and that could distract me and keep me pushing forward.”
Hailing from Oakdale, California, the self-proclaimed ‘Cowboy Capital of the World’, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Taylor chose to launch a business that combined those classic Western staples of horses, the great outdoors and a good drink. What better way to combine all three than with a horse trailer bar conversion.
Look back at the early posts from The Tapped Saddle’s Instagram and you’ll see photos from the day that Taylor first purchased an old, broken down horse trailer that was practically falling apart.
Twisted sheet metal, rotting wood, rusty doors, and a filthy floor – even the laziest of horses would have turned their nose up at this ride.
But, with a whole lot of help from her husband and a large dose of TLC, the horse trailer has been transformed into a handsome, full service cocktail bar on wheels.
So much so that it’s actually hard to believe that the mobile bar operating now is the same beaten-up horse box.
Brand new wooden panels, a shiny metal exterior and a slick paint job leave The Tapped Saddle standing majestically in the sunlight.
The trailer’s huge back door swings open to reveal a further transformation on the inside - clean white walls, rustic wood shelving, clever storage and plenty of room for bartenders to do their thing.
A full-length serving window makes handing out pours from the dual tapped kegerator easy and efficient.
Just as the mobile bar conversion flourished, so did its owner.
“I was in search of something that I was passionate about. Fast forward a year later and here we are, living out this little dream with our little horse trailer bar!”
In the year since launching, The Tapped Saddle has served at weddings, photoshoots, bridal brunches and more.
There is also further expansion on the horizon with a new mobile bar project, ‘Neon Chaser’, coming soon.
“We have so many ideas for this year and the upcoming year of 2023, but the biggest one yet is starting on another mobile bar! Different vibes, bigger trailer and more memories to come!”
Whilst so much of the Tapped Saddle journey has been about the growth of its owner, Taylor’s favorite part about the business are her customers and working with them closely to deliver the best possible beverage service for their event.
“My clients are the greatest thing about operating The Tapped Saddle!
They have made everything that I doubted with this business worth it in every way.
Each event so far has been special to me in many ways so I don’t think I could pick a favorite!”
With event dates for 2022/2023 booking up quickly it looks as though Taylor’s creative fire is burning brightly.
We can’t wait to see what she achieves next with The Tapped Saddle and her mobile bar empire!
Thank you so much to Taylor for speaking with us and we wish her continued success on her journey!
You can find more details and contact The Tapped Saddle here.