Taycie Matthews qualified for her first NFR in 2023, and after a big season in which she earned over $150,000, she is looking to set new career bests in 2024.
Heading into the NFR Matthews got some tough news regarding her 2023 WPRA Horse of the Year Pop Rocks. She was told Pop Rocks would be out for an extended period of time due to an injury, but Matthews says her horse is feeling much better.
“She is great, she is just chilling in her stall right now and recovering and hopefully she will be better soon.”
While Pop Rocks isn’t quite ready to return, she is getting close to rodeo action.
“We are probably looking to the middle of March for her to come back. She is feeling great and things are going smooth,” Matthews said.
Matthews was hoping to get her 2024 going with an appearance at the National Western this week, but the weather is forcing her to miss the rodeo.
“It just depends on how far the rodeo is. The weather plays a big part in it. I-70 was closed yesterday and that was the day we were planning on leaving. It was just not the right time to go so I decided to stay home.”
Matthews’ next appearance will now be at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo later this month.