Taycie Matthews, first-time qualifier for the National Finals Rodeo, is facing an unexpected hardship as her horse, PopRocks, is no longer able to compete inside the Thomas and Mack after sustaining a season ending hock injury.
At No. 4 in the WPRA World Standings, Matthews had an unbelievable season with much success attributed to her beloved equine partner, who was announced the AQHA Horse of the Year in early October.
The team secured wins in Puyallup, Salinas, Killdeer and more, collecting over $144,160 in the regular season to secure Matthews’ first trip to Las Vegas.
“Even though my team may look a little different at the NFR, the heart and effort will still be just as strong,” Matthews said.
The upcoming season looks promising for Matthews and PopRocks as the team will be competing together once again in 2024.