Taycie Matthews has finished out her second season in professional rodeo at No. 4 in the WPRA World Standings with $144,162 in total earnings.
Matthews finished out the 2022 season at No. 19 and was in the No. 2 spot in the Resistol Rookie Race, following being National Finals Rodeo qualifier Bayleigh Choate.
Matthews’ season was not just unbelievable for her, but her equine partner Pop Rocks as well. Her horse claimed the 2023 AQHA Horse of the Year Title in October. However, due to an unexpected injury post regular season, Pop Rocks is unable to compete at this year’s National Finals Rodeo.
BIGGEST PAYDAYS
Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup (South Dakota), $21,500
Matthews rounded out her season in Sioux Falls where she added $21,500 to her earnings, moving the cowgirl to her final position at No. 4 in the World Standings. Matthews advanced into the Semifinals where she stopped the clock in 13.92 seconds to secure her spot in the Short Go. A time of 13.97 locked Matthews in at No. 2 on the leaderboard, which paid $19,000.
The Calgary Stampede, $15,475
Matthews headed North to the Calgary Stampede this July where she advanced out of Pool B in the No. 1 spot after claiming first place in Round 2 with a run of 17.58 seconds. Matthews followed up with the same time in the Semifinals to move on to the Final Round where she claimed fourth place with a 17.47-second run. A total of $15,475 earned by Matthews in Calgary counted toward the WPRA World Standings, adjusting her position from No. 15 to No. 11 in the Standings at the time.
California Rodeo Salinas, $12,125
California Rodeo Salinas was a success for Matthews as she stayed consistent through each Go-Round, collecting just under $6,830 after finishing out at No. 2 in the Finals with a run of 16.15 seconds. Matthews’s consistency paid off as she cinched the top spot in the Average with an aggregate time of 65.18 seconds on four head to collect an additional check for $5,295, bringing her total earnings to $12,125.
FASTEST RUNS
Cinch Playoffs (Washington), 14.07 seconds
Matthews stopped the clock in 14.07 seconds in Puyallup, Washington as she claimed the No. 1 spot in Round 1 to secure a check for $3,350 while competing against the best of the best in barrel racing. Matthews went on to finish out the Final Round at No. 4, taking home a total of more than $9,000.
BigFork Summer Pro Rodeo (Montana), 16.59 Seconds
A time of 16.59 seconds locked Matthews into the top spot in BigFork as she claimed the title and a check for just over $2,000.
NOTABLE WINS
Killdeer Mountain Roundup PRCA Rodeo (North Dakota), 17.16 Seconds
Matthews stopped the clock in 17.16 seconds at the Killdeer Mountain Roundup to claim the title in North Dakota. The win secured Matthews a check for $4,646 over Cowboy Christams, where she also made more than $1,000 in Oakley City, Utah and Cody, Wyoming.
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