Rodeo Daily

WPRA Barrel Horse of the Year

Equine athletes are recognized thanks to Nutrena and AQHA after a successful WPRA barrel racing season.
Madi Roelofsen|
WPRA Barrel Horse of the Year
WPRA Barrel Horse of the Year

Nutrena Animal Feeds and the American Quarter Horse Association present the Horse of the Year awards recognizing special horses, by way of voting. Recognizing the consistent athletic ability of both the rider and horse, the title is well deserved after a rigorous year on the road. 

The ballots have closed after an impressive year, recognizing Taycie Matthew's fiery horse, Fame Fire Rocks or "Poprocks" as the 2023 Nutrena Horse of the Year. 

Matthews has been on fire this year winning the barrel racing at the College National Finals Rodeo and qualifying for her first National Finals Rodeo. 

Poprocks, sired by FirewaterOnTheRock, helped Matthew's older sister with successes at the college rodeos in previous seasons, taking Taycie to win the 2023 CNFR. The team finished out the 2023 Women's Professional Rodeo Association season in 4th position with $144,161 in total earnings.

First runner-up for Horse of the Year is Jets Top Gun or "Benny," sired by $6.5 million stallion Blazin Jetolena, both owned by Busby Quarter Horses. Benny has been jockeyed this season by Brittany Tonozzi winning numerous large rodeos. 

Benny was apart of Tonozzi's string of equine athletes who helped her cross the $3 million mark. 

Coming in third was Jessica Routier's mare Fiery Miss West or "Missy." Sired by Firewater Frenchman, the mare has qualified Routier for six total NFR qualifications. 

Matthews and Tonozzi are set to compete at the NFR with the horses of their choosing  Dec. 6-16. Though it might not be a surprise to see their award winning athletes compete in the Thomas and Mack Arena. 

Published
Madi Roelofsen
MADI ROELOFSEN

Madi Roelofsen is a writer for Sports Illustrated's feature, Rodeo Daily. Madi not only writes about the western lifestyle and rodeo world but lives it daily. She attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, and competed in the barrel racing as part of their rodeo team. Roelofsen graduated in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in animal science. Madi enjoyed not only competing in rodeo events but also spectating the greatest sport on dirt. In 2017, while on vacation attending the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, she met her husband Tim Roelofsen. They got married a few years later in 2020. Tim had already established TVR Working Horses but together they grew their program and enjoy raising foals, training colts, barrel racing, team roping and standing their stallions (TVR Eye Needa Corona and CR Baron Bee Joy "Big Sexy") in both Texas and Iowa. They stay busy with the horses, farming alfalfa and raising their baby girl, Texi. Madi has always been passionate about horses, from learning about different bloodlines, breeding the foals themselves to training and competing. She expresses that passion within the articles she writes to open up the world of horses and rodeo to everyone.  Twitter-@Madi_Roelofsen  Facebook- @TVR Working Horses

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