Equine athletes are recognized thanks to Nutrena and AQHA after a successful WPRA barrel racing season.
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.
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.
