AQHA Awards Top Horse Honors at CNFR

America’s Original Horsepower was on display at the 2024 College National Finals Rodeo June 9-15 in Casper, Wyoming. Top collegiate competitors from 11 regions across the country came together to compete for the top titles in collegiate rodeo, and AQHA was a proud sponsor of this event. This year, AQHA awarded eight top-horse titles to six outstanding equine athletes that stood out among the rest in each event. Let’s talk a little more about the horses that made this happen.

Women’s All-Around and Barrel Racing

A good horse is like a master key – it can open many doors for many people. Fame Fire Rocks, aka “Poprocks,” is no exception to that. Taycie Matthews, along with her mom and sister, have all had massive success in the past few years on the mare. Through injury and time off, “Poprocks” has battled against the odds to earn many accolades along the rodeo trail. Whether that was earning the 2023 Women’s Professional Rodeo Association horse of the year title, grabbing checks at big rodeos like Calgary and Cheyenne, or the 2024 CNFR top barrel racing and Women’s all-around horse of the finals awards, “Poprocks” has made her mark across the barrel racing industry.

When asked about her favorite memory, Matthews recalled “Poprocks” earning the 2023 AQHA-WPRA Horse of the Year title as a very special award. “It meant a lot to me that the other girls believed in her as much as I did.”

Fame Fire Rocks is a 2017 mare by FireWaterOnTheRocks and out of W R Aces Fame by all-time leading barrel racing sire Dash Ta Fame. “Poprocks” was bred by Rustic River Ranch LLC and is owned by Mission Ranch LLC.

                                                                                       Taycie Matthews and Fame Fire Rocks - CNFR photo by Jackie Jensen

Breakaway Roping

“We’ve had quite the journey with him; he has done a whole lot of jobs, ” said Madalyn Richards of Duallys Been Cattin.

If you are looking for versatility, look no further than Duallys Been Cattin, the 2024 College National Finals Rodeo breakaway horse of the year. Madalyn Richards, 2024 College National Finals champion breakaway roper, speaks to the diversity of Duallys Been Cattin, aka “Dually.” Starting out in a feedlot in the Texas Panhandle, Dually later became Richards’ barrel racing and pole bending horse through her junior rodeo years and eventually made his way to being her No. 1 mount on the pro-rodeo and college rodeo breakaway road.

“He is obviously a very diverse horse and he can do anything. He is little, but he can absolutely fly,” Richards said.

Duallys Been Cattin is a 2008 gelding by Dual Pep and out of Fancy N Smart Cat by American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame stallion High Brow Cat. Dually traces to Hall of Fame horses Peppy San Badger and Smart Little Lena. Dually was bred by Dub and Christy Leeth and is owned by Joe Richards.

                                                                                  Madalyn Richards and Duallys Been Cattin - CNFR photo by Jackie Jensen

Steer wrestling

“I ran by one steer…and I bought her instantly,” said Trisyn Kalawai’a of My Lucky Haypatch.

From barrel horse to head horse to  pro rodeo steer wrestling mount, My Lucky Haypatch, aka “Rumor,” has had quite the journey to becoming the CNFR top steer wrestling horse. Trisyn Kalawai’a, who owns and rode “Rumor” to her top-horse title in Casper, shared the mare with a fellow student athlete to gain two spots in the short-go round at the College National Finals Rodeo. Outside the college ranks, My Lucky Haypatch has been Kalawai’a’s choice when big money was up for grabs.

“My favorite memory and what I am pretty proud of is (my) first time at San Antionio with her,” Kalawai’a said. “She was still super green and hadn’t been to many rodeos. For her to go to San Antonio and that building, I think we placed in the first three rounds and made some money on her. That is probably my proudest moment with her. She took the pressure well.”  

My Lucky Haypatch is a 2009 mare by MP Haypatch Tiger and out of JW Drop Of Luck by Trapper Bar Drop. On the top side, “Rumor” traces to American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame sire Sun Frost, who’s offspring are known for their versatility in the performance arena. “Rumor” was bred by Ron and Betty Grohl and is owned by Trisyn Kalawai’a.

                                                                                    Trisyn Kalawai’a and My Lucky Haypatch - CNFR photo by Jackie Jensen

Goat Tying

“Her having an off day, doesn’t exist,” said Justice Jones of her mare, Bar MM Tuf N Poco.

Bar MM Tuf N Poco, aka “Pepper,” who has been an all-around winner in Jones’ arsenal for the past six years, landed in Jones’ lap by accident. With an injury for her then-goat-tying horse,  Jones needed  a replacement. After one practice, “Pepper” took Jones to the pay window at every rodeo for the rest of their first season together. From there, whether it was in the roping pen or stepping off her to win the CNFR goat-tying horse of the year title, “Pepper” has been Jones’ pick when success was on the line.

“She is just a solid all-around horse,” Jones said. “She’s so honest. I think she feeds off the crowd a little bit.”

Bar MM Tuf N Poco is a 2012 mare by Weavers Call Me Tuf and out of Barts Blue Lady by Barts Conka King. “Pepper” was bred by Brandon Wynder and is owned by Justice Jones.

                                                                                       Justice Jones and Bar MM Tuf N Poco - CNFR photo by Jackie Jensen

Tie-Down Roping

“He’s like my American Express card; I don’t leave home without him,” said Blayne Saine of My CDs Smokin.

Blayne Saine, who owns My CDs Smokin, the CNFR  tie-down horse of the year, feels truly blessed to ride a horse that can stop and is as athletic as he is. My CDs Smokin, aka “Cletus,” started out as a cutting turnback horse in Mississippi before going on with Saine to becoming his No. 1 mount on the college and pro-rodeo trail.
“My favorite memory of Cletus is winning the tie-down horse of the year in Casper at the college finals…I’ve always wanted him to get the recognition, I wish everyone could ride him and feel what he’s like,” said Saine. “I’ve put an enormous amount of time into that horse and we’ve had our ups and downs for sure but for him to get that little recognition is probably my favorite memory of him.” 

My CDs Smokin is a 2006 gelding by $17 million sire CD Olena and out of Smokin Dually by $26 million sire Dual Pep. “Cletus” was bred by Bar H Ranche and is owned by Blayne Saine.

                                                                                         Blayne Saine and My CDs Smokin - CNFR photo by Jackie Jensen

Men’s All-Around and Heeling

GunnaBeAnAngel and Kaden Profili won the men’s all-around and heeling top horse awards. GunnaBeAnAngel is a 2017 mare by $11 million sire Gunnatrashya and out of the Gallo Del Cielo mare Roosters Tivio. “Angel” was bred by Mark Robinson and is owned by Kaden Profili.

                                                                                         Kaden Profili and GunnaBeAnAngel - CNFR photo by Jackie Jensen