Riding, racing, sibling rivalry
A family legacy for horses and humans at the IFR
In horse racing, the biggest challenge is winning the Triple Crown. In rodeo’s barrel racing, it may be beating a triple threat that matters most.
This week, all eyes will be on Kim Matthews and her two daughters, Taycie and Jaylie, at the 49th International Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City.
The Arkansas women not only will compete against other top barrel racers in the world, but for the first time in the history of the International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA), three family members also will be competing against one another in the same event.
In a way, this fearsome threesome just kind of happened. Since becoming members of the IPRA in 2017, Taycie, 16, and Jaylie, 17, have been rising stars on the circuit. The reigning rookie of the year, Taycie is first in the world standings, Kim isthird and Jaylie sits in the No. 5 seat. After taking time off to focus on the family sweet potato farm in Wynne, Arkansas, Kim, a former rodeo competitor who grew up barrel racing, decided to get back into the arena herself.
“I told them, ‘If I have to haul ya, I’m going to try to qualify, too,’ “Kim said.
Although IFR49 will be the second appearance for both Kim and Taycie, Jaylie, a high school senior, is looking forward to competing with mom and sis in Oklahoma City for the first time.
“In 2017, I had focused on making the Lucky Dog Production’s barrel race finals and only went to a few rodeos. This year, I decided to make rodeo my main focus,” Jaylie said.
“We’re excited to all be competing at the IFR together. It was secretly our goal, but we decided whatever happens, happens,” Jaylie said. Besides the competition between the three, there’s a lot more to watch at the upcoming rodeo.
And there’s another sibling rivalry that can make a difference — between the horses. Kim will be atop Feelin’ the Firewater, last year’s horse of the year and sister to Taycie’s horse, Heavenly Firewater, a prizewinning stud and this year’s barrel racing horse of the year.
Nicknamed Bud and Sis after characters in the movie “Urban Cowboy,” the siblings are fiercely competitive. Kim says Bud is gritty and wants to know where his sister is at all times and wants nothing more than to out run her.
Along with the competition, Kim and her husband, Terris, say a life with horses teaches their children accountability, responsibility and confidence.
“I just think it helps you be a wellrounded individual. And they stay so busy it keeps them out of trouble,” Kim said.
In 2018 alone, the three women competed in 60 to 70 rodeos, and the family continues to fulfill a family legacy that began years ago when Kim’s parents began raising barrel horses. This new generation hopes to breed more winners and continue their winning legacy, as well.
A little sibling rivalry just makes life more fun and also will make history this weekend at the IFR.