Taylor Raupe, a 20-year-old from Douglas, Kansas, is balancing online college coursework, horse training, ProRodeos, and WCRA event nominations, including her second consecutive qualification for Rodeo Corpus Christi.
Currently ranked No. 2 in the Central Plains Region in breakaway roping while attending Coffeyville Community College, Raupe now has the opportunity to join the WCRA Free Riders team at Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo.
Ahead of the May 7–11, 2025 event, The Breakaway Roping Journal caught up with Raupe to learn more about her background.
BRJ: Taylor, tell us a little about your background in rodeo
TR: “I grew up in a rodeo family. My grandpa and dad Dustin were calf ropers, and they won a lot in their time. I grew up junior rodeoing and did most of the events. I was the Junior High Kansas State Breakaway Champion my seventh-and-eighth grade year, and I won state my freshman year for Kansas. I won state for Missouri as well my senior year.”
When did breakaway become your main focus?
It always was. My dad started me roping and I just kind of took on the other events when I was younger just for fun. My dad and I train some horses together, and growing up I had a couple nice solid horses he’d trained. But in middle school, due to some circumstances, I was forced to get on some of my dad’s younger horses. And that’s what I roped on throughout middle school and high school.
That sounds cool but challenging. What’s one thing your dad does really well as a trainer?
He takes his time and he understands that each horse is different. He is really good about being patient with them and knows some are going to take longer than others. They’re not all going to just come along right away.
I started training on broke horses, like 5-year-olds, and making them [breakaway horses]. I trained my main horse Copper with my dad.
Tell us about Copper.
He’s my main man… His biggest strength is the scoring. I can see a move on a calf or I can see neck rope on a calf and he’ll let me see whatever I want. He’s given me more confidence than I’ve had on anything else I’ve ever ridden.
His personality is just pure curiosity… it’s always ‘I want to learn more.’ And that’s what I love about him.
Do you have any up-and-coming horses?
I have a 6-year-old ‘Cisco’ [registered as Broken Fire] I bring along to rodeos now. He’s a little more timid than Copper is, so I bring him so Copper can show him it’s all right. I’ve also been riding a 3-year-old ‘Tucson’ [registered as TW Bar Cat] I bought a year ago. We just started trailing some calves on him the other day. He’s the first horse I’ve really done from the ground up.
What’s your biggest strength as a breakaway roper?
I think my biggest strength is scoring for sure. I think that’s where your whole run starts. You can’t have a good run until scoring comes into play. That’s where your whole run starts. I am very focused when it comes to seeing the right start and then going from there.
You’ve been nominating to the WCRA for several years now. What keeps you coming back?
I’ve been nominating for 3 years. I went to Corpus last year and the WCRA make it a very classy event. They spotlight people from everywhere and make it a great experience for everyone. When I was new, I felt so welcome there already. Everyone is so friendly and willing to help.”
