Kaitlyn Taylor: The Rock Behind the Chutes

Behind every successful rodeo athlete there’s an individual or a team that holds them together. For PBR phenom Mason Taylor, that individual is his wife, Kaitlyn. The couple will celebrate their third anniversary in November, but their time together started long before Kaitlyn walked down the aisle.

“We started dating when I was 15,” Kaitlyn recalls. “My mom's boyfriend at the time had a son that is my age. He had a friend staying with him, and of course, it was Mason. I met him for the first time at a rodeo.”

Kaitlyn’s personal foray into rodeo began around age 10 when a neighbor invited her to come over and get a taste of the sport. From then on, she’s been hooked.

“I ran barrels and poles, and I tied goats,” she shares. “A little bit later, I started roping calves. That's the one thing that stuck with me to this day.”

After high school, Kaitlyn earned a full ride scholarship as part of the rodeo team in Hillsborough. There was only one roadblock—she needed a horse.

“My mom bought me a horse, and he was great,” Kaitlyn shares. “Two weeks before I was supposed to leave for college, he passed away unexpectedly.”

When Kaitlyn told her then-boyfriend Mason about the issue, he stepped in to save the day. Mason had already started seeing success in the bull riding circuit, and he offered to buy a horse for Kaitlyn.

“When he helped me get that horse, I realized what we had together was a long-term deal,” Kaitlyn reveals. “If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have been able to go to school or keep roping.”

The now-25-year-old mare is still enjoying life in the Taylor’s pasture, enjoying her well-deserved retirement. As for Mason and Kaitlyn, they’re still following the rodeo trail and leaning on each other for support every step of the way.

Growing Up Together

When Mason and Kaitlyn first met, their lifestyle looked a lot different from their current status.

“I had a little Prius that my parents had bought me, and I worked at Sonic,” Kaitlyn recalls. “Mason and I would get in that Prius, and I'd drive him to wherever he was going that weekend. We had this big coin jar in my back seat that I'd fill up with change from Sonic that we used to pay for gas. I'll never forget that.”

Since then, the couple has worked hard to make the most of Mason’s victories on the PBR circuit. Despite their success, they’ve experienced their share of hardship along the way. Through the ups and downs, Kaitlyn has gained a deeper understanding of what it takes to be a cowboy’s wife.

“It’s a very unique experience,” Kaitlyn reveals. “Being a bull rider's wife requires being able to take care of everything while he's gone, to go through the injuries and the lows of the sport, and also through the highs when he’s winning.”

Kaitlyn sees her role in Mason’s life as being his rock, helping him navigate the inevitable ups and downs of rodeo life.

“As a wife, you've got to be that solid point and take everything with a grain of salt,” she explains. “When they’re doing well, you’ve still got to take care of business. When things are going bad, you have to take it all in stride and just keep rolling.

Money Matters

Recently, Kaitlyn stepped away from her full-time job to focus on caring for the couple’s animals and property.

“I've had a job all my life until recently,” Kaitlyn reveals. “Now, I stay home to manage our bucking bulls and take care of our horses.”

Kaitlyn’s recent shift in vocation only came after she and Mason learned the importance of prioritizing money management.

“It's an interesting perspective to see how much goes out every month,” Kaitlyn stated. “People think the bull riders and the rough stock guys have the easiest, cheapest way to rodeo because they don't have to haul or feed a horse. But that’s not always the case.”

Although not having the expense of an equine partner can decrease costs for a rodeo athlete, it’s still expensive to live on the road. Like any other rodeo athlete, bull riders are still responsible for their own insurance, medical bills, and any other costs they incur on the rodeo trail—whether they’re winning big checks or facing a rough patch.

With those pressures ever-present, Kaitlyn and Mason have learned to intentionally manage their finances as Mason’s success has grown.

“We've gotten a lot better about being financially responsible,” Kaitlyn explains. “When Mason first came on tour and started winning, we didn’t handle it as well. One day, I added it all up, and I realized it wasn’t sustainable.”

Like any rodeo athlete, Mason has experienced his shared of injuries. Those trying times have further encouraged the young couple to be wise with their investments—and to seek support from professionals.

“Injuries happen, and you may have to ride the bench for eight months,” Kaitlyn shares. “When Mason had hip surgery, he was down for six months. Then, immediately after coming back from his hip, he tore his groin and was out for another six or eight weeks. We had had enough put back that we were fine, but it’s comforting to know that if something did happen, there is somewhere to go with WSF.”

Now, Kaitlyn uses her own experiences to encourage other athletes and their families to take advantage of the resources available through WSF.

“You need to have a financial backup plan,” Kaitlyn affirms. “It’s so important to learn how to be responsible, and utilizing the financial resources with WSF helps a lot.”

Dancin’ Through Life

This April, Mason and Kaitlyn will shine up their boots and step out of their comfort zone for a unique competition—WSF’s Dancin’ with the Rodeo Stars. When friends told the couple they’d be perfect for the event, Kaitlyn was quick to agree.

“My alter ego thinks I can do everything,” Kaitlyn admits. “Of course, neither of us have any dancing background.”

Despite their lack of experience, the Taylors won’t say no to any opportunity to support their friends in the sport of rodeo. Since proceeds of the event go directly to helping cowboys and cowgirls, Mason and Kaitlyn didn’t hesitate to start researching dance moves.

“I'm in a YouTube hole looking for inspiration,” Kaitlyn laughs. “The only way you look dumb is if you don't try. And we’re going to be trying really hard! It’ll be memorable for sure.”

Get tickets and learn more about Dancin’ with the Rodeo Stars here.