Fallon Taylor facts for kids

Fallon Taylor is an American professional rodeo competitor. She is famous for her skill in barrel racing. Fallon won the World Champion title in barrel racing in 2014, competing in the Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA). She competed in the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) seven times. Her first time at the NFR was in 1995 when she was only 13 years old. Her horse, BabyFlo, was named the WPRA/American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Barrel Racing Horse of the Year in 2013.

Early Life and Rodeo Dreams

Fallon Taylor was born on July 18, 1982, in Tampa, Florida. She was the youngest of three children. When Fallon was seven, she watched a rodeo for the first time. She immediately wanted to become a barrel racer.

To help Fallon follow her dream, her parents moved the family to Texas. They had no experience with horses. So, they found a famous trainer named Martha Josey. Martha also trained Fallon's mare, Flowers and Money. This horse later became the mother of BabyFlo. Fallon was homeschooled so she could focus on her riding.

Fallon's Rodeo Career

Fallon joined the Women's Professional Rodeo Association in 1990 when she was eight years old. She first qualified for the NFR at age 13 in 1995. She also qualified for the NFR in the next three years. In 1995, she finished sixth in the World Standings.

When she was 14, Fallon won RodeoHouston. This is one of the biggest rodeos in the world. She won $15,000, which was a lot of money for a teenager. Fallon loved being a young rider at the top level. She said she was just excited to be there. Her horses, Dr. Nick Bar and Flowers and Money, helped her reach the NFR during these years.

Early NFR Success (1995-1998)

• 1995 – Finished 6th in the World Standings with $62,414.
• 1996 – Finished 9th in the World Standings with $59,925.
• 1997 – Finished 7th in the World Standings with $56,556.
• 1998 – Finished 12th in the World Standings with $47,277.

After 1998, Fallon took a break from barrel racing. She was tired of traveling all the time. She decided to try acting and modeling in New York City and Los Angeles, California. For about 15 years, she trained horses for others. She also acted in TV shows like The Loop and Two and A Half Men. She did not compete in rodeo during this time.

A Serious Accident and Comeback

In 2009, Fallon had a very serious accident while riding a horse. The horse bucked, and she fell, landing on her head. She fractured her skull in four places. She also broke bones in her face and her C-2 vertebra. Doctors thought she might not walk again.

Fallon worked very hard to recover. She wore a halo brace for three months. After a year and a half, she was able to walk again. Her next goal was to ride horses again. It took her another year to feel comfortable riding. She says she rides even better now than before her accident.

After her recovery, Fallon decided to return to rodeo. She was 31 years old. She chose a young mare named BabyFlo. BabyFlo was the daughter of Flowers and Money, one of Fallon's earlier NFR horses. BabyFlo showed great potential right away.

Returning to Competition (2012-2015)

In 2012, Fallon finished 16th in the World Standings. She won several rodeos that year. BabyFlo was named the PRCA/WPRA AQHA Reserve Barrel Racing Horse of the Year. This meant she was the second-best barrel racing horse.

In 2013, Fallon finished 11th in the World Standings. She won many rodeos, including the Home of Champions in Red Lodge, Montana. BabyFlo was named the PRCA/WPRA AQHA Barrel Racing Horse of the Year.

In 2014, Fallon won her first WPRA World Champion title. She earned over $276,000 that year. She placed in eight of ten rounds at the NFR. She won Round 1 and Round 4. This was her first time winning the NFR. During the NFR, she started wearing a helmet, which helped her feel more confident.

In 2015, Fallon continued to do well. She placed second at the Helotes Festival in Helotes, Texas. She earned over $187,000 that season. She finished 6th in the World Standings.

Career Highlights

By 2016, Fallon had earned over $900,000 in her career. She won one World Barrel Racing Championship in 2014. She qualified for the NFR in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2013, 2014, and 2015. Fallon and BabyFlo were special because they were one of the few world champions to start their barrel pattern by going to the left barrel first.

In 2017, Fallon competed in 20 rodeos. She won the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. This is a very big rodeo that many competitors want to win. Fallon and BabyFlo had a winning run of 16.62 seconds. She won over $16,000 at this event.

Awards and Honors

Fallon Taylor has received many awards for her rodeo career:

• 7 NFR Qualifications
• 2013-2015 Jerry Ann Taylor Best Dressed Award at NFR
• 2014 Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) Barrel Racing World Champion
• 2018 American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Barrel Racing World Champion
• 2019 Thoroughbred Makeover Barrel Racing Champion
• 2024 Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame
• 2024 Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame

Fallon's Horses

Fallon has ridden several important horses throughout her career.

• BabyFlo (also known as Flo's Heiress) is a chestnut mare. She was born and raised on Fallon's ranch. BabyFlo is the daughter of Dr. Nick Bar and Flowers and Money.
  • 2013 PRCA/WPRA AQHA Barrel Racing Horse of the Year
  • 2012 PRCA/WPRA AQHA Reserve Barrel Racing Horse of the Year
• Flos Nick Nack is another mare by Dr. Nick Bar and out of Flowers and Money.

Clothing Line

In 2014, Fallon, her husband, and two friends started a clothing line called Ranch Dress'n. They sell rodeo clothes like jeans and T-shirts. They also sell athletic wear, hats, and clothes for young people.

Personal Life

Fallon Taylor lives in Whitesboro, Texas. She graduated from the University of North Texas. She became known for her unique style of dressing and riding.

In 2012, Fallon married Delbert Alvarado, who was a football player for the Dallas Cowboys. He encouraged her to start barrel racing again after her accident. They later divorced in 2015.

Fallon has a very large following on social media, with about half a million fans. She calls her fans "Flomies."