🦎 Lizard on the Grass: Tayla Moeykens and JM PocketsDoubleDash Take $16K and Pendleton Round-Up Title

Tayla Moeykens and JM PocketsDoubleDash (“Lizard”) left Pendleton with one of the biggest wins of her career, clocking a 28.45 to take the first round, finishing second in the Finals with a 28.60, and winning the average in 57.05 seconds on two head.

The $16,373 payday pushed Moeykens past $134,000 on the 2025 season and all but secured her first trip to the National Finals Rodeo. The ProRodeo season concludes on Sept. 30, and as of Sept. 16, Moeykens was seated No. 10 in the WPRA World Standings.

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Moeykens and Lizard left Pendleton with one of the biggest wins of their career, clocking a 28.45 to take the first round, finishing second in the Finals with a 28.60, and winning the average in 57.05 seconds on two head. The $14,373 payday pushed Moeykens past $134,000 on the 2025 season and all but secured her first trip to the National Finals Rodeo.

At the 2025 Pendleton Round-Up, Moeykens and Lizard made the infield grass look easy, clocking two smooth, powerful runs to claim one of the biggest wins of her young ProRodeo career. “Out there it felt like Lizard just said, ‘I’ve got it—hang on and stay out of my way,’” Moeykens said. “Pendleton is such a rush, but he knew exactly what he was doing.”

Lizard is by GuysPocketsFullOfCash and comes straight out of the Moeykens family program in Montana. Tayla’s mom, Deena Moeykens, rodeoed on his uncle Charger (Cash Or Charge), while Tayla grew up running Cruiser (Guys Cruisin For Cash) at junior rodeos. Their full brother, GuysPocketsFullOfCash, went on to sire Lizard—tying generations of horses together for the family.

“We’ve had him since he was six months old,” Tayla said. “But Mom spent so much time selecting him before he was even born. She studied the mares (Jerry Voorhies) had, and knew his momma’s was who we wanted…He’s always been the levelheaded one. Even when he was young, Mom said he could be half paying attention and still doing it right. He takes things literally, which makes him so solid in big setups”.

Lizard’s barn name came from his very first days. He was born with his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth, and the breeder nicknamed him “Lizard.” The name stuck, and so did the quirk—he still flashes his tongue often. “He’s smart—almost too smart sometimes,” Tayla laughed. “He’ll outsmart us. But everybody needs a Lizard.”

Pendleton’s wide-open, grass pattern can overwhelm even seasoned horses, but Lizard thrives on the challenge. “We set it up in our field the week before so he could see it,” Moeykens explained. “When he made that first run, it was surreal. We knew he liked it, but after that run, I thought we really had a chance”.

“He’s smart—almost too smart sometimes. He’ll outsmart us. But everybody needs a Lizard.”Tayla Moeykens

Moeykens said his adaptability makes him invaluable. “He’s the one I can run onto the football field at Montana State, or walk down Main Street during College GameDay, or rope calves on at home. He just says, okay, let’s do it.”

Moeykens, who was a standout at Montana State University, hauls with her parents and credits them for the foundation that carried her to her first NFR qualification. Deena remains her technical trainer, while her dad handles shoeing and daily care. “This win, I kind of wanted to do it for Mom and for Lizard,” Tayla said. “He’s her baby, and I wanted them both to shine”