It’s not every day The Team Roping Journal’s videos break the internet, but when we catch J.D. Yates stacking coils over his saddle horn heeling to save a placing at the 2024 AQHA World Show, we sort of can’t help ourselves.

But–more importantly—Yates won the AQHA Junior Heading World Title on Tearney Ranch’s Sue C Royalty. The 2020 mare by One Time Royalty out of Sue C Lena marked a 229.0, worth $25,298.85 for the win against 76 other 5-and-under horses in the Level 3 Championships

Watch J.D. Yates’ Training Program ONLY on Roping.com

In this episode of The Score, we catch up with Yates the day after his win from the practice pen to get his hot take on the state of the rope horse training industry and where we go from here.

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More from J.D. Yates

• J.D. Yates and Sue C Royalty Reign Supreme as 2024 AQHA Junior Heading World Champions
• No Doubt About It: J.D. Yates’ Still Got It with Royal Crown Heeling Win on Probably A Shiner
• At Home With: Dick Yates
• J.D. Yates Sends Five Horses to the High School Finals
• Time to Change? J.D. Yates Talks Old-School vs. New-School Starts

The post There’s Only One J.D. Yates appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Circuit finals season is in full swing as November 2024 marches on. Eight circuit finals are in the books, and the stories continue to intrigue and inspire, from overcoming accidents to going neck-and-neck with family in the standings.

On this episode of The Short Score, we introduce two circuit stories we’ve enjoyed so far: Jared Fillmore’s Wilderness Circuit Finals win and Braden Pirrung’s Badlands Circuit year-end title.

Listen Now

Episode presented by Purina

Confidently address your horse’s unique weight needs and help optimize their overall well-being with research-proven Purina Animal Nutrition feeds — designed by passionate equine nutritionists. Partner with Purina to nourish your horse to their optimal body condition. Explore weight management resources for your horse today at purinamills.com/feed-finder.

MORE FROM THE SCORE

• The Kirchenschlagers are AQHA World Champions
• The Short Score: Riata Part 2
• The CoJo Roping Champs: Andrew Ward and Jake Long
• The Short Score: Mike Kunzler and Celtic Tuff
• The Mental Game That Got Travis Graves to 15 Wrangler National Finals Rodeos
• How the Solo Stallion Incentive Will Work PLUS the Select Online October Yearling & Mixed Sale Preview

The post The Short Score: Circuit Roundup appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Tate Kirchenschlager won the 2024 AQHA Senior Heading World Championship on the stallion Starlight Oak 017, while his cousin Dakota Kirchenschlager won the Senior Heeling on DT Hickorys Playtime.

Both men helped each other to win the title in Oklahoma City Nov. 3, with Dakota, 33, winning in a rope-off against Cade Rice and Roll Your Nickles, in which Tate headed for both men aboard Starlight Oak 017, too. 

READ: Kirchenschlagers Help Each Other to 2024 AQHA World Titles in Senior Heading, Heeling on Starlight Oak 017, DT Hickorys Playtime

For the Senior Heading, Tate, 32, won owner Inderman Schaffner LLC $23,967.33 for the 2017 stallion by Starlights Gypsy out of Lenas Oakling. 

The Senior Heeling title paid Dakota and owner DT Horses $26,154.82 for the 2017 mare by Hickory Holly Time out of Play Like Clay.

Listen Now

Episode presented by Fast Back Ropes

Fast Back Ropes is thrilled to unveil its latest innovation in roping technology: the Hombre. After rigorous testing by Fast Back endorsees over the past year, the Hombre is set to redefine performance expectations in team roping.

A four-strand crafted with a core, the Hombre stands out with its vibrant orange color, ensuring exceptional visibility in any arena. Its smaller diameter and rough exterior are meticulously designed to enhance grip, making it ideal for swift and precise maneuvers around the saddle horn.

“The Hombre represents a significant advancement in our team rope lineup,” said Coy Upchurch, General Manager at Fast Back Ropes. “It offers a relaxed feel combined with superior functionality that ropers of all levels will appreciate. Our endorsees have given it high praise during testing.”

Available in both head and heel variations, the Hombre head rope spans 31 feet and is offered in XX-Soft, X-Soft, Soft, and MS lays. Meanwhile, the 35-foot heel rope options include Soft, MS, Medium, and HM lays. This versatility ensures that every roper can find a Hombre rope suited to their specific needs.

“The Hombre is designed to meet the demands of competitive ropers who seek precision and reliability,” added Upchurch. “We’re excited to bring this game-changing rope to market and anticipate it will make waves in the roping community.”

The Hombre will be available for purchase at retail locations starting September 1st, marking a new era in team roping technology. For more information about the Hombre and Fast Back Ropes’ complete product offerings, visit fastbackropes.com.

The post The Kirchenschlagers are AQHA World Champions appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

The 2024 Riata Championships crowned numerous winners who all took home their share of a pretty penny.

On this episode of The Short Score, we continue our Riata series with the #10.5 and #9.5 champions. Tauna Alcorn and Taylor Pettigrew won the #10.5 on SJR Diamond Metalica and Call Me Mr Jonez for $109,600. Alcorn had a huge week inside the Lazy E winning nearly $150,000 on SJR Diamond Metalica.

In the #9.5, Craig Moore and Bobby Simmons pocketed $106,000 between the 2024 Riata #9.5 win and the head and heel horse incentives on You Rey and Sundae Rebel.

Listen Now

Episode presented by Roping.com

Roping.com is the online training resource for team ropers. In addition to thousands of videos and exclusive roping films in your back pocket, members get private access to World Champion coaches like Jake Barnes, Clay O’Brien Cooper, Matt Sherwood, 26-time World Champion Trevor Brazile, and more every day. Take advantage of step-by-step tutorials, run critiques, private members-only Facebook group, live video demos and other benefits. 

Join now for only $29.95/month. 

MORE FROM THE SCORE

• The CoJo Roping Champs: Andrew Ward and Jake Long
• The Short Score: Mike Kunzler and Celtic Tuff
• The Mental Game That Got Travis Graves to 15 Wrangler National Finals Rodeos
• How the Solo Stallion Incentive Will Work PLUS the Select Online October Yearling & Mixed Sale Preview
• The Short Score: Riata and More
• Hurricane Helene: How the Roping Community Can Help

The post The Short Score: Riata Part 2 appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

The new ProRodeo team of Andrew Ward and Jake Long survived the pressure cooker of the CoJo Roping high-stakes short round, walking away with new Bill Fick Ford F-350s and stock-combo Bloomer Trailers, plus $60,000 in cash.

In a roping that had seen sub 5-second times all day long, Ward and Long just had to be 8 to win it all at high back. Ward got out the barrier, and they made a 6-second run in the middle of the pen to seal the deal. We caught up with them after their CoJo Open Roping win. 

Listen Now

This week’s episode is presented by Gold Buckle Horse Sales

Gold Buckle Horse Sale has come up with a process to take the guesswork out of finding the right horse and allowing both buyer and seller to find the perfect match with confidence. Each horse consigned through Gold Buckle Sales is professionally photographed, videoed and demoed by a professional Gold Buckle Pro. Visit www.goldbucklehorsesale.com.

MORE FROM THE SCORE

• The Short Score: Mike Kunzler and Celtic Tuff
• The Mental Game That Got Travis Graves to 15 Wrangler National Finals Rodeos
• How the Solo Stallion Incentive Will Work PLUS the Select Online October Yearling & Mixed Sale Preview
• The Short Score: Riata and More
• Hurricane Helene: How the Roping Community Can Help

The post The CoJo Roping Champs: Andrew Ward and Jake Long appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Mike Kunzler and Celtic Tuff had a big week at the 2024 American Rope Horse Futurity Association World Championship in Fort Worth, pocketing over $27,000.

Kunzler and Celtic Tuff, owned by Bri Wells and by Woody Be Tuff out of Sucha Smartlookn Cat, won the Limited Heading title for $7,500, followed by the Intermediate Heading title for $20,000. On this episode of The Short Score, Kunzler joins us to talk about his win.

Listen Now

Episode presented by Fast Back Ropes

Fast Back Ropes is thrilled to unveil its latest innovation in roping technology: the Hombre. After rigorous testing by Fast Back endorsees over the past year, the Hombre is set to redefine performance expectations in team roping.

A four-strand crafted with a core, the Hombre stands out with its vibrant orange color, ensuring exceptional visibility in any arena. Its smaller diameter and rough exterior are meticulously designed to enhance grip, making it ideal for swift and precise maneuvers around the saddle horn.

“The Hombre represents a significant advancement in our team rope lineup,” said Coy Upchurch, General Manager at Fast Back Ropes. “It offers a relaxed feel combined with superior functionality that ropers of all levels will appreciate. Our endorsees have given it high praise during testing.”

Available in both head and heel variations, the Hombre head rope spans 31 feet and is offered in XX-Soft, X-Soft, Soft, and MS lays. Meanwhile, the 35-foot heel rope options include Soft, MS, Medium, and HM lays. This versatility ensures that every roper can find a Hombre rope suited to their specific needs.

“The Hombre is designed to meet the demands of competitive ropers who seek precision and reliability,” added Upchurch. “We’re excited to bring this game-changing rope to market and anticipate it will make waves in the roping community.”

The Hombre will be available for purchase at retail locations starting September 1st, marking a new era in team roping technology. For more information about the Hombre and Fast Back Ropes’ complete product offerings, visit fastbackropes.com.

MORE FROM THE SCORE

• The Mental Game That Got Travis Graves to 15 Wrangler National Finals Rodeos
• How the Solo Stallion Incentive Will Work PLUS the Select Online October Yearling & Mixed Sale Preview
• The Short Score: Riata and More
• Hurricane Helene: How the Roping Community Can Help
• Who Deserves the 2024 AQHA/PRCA Heel Horse of the Year Award?
• The Short Score: Pendleton Champs

The post The Short Score: Mike Kunzler and Celtic Tuff appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Travis Graves has roped at 14 Wrangler National Finals Rodeos, and when he and Luke Brown ride into the Thomas & Mack in December, they’ll have 30 qualifications among them.

His road to the 2024 Finals wasn’t easy—but Graves’ veteran mentality got him there at crunch time and helped the team win when it mattered most. In this episode of The Score, Graves describes how he and Brown thought about their 2024 season and how they plan to practice for the NFR.

SPONSOR: Boehringer Ingelheim

Empowering Excellence in Every Horse

As the global leader in equine health, Boehringer Ingelheim is focused on sharing our passion to improve the life of every horse. We understand that no one cares for a horse alone; it takes a whole network of passionate people to provide the highest level of care. Our team goes beyond our comprehensive product portfolio to support veterinarians, equine care professionals and horse owners alike in raising equine health to an art form. To learn more about our philosophy of care, visit TheArtofHorse.com.

• Travis Graves’ Horse Care Routine
• The Score Season 1, Episode 15 with Travis Graves
• 911 Emergency Crisis Care for Your Horse
• Travis Graves Preps for Ninth WNFR Appearance
• So Long, Superstar: Travis Graves’ First Great One Goes to Greener Pastures

The post The Mental Game That Got Travis Graves to 15 Wrangler National Finals Rodeos appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Solo Select Founder Melanie Smith joins host Chelsea Shaffer to talk through the new Solo Select Stallion Incentive, which promises hundreds of thousands in new added money annually to the rope horse industry. Plus, they preview the Solo Select October Yearling Sale—the premier online yearling sale, offering the industry’s top Western performance prospects across roping, cutting, cow horse and barrel racing.

The sale features 112 premium lots, from Woody Be Tuff, Show Me The Buckles, Dirty Fling and Stevie Rey Von yearlings to three-in-one broodmares and ready-to-go show horses. Shaffer and Smith talk through which horses may turn out the top sellers, which are barn favorites and what crosses are ones to watch.

The post How the Solo Stallion Incentive Will Work PLUS the Select Online October Yearling & Mixed Sale Preview appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

The 2024 ProRodeo season may have come to an end, but the team roping action hasn’t slowed down. The final weekend of the ProRodeo season we also crowned champions at the 2024 Riata, and Oct. 6, the Clay Logan Open named its victors.

On this episode of The Short Score, we hear from the Riata #14.5 champions, Reed Boos on Yes Im Sassy and Cord Forzano on Smartlookncat. We also catch up with Bubba Buckaloo and Joseph Harrison, winners of the 2024 Clay Logan Open.

Listen Now

Episode presented by Purina

Confidently address your horse’s unique weight needs and help optimize their overall well-being with research-proven Purina Animal Nutrition feeds — designed by passionate equine nutritionists. Partner with Purina to nourish your horse to their optimal body condition. Explore weight management resources for your horse today at purinamills.com/feed-finder.

MORE FROM THE SCORE

• Hurricane Helene: How the Roping Community Can Help
• Who Deserves the 2024 AQHA/PRCA Heel Horse of the Year Award?
• The Short Score: Pendleton Champs
• Who Deserves the 2024 PRCA/AQHA Head Horse of the Year Title? And WHY?
• Jake Smith’s ProRodeo Breakthrough, 12 Years in the Making

The post The Short Score: Riata and More appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

The Animal and Cat5 Resources are partnering to send a truckload of supplies to Asheville, North Carolina, to aid in the horrifying impact of Hurricane Helene. The needs are unimaginable, and Cat5 is on the ground all across the East Coast helping with recovery efforts.

The Score’s Chelsea Shaffer sat down with Cindy Perez of Cat5 Resources, and owner of up and coming stallion, The Animal, to discuss the horrifying impact of Hurricane Helene on the East Coast region. They discuss trusted nonprofits and how the roping community can offer aid, donations and more to the devastated areas.

Listen Now

MORE FROM THE SCORE

• Who Deserves the 2024 PRCA/AQHA Head Horse of the Year Title? And WHY?
• Jake Smith’s ProRodeo Breakthrough, 12 Years in the Making
• How Kory Koontz Found Life in ProRodeo Retirement
• The Short Score: Hermiston and More
• JoJo LeMond: On Going Home & Starting Over

The post Hurricane Helene: How the Roping Community Can Help appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

With the 2024 ProRodeo season over, The Score podcast taps some of the best heelers in the world to help us hammer out who should be the AQHA/PRCA Heel Horse of the Year.

Host Chelsea Shaffer talks to Logan Medlin, Jake Long, Paul Eaves, Wesley Thorp and Levi Lord to get their say on which horse deserves the coveted title.

This episode is presented by Horseweek.tv. Celebrate the splendor of horses during Horse Week! Join us for the ultimate equine celebration during the Horse Week Film Festival, brought to you by Boehringer Ingelheim, October 20-26, 2024. This extraordinary event unites horse enthusiasts from around the globe in a free weeklong online film festival dedicated to the awe-inspiring world of horses. Sign up for our free newsletter to stay in the know and tune in live October 20-26 at horseweek.tv.

The post Who Deserves the 2024 AQHA/PRCA Heel Horse of the Year Award? appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Dustin Egusquiza and Levi Lord have take 2024 by storm as the world standings leaders with $187,771.70 won on the year. Saturday, Sept. 14, Egusquiza and Lord also added the Pendleton Round-Up to their resumes.

Egusquiza and Lord roped three steers in 17.9 seconds and pocketed $12,223 a piece between the rounds and the average. The win also locked them in as the No. 1 team in the PRCA Playoff Series standings heading into the Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls at the end of the month, an opportunity they missed by one point in 2023.

On this episode of The Short Score, Egusquiza and Lord talk about the Pendleton Round-Up team roping win, the year they’ve had and more.

Listen Now

Episode presented by Purina

Confidently address your horse’s unique weight needs and help optimize their overall well-being with research-proven Purina Animal Nutrition feeds — designed by passionate equine nutritionists. Partner with Purina to nourish your horse to their optimal body condition. Explore weight management resources for your horse today at purinamills.com/feed-finder.

MORE FROM THE SCORE

• Who Deserves the 2024 PRCA/AQHA Head Horse of the Year Title? And WHY?
• Jake Smith’s ProRodeo Breakthrough, 12 Years in the Making
• How Kory Koontz Found Life in ProRodeo Retirement
• The Short Score: Hermiston and More
• JoJo LeMond: On Going Home & Starting Over

The post The Short Score: Pendleton Champs appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

The top 25 headers in the world standings vote each year for the AQHA/PRCA Head Horse of the Year bronze to go to one great head horse—and every year, The Team Roping Journal asks some of the best headers in the world to weigh in on who they think deserves the title.

On this episode of ‘The Score’ podcast, we get Brenten Hall, Coleman Proctor, Dustin Egusquiza, Tanner Tomlinson and Tyler Wade to weigh in on who’s the best of the best over 80 rodeos in the PRCA.

—

This week’s episode of The Score is presented by Fast Back Ropes’ Hombre.

Fast Back Ropes is thrilled to unveil its latest innovation in roping technology: the Hombre. After rigorous testing by Fast Back endorsees over the past year, the Hombre is set to redefine performance expectations in team roping.

A four-strand crafted with a core, the Hombre stands out with its vibrant orange color, ensuring exceptional visibility in any arena. Its smaller diameter and rough exterior are meticulously designed to enhance grip, making it ideal for swift and precise maneuvers around the saddle horn.

“The Hombre represents a significant advancement in our team rope lineup,” said Coy Upchurch, General Manager at Fast Back Ropes. “It offers a relaxed feel combined with superior functionality that ropers of all levels will appreciate. Our endorsees have given it high praise during testing.”

Available in both head and heel variations, the Hombre head rope spans 31 feet and is offered in XX-Soft, X-Soft, Soft, and MS lays. Meanwhile, the 35-foot heel rope options include Soft, MS, Medium, and HM lays. This versatility ensures that every roper can find a Hombre rope suited to their specific needs.

“The Hombre is designed to meet the demands of competitive ropers who seek precision and reliability,” added Upchurch. “We’re excited to bring this game-changing rope to market and anticipate it will make waves in the roping community.”

The Hombre will be available for purchase at retail locations starting September 1st, marking a new era in team roping technology. For more information about the Hombre and Fast Back Ropes’ complete product offerings, visit fastbackropes.com.

The post Who Deserves the 2024 PRCA/AQHA Head Horse of the Year Title? And WHY? appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Jake Smith has been toiling away in his arena in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, training horses and paying his dues in anticipation of this moment.

Smith, 31, is seventh in the PRCA World Standings with $116,588.07 won on the head side after spending most of his career a heeler.

Smith is a Wildfire Open to the World Champion as a heeler, and in 2023 he won the Riata Championship Open with Douglas Rich, his best friend and rodeo partner.

We called Smith to discuss which horse should be Head Horse of the Year, but in Smith had plenty to say, so we’re sharing the whole interview because it’s well worth it.

Today’s episode is presented by Roping.com’s Riata livestream. The entire event will stream live on Roping.com from the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Related Stories:

• Rich Qualifies for First NFR with Help from Above
• Riata Buckle Champ Douglas Rich Breaks Down Winning Run
• Riata Buckle Pro Futurity Champs Jake Smith & Douglas Rich
• Finals Rookies Rahlmann and Rich Turns It Around with Round 6 Win
• Eyeing the Riches: Rahlmann and Rich Advance to Gold Medal Round

The post Jake Smith’s ProRodeo Breakthrough, 12 Years in the Making appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Kory Koontz qualified for 22 Wrangler National Finals Rodeos, won the NFR average title in 1997 and won every major jackpot along the way.

But when he stepped away from professional rodeo—after seasoning iconic reacher Dustin Egusquiza—Koontz found himself re-creating his life from the ground up, learning how to budget and to manage a teaching business, all while starting life with his new wife.

READ: When the Road Ends

Along the way, Koontz learned some valuable lessons that he shares in this week’s episode of The Score.

• Bit Junkie with Kory Koontz
• The Score Season 1, Episode 10 with Kory Koontz
• The Greatest Heelers to Have Never Won a Gold Buckle
• Your Circle Matters
• KK on Keeping Up with the Times

This week’s episode of The Score is presented by Fast Back Ropes’ Hombre.

Fast Back Ropes is thrilled to unveil its latest innovation in roping technology: the Hombre. After rigorous testing by Fast Back endorsees over the past year, the Hombre is set to redefine performance expectations in team roping.

A four-strand crafted with a core, the Hombre stands out with its vibrant orange color, ensuring exceptional visibility in any arena. Its smaller diameter and rough exterior are meticulously designed to enhance grip, making it ideal for swift and precise maneuvers around the saddle horn.

“The Hombre represents a significant advancement in our team rope lineup,” said Coy Upchurch, General Manager at Fast Back Ropes. “It offers a relaxed feel combined with superior functionality that ropers of all levels will appreciate. Our endorsees have given it high praise during testing.”

Available in both head and heel variations, the Hombre head rope spans 31 feet and is offered in XX-Soft, X-Soft, Soft, and MS lays. Meanwhile, the 35-foot heel rope options include Soft, MS, Medium, and HM lays. This versatility ensures that every roper can find a Hombre rope suited to their specific needs.

“The Hombre is designed to meet the demands of competitive ropers who seek precision and reliability,” added Upchurch. “We’re excited to bring this game-changing rope to market and anticipate it will make waves in the roping community.”

The Hombre will be available for purchase at retail locations starting September 1st, marking a new era in team roping technology. For more information about the Hombre and Fast Back Ropes’ complete product offerings, visit fastbackropes.com.

The post How Kory Koontz Found Life in ProRodeo Retirement appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

It was a weekend for the “underdogs” with teams outside the Top 15 raking in and climbing in the PRCA world standings.

Tanner Tomlinson and Patrick Smith have been fighting tooth and nail to climb in the standings, and they’ve landed themselves both at 21st in the world after a $14,064-a-man weekend. Tomlinson and Smith won the Farm-City Pro Rodeo in Hermiston, Oregon, picking up $10,101 each. They won $2,546 a man for second at the Lea County PRCA Rodeo in Lovington, New Mexico, and $1,417 a man for eighth in Logan, Utah, at the Cache County Fair and Rodeo. On this episode of The Short Score, Tomlinson briefly talks about their weekend, how they’re climbing in the standings and their mentality going into the last few weeks of the 2024 season.

The Short Score also breaks down some other big winners over the Aug. 7-11, weekend.

Listen Now

Episode presented by Roping.com

Roping.com is the online training resource for team ropers. In addition to thousands of videos and exclusive roping films in your back pocket, members get private access to World Champion coaches like Jake Barnes, Clay O’Brien Cooper, Matt Sherwood, 26-time World Champion Trevor Brazile, and more every day. Take advantage of step-by-step tutorials, run critiques, private members-only Facebook group, live video demos and other benefits. 

Join now for only $29.95/month. 

MORE FROM THE SCORE

• JoJo LeMond: On Going Home & Starting Over
• The Short Score: Old West Part 2
• The Short Score: From Utah to Cheyenne
• How to Market Your Rope Horses with Elite Equine Promotions
• The Short Score: From the NFR Open to Salinas

The post The Short Score: Hermiston and More appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

JoJo LeMond roped at four National Finals Rodeos before heading back to his family ranch in Andrews, Texas, to raise his kids with his wife, Blair.

But the move home wasn’t sunshine and rainbows for LeMond, and he’s as real as it gets with how he made the transition out of full-time rodeo and into life as a cutting horse trainer.

LeMond and his family now train horses as a family, keeping 80 outside horses in training at all times. In this episode, LeMond discusses what the transition is like, going from feeding your family with a rope while rodeoing to training horses for a living and making ends meet.

This episode with JoJo LeMond is presented by Gold Buckle Horse Sales. Gold Buckle Horse Sale has come up with a process to take the guesswork out of finding the right horse and allowing both buyer and seller to find the perfect match with confidence. Each horse consigned through Gold Buckle Sales is professionally photographed, videoed and demoed by a professional Gold Buckle Pro. Visit www.goldbucklehorsesale.com.

More on JoJo LeMond:

• Dual Attack: JoJo Lemond is Deadly on Both Ends at Roping Futurities of America
• LeMond Bids Farewell to Career-Making Horse Bull
• Ageless Wonder: JoJo LeMond’s Bull
• LeMond Family Legacy
• Get Back, JoJo

The post JoJo LeMond: On Going Home & Starting Over appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Leaving the box flat not only affects your start, it also plays a role in setting up the entire run. If your horse is squatting, their skewed balance can get you off balance. In this bonus Roping.com tips episode of The Short Score, Trevor Brazile gives three tips for leaving the box flat.

Riding the famous stallion The Darkk Side, Brazile explains what leaving flat means in the box, and how he uses his body to stay with the horse from the corner to the steer. He talks through the problems created by squatting in the corner, and Brazile talks about how to eliminate squatting in the corner in the box, too

Listen Now

Become a Better Roper:

Roping.com is the online training resource for team ropers. In addition to thousands of videos and exclusive roping films in your back pocket, members get private access to World Champion coaches like Jake Barnes, Clay O’Brien Cooper, Matt Sherwood, 26-time World Champion Trevor Brazile, and more every day. Take advantage of step-by-step tutorials, run critiques, private members-only Facebook group, live video demos and other benefits. 

Join now for only $29.95/month. 

MORE FROM THE SCORE

• The Short Score: Old West Part 2
• The Short Score: From Utah to Cheyenne
• How to Market Your Rope Horses with Elite Equine Promotions
• The Short Score: From the NFR Open to Salinas
• Why Martin Lucero Stepped Away From Rodeo

The post The Short Score: 3 Tips for Leaving Flat From the Box appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

We’re still not over the highest-paying rope horse futurity in history, the ARHFA Old West Rope Horse Futurity.

In this final feature of the Old West futurity, The Short Score brings you conversations with Clay Smith and Joseph Harrison after their wins.

Listen Now

Clay Smith was the first $100,000 winner of the weekend, taking home the win in the Open Futurity Heading on Lead On. Smith and the 5-year-old gelding won the Open Futurity Heading with a 930.24 on four.

Joseph Harrison had the biggest win of the week, not only winning the Open Futurity Heeling on Copperton, but also winning second on Nu One Time Blues and third on CR Better Be Tuff. All in all, between the average and the rounds, Harrison pocketed $168,480.

MORE FROM THE SCORE

• The Short Score: From Utah to Cheyenne
• How to Market Your Rope Horses with Elite Equine Promotions
• The Short Score: From the NFR Open to Salinas
• Why Martin Lucero Stepped Away From Rodeo
• The Short Score: A Little Bit of Everything

The post The Short Score: Old West Part 2 appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

The Team Roping Journal was all over the place this weekend, from the ARHFA’s Old West Rope Horse Futurity in Wallsburg, Utah, to the Cheyenne Frontier Days short round.

Miles Baker kicked off a historic weekend at the Old West Rope Horse Futurity, winning $50,000 in the Pre-Futurity Heading Thursday, July 25, on Relentless PYC. Baker talks about the mare they call Nala and why the win means so much to “a kid from Oklahoma.”

With an 8.3-second run, Hayes Smith and Justin Davis won their first Cheyenne Frontier Days titles, something they’ve both dreamed of since they were kids. They break down their win and the emotions behind it.

Listen Now

MORE FROM THE SCORE

• How to Market Your Rope Horses with Elite Equine Promotions
• The Short Score: From the NFR Open to Salinas
• Why Martin Lucero Stepped Away From Rodeo
• The Short Score: A Little Bit of Everything
• The Short Score: Joseph Harrison is the Richest ARHFA Roper
• Is Jade Corkill *Really* Retired from ProRodeo? (Does Anyone Really Retire from Rodeo?)

The post The Short Score: From Utah to Cheyenne appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Kenzie Mayer of Elite Equine Promotions is a master marketer in the team roping game, and she has figured out how to market rope horses.

Our partners at The Money Barrel Podcast sat down with her to talk through the way the rope horse industry has stepped up their game in horse promotion. With The Money Barrel host Kayla Jones, Kenzie discusses how the rope horse futurity business has impacted marketing and how best to promote your own horses.

Episode presented by Cactus Saddlery. Cactus Saddlery is the industry’s leading saddle makers, with all saddles and strap items handmade in the United states. With 150 years of combined saddle making skills, Cactus Saddlery provides premium saddles, tack, pads and equine accessories designed, developed and ridden by the professionals of our sport. Fit, quality, looks and personalized customer service are the expectations. Cactus Saddlery offers a full line of equine products to satisfy everyone from pleasure riders to professional competitors.

The post How to Market Your Rope Horses with Elite Equine Promotions appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

With the heart of the ProRodeo season in full swing, there’s some catching up to do.

Erich Rogers and Paul Eaves picked up their second California Rodeo Salinas titles Sunday, July 21, 2024, with a 46.5 on five steers. All in all they pocketed $10,946 a man to push to No. 15 and 16 in the world standings.

Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira added a new title to their resumes, picking up their first national circuit titles winning the 2024 NFR Open July 13. Between the overall win and the second-round win in their bracket, Driggers and Nogueira pocketed $16,000 a man to push Driggers to No. 1 in the world standings and Nogueira to No. 2.

On this episode of The Short Score, Rogers and Eaves share about their Salinas win, and Driggers and Nogueira talk about their win in Colorado Springs.

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This episode is brought to you by Purina. There’s more talk than ever about the importance of probiotics in equine health. But not all probiotics are created equal. New Purina Systemiq Supplement remains live & active after the pelleting process and throughout the digestive system making it all the way to the hind gut. Systemiq was designed to support normal recovery after exercise and occasional gastrointestinal stress. Whether you’re using a probiotic now or not, it’s time to use a live and active supplement from a name you trust. New Purina Systemiq probiotic.

More from The Score

• Why Martin Lucero Stepped Away From Rodeo
• The Short Score: A Little Bit of Everything
• The Short Score: Joseph Harrison is the Richest ARHFA Roper
• Is Jade Corkill *Really* Retired from ProRodeo? (Does Anyone Really Retire from Rodeo?)
• The Short Score: Kolton Schmidt’s Rhianna

The post The Short Score: From the NFR Open to Salinas appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Martin Lucero had a storybook career, with 16 National Finals Rodeo qualifications and an NFR average title. He was a master of strategic entering, and he’s still a resource for the young guys of the game. Lucero stepped away from full-time rodeo slowly, though, over the last decade, and in this episode of The Score, he explains why he called it a career and how he transitioned to life outside the arena.

This episode with Martin Lucero is the second of a summer-long series with guys who’ve decided to take time off from ProRodeo, exploring what made them make the tough call and how they built their lives—including their finances—in life after rodeo. Listen to the first episode with Jade Corkill here.

This episode of The Score is presented by Equinety. The amino acids in Equinety Horse XL are specifically formulated to stimulate the pituitary gland, (the master gland in the body), and this is what releases the necessary hormones that help the body repair at a cellular level.

MORE FROM THE SCORE

• The Short Score: Joseph Harrison is the Richest ARHFA Roper
• Is Jade Corkill *Really* Retired from ProRodeo? (Does Anyone Really Retire from Rodeo?)
• The Short Score: Kolton Schmidt’s Rhianna
• The Short Score: California’s Preston Burgess

The post Why Martin Lucero Stepped Away From Rodeo appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

From Cowboy Christmas, to the NFR Open, to Tate Kirchenschlager—we talk it all on this episode of The Short Score.

Cowboy Christmas 2024 is officially in the books, and Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira came out on top as team roping’s top money earners. They crushed the record they set in 2022 of $35,152 a man by raking in $47,275 each this year. But who else was inside the top five in terms of money won this Cowboy Christmas?

The American Rope Horse Futurity Association’s Cowtown Classic also took place over the weekend, and Tate Kirchenschlager reigned supreme as he and his horses unofficially amassed $31,465 in earnings over two days of competition.

National circuit titles are on the line as the 2024 NFR Open kicks off Tuesday, July 9. We break down everything you need to know about this year’s NFR Open on this episode of The Short Score.

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This episode of The Short Score is presented by Gold Buckle Horse Sales. Gold Buckle Horse Sales has come up with a process to take the guesswork out of finding the right horse and allowing both buyer and seller to find the perfect match with confidence. Each horse consigned through the program is professionally photographed, videoed and demoed by a professional Gold Buckle Pro. Learn more at goldbucklehorsesale.com.

MORE FROM THE SCORE

• The Short Score: Joseph Harrison is the Richest ARHFA Roper
• Is Jade Corkill *Really* Retired from ProRodeo? (Does Anyone Really Retire from Rodeo?)
• The Short Score: Kolton Schmidt’s Rhianna
• The Short Score: California’s Preston Burgess

The post The Short Score: A Little Bit of Everything appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Joseph Harrison is an undoubted force in the futurity game, now having $476,934.27 in American Rope Horse Futurity Association earnings, as of June 28, 2024, making him the richest roper in the ARHFA game.

Harrison joins The Short Score to talk about what it means to be the richest roper in the ARHFA and how to ensure a successful future in the rope horse and futurity industry.

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MORE FROM THE SCORE

• Is Jade Corkill *Really* Retired from ProRodeo? (Does Anyone Really Retire from Rodeo?)
• The Short Score: Kolton Schmidt’s Rhianna
• The Short Score: California’s Preston Burgess
• The Short Score: Memorial Day Weekend Roundup

The post The Short Score: Joseph Harrison is the Richest ARHFA Roper appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

For three-time World Champion Jade Corkill, 2024 was the year he decided to step away from the ProRodeo spotlight and focus on his family.

Corkill, however, has won nearly $80,000 in his time away from full-time rodeo in the first six months of the year, and he’s enjoying the time home watching his kids rope and supporting his wife’s barrel horse breeding operation. But what factors went into Corkill’s decision? And will he be back? Find out on this don’t-miss episode of The Score.

This episode with Jade Corkill kicks off our summer-long series with guys who’ve decided to take time off from ProRodeo, exploring what made them make the tough call and how they built their lives—including their finances—in life after rodeo.

Resistol is the official hat of the PRCA, the World Series of Team Roping, the USTRC and numerous other western sports events and organizations. Since 1927 Resistol has supported as much as they can in the western industry to ensure growth and a western lifestyle for generations to come! We Live It Every Day

Visit Resistol.com to find your favorite hat or locate a retailer near you 

The post Is Jade Corkill *Really* Retired from ProRodeo? (Does Anyone Really Retire from Rodeo?) appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Kolton Schmidt has added a new mount to his horse herd in 2024: a bay mare they call Rhianna.

Registered as Carters Won Time Out, Rhianna comes to Schmidt from A&C Racing and Roping, Rhen and Kaden Richard’s top-notch training program. Carters Won Time Out spent 2023 on the rope horse futurity scene with Rhen, picking up wins like the 6-&-Under Heading at the Royal Crown Futurity Rock Springs, Wyoming.

Chelsea Shaffer joins The Short Score to chat with Schmidt on Rhianna and how she joined his team.

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This episode of The Short Score is presented by Gold Buckle Horse Sales. Gold Buckle Horse Sales has come up with a process to take the guesswork out of finding the right horse and allowing both buyer and seller to find the perfect match with confidence. Each horse consigned through the program is professionally photographed, videoed and demoed by a professional Gold Buckle Pro. Learn more at goldbucklehorsesale.com.

The post The Short Score: Kolton Schmidt’s Rhianna appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Preston Burgess is teamed up with eight-time NFR qualifier Cody Cowden on the 2024 California Circuit front, and they’ve made some recent money moves to climb in their standings.

Burgess, a Hilmar, California, native, and Cowden have steadily climbed to fifth and third in the circuit standings after pocketing $6,718 a man between their average win at the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo May 30-June 2, and a fifth-place finish at the Livermore Rodeo June 8-9.

Burgess joins The Short Score to talk about their recent circuit success, his partnership with Cowden and rodeoing on the West Coast.

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This episode is brought to you by Purina RepleniMash. Attention horse owners. Are you looking to help your horse recover with ease, after a strenuous workout? Would you like to nourish your horse and their digestive system? If so, try the new Purina RepleniMash Product. It’s much more than a mash. RepleniMash promotes hydration, replenishes electrolytes and supports gastric comfort.  Put Purina’s research to the test. Stop into your local Purina retailer and grab a bag of Purina Replenimash product.

MORE FROM THE SCORE

• The Short Score: Memorial Day Weekend Roundup
• Kenna Francis’ and Whitney DeSalvo’s $60K WRWC Win
• The Short Score: WCRA Rodeo Corpus Christi 2024
• The Short Score: Guymon Champs

The post The Short Score: California’s Preston Burgess appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Memorial Day weekend is a time for us to honor and remember those who selflessly sacrificed their lives for our freedoms, and it’s also a major jackpotting weekend in the team roping world.

The best of the best enter across multiple Open ropings in the South, such as the Windy Ryon Memorial Roping, Cody NesSmith Memorial and the Danny Dietz Memorial Classic, before they head out for the summer run. On this episode of The Short Score, we go over who won what big ropings over Memorial Day weekend 2024.

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The weekend kicked off with Luke Brown and Travis Graves taking home the 50th Annual Windy Ryon Memorial Roping. Brown and Graves won the historic roping with a 41.22 on five steers for $9,904 May 24, 2024.

In Decatur, Texas, Clint Summers and Jake Long took home the Danny Dietz Memorial Classic Open win May 25. With a 33.03, they pocketed a combined $21,560 for the aggregate title. For Summers, the day marks his first Dietz championship, but Long celebrated No. 5 at the benefit event in memory of the late Navy SEAL, Danny Dietz. This also adds another major Open win in Long’s already large 2024 resume. (PS: You can watch the Dietz on Roping.com!)

The action continued with the Cody NesSmith Memorial Team Roping in Buffalo. The Cody NesSmith Memorial Team Roping remembers and honors the life of Cody NesSmith, who passed in 2020 to Ewing’s Sarcoma. Kollin VonAhn and Andrew Ward won the Cody Johnson Resistol Open 7 Header with a 57.13 on seven to split $40,000. The seven-header was followed the next morning by the Bill Fick Ford Open 5 Header, where Tyler Wade and Paul Eaves took home the win with a 30.34 on five.

Lastly, the Priefert Ranch Pro Roping kicked off today, May 28, and runs through June 2, and you can watch the action live all week long over at Roping.com.

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• Kenna Francis’ and Whitney DeSalvo’s $60K WRWC Win
• The Short Score: Guymon Champs
• Yeti US Open Champs Andrew Ward and Jake Long on The Score Podcast
• The Short Score: Weekend for the Resistol Rookies
• The Short Score: Sydney Ball

The post The Short Score: Memorial Day Weekend Roundup appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Kenna Francis and Whitney DeSalvo had a huge week in Texas at the 2024 Women’s Rodeo World Championship, pocketing $71,000 for Francis and $84,000 for DeSalvo.

Francis and DeSalvo were one of three teams who made it through the WRWC tournament throughout the week inside Cowtown Coliseum and put an exclamation point on the week with a 6.62-second run in front of the jam-packed PBR World Finals audience inside AT&T Stadium May 18.

Francis and DeSalvo join The Score to talk about their week, their top-of-the-line mounts and more.

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This episode is presented by Cactus Ropes.

The team at Cactus are ranchers, ropers, rodeo contestants and horse enthusiasts who take pride in blending traditional team rope making artistry with technical innovations to produce the industry’s best equipment.

Cactus has had many great individuals influence the team rope making process over the years starting with Cactus Jack, Jacky and Rob Stephenson, Joe Mathews, Barry Berg, and Mike Piland. Clay O’Brien Cooper, Jake Long, Chad Masters, Riley Minor, Matt Sherwood, Nick Sartain, Lari Dee Guy, Hope Thompson, Stran Smith along with many other team ropers, breakaway roper, and tie-down ropers have lent their professional expertise time and time again to help the master rope makers at Cactus hone their craft.

One of the greatest opportunities for the Cactus crew was the partnership with the GOAT (Greatest of All Time). For the last decade Trevor Brazile, the King of the Cowboys, has been working with Cactus Ropes to design the best feeling head and heel team ropes on the market. Trevor’s Relentless attention to detail coupled with the team rope design team at Cactus resulted in not only the creation the best selling Relentless line of team ropes and calf ropes, but a positive effect on the quality of all Cactus products, from ropes and sports boots to horse blankets.

Today many of the original cast of the Cactus start-up are still pushing the yellow and green every day in the rope shop in Pleasanton, TX. Mike Piland is the head of public relations, Barry is the general manager, and Rob is making sure every team rope is perfectly coiled. The Cactus Crew has stuck together for knocking on thirty years now with no signs of slowing down in the future.

The post Kenna Francis’ and Whitney DeSalvo’s $60K WRWC Win appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Champions were crowned May 11, 2024, at the WCRA Rodeo Corpus Christi. Winners of Corpus not only took home $15,000 and the coveted Rodeo Corpus Christi surfboards, but they also grabbed a spot on the WCRA Free Riders team in Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo May 17, at AT&T Stadium.

The 2023 Rodeo Corpus Christi champions Riley Kittle and Jace Helton returned to the American Bank Center ready to repeat their victory. They took home the Progressive Round 1 win with a 4.64 for $5,000, locking them in for the Showdown Round May 11, which features seven teams.

Progressive Round 2 belonged to Jake Smith and Douglas Rich with a 4.16-second run. Their win locked them in for the Showdown Round and pocketed them $5,000.

When the dust settled, Luke Brown and Jade Corkill took home the 2024 WCRA Rodeo Corpus Christi title. They advanced to the Showdown Round with a 16.23 in the two-head average. They topped the Showdown Round with a 4.75-second run to advance to the Triple Crown of Rodeo Round, comprised of three teams. With a businessman’s run of 6.0 in the Triple Crown of Rodeo Round, they took home the Rodeo Corpus Christi title for $15,000 and the surfboards. They also secured their spot on the Free Riders Team in Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo, and joining them will be Jake Smith and Douglas Rich who finished second overall.

On this episode of The Short Score, you’ll hear from the round winners as well as the overall Rodeo Corpus Christi champs.

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This episode is brought to you by Purina RepleniMash. Attention horse owners. Are you looking to help your horse recover with ease, after a strenuous workout? Would you like to nourish your horse and their digestive system? If so, try the new Purina RepleniMash Product. It’s much more than a mash. RepleniMash promotes hydration, replenishes electrolytes and supports gastric comfort.  Put Purina’s research to the test. Stop into your local Purina retailer and grab a bag of Purina Replenimash product.

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• The Short Score: Guymon Champs
• Yeti US Open Champs Andrew Ward and Jake Long on The Score Podcast
• The Short Score: Weekend for the Resistol Rookies
• The Short Score: Sydney Ball
• The Short Score: Luke Brown’s 2008 Pendleton Win

The post The Short Score: WCRA Rodeo Corpus Christi 2024 appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Dustin Egusquiza and Levi Lord took home the 2024 Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo win May 3-5, after roping three muleys in 22.6 seconds for $3,596 a man. Between the rounds and the aggregate, Egusquiza and Lord left Oklahoma with $5,298 each to push Egusquiza to No. 1 in the world standings with $70,234.22 won on the year and Lord to No. 2 on the heel side with $70,234.22 as well.

Egusquiza and Lord have had a major first half of the 2024 ProRodeo season, notching wins like the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo (Denver), Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo (Odessa) and Rodeo Austin, as well as picking up major checks at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo and San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo.

On this episode of The Short Score, Egusquiza and Lord talk about their win in Guymon and how this year is going.

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MORE FROM THE SCORE

• Yeti US Open Champs Andrew Ward and Jake Long on The Score Podcast
• The Short Score: Weekend for the Resistol Rookies
• The Short Score: Sydney Ball
• The Short Score: Luke Brown’s 2008 Pendleton Win
• Genuine Billy Cook’s Saddlemaker Jody Ramer

The post The Short Score: Guymon Champs appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Andrew Ward and Jake Long won the Yeti US Open at the Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping April 21, 2024, roping five steers in 29.14 seconds to win $32,300, and on this episode of The Score podcast, DruStew sits down with the duo after their US Finals win to talk about the state of open ropings and what it takes to win at the highest level.

This episode is presented by Cactus Ropes, sponsor of BOTH Andrew Ward and Jake Long. Cactus Ropes has pioneered the rope-making industry for more than 25 years, creating specialized products for ropers of all kinds. Andrew Ward won the US Open with his Cactus Xplosion, while Long won the roping with his Cactus Mojo.

Watch the full interview with Andrew Ward and Jake Long from the podcast, with bonus play-by-play of their runs.

The post Yeti US Open Champs Andrew Ward and Jake Long on The Score Podcast appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Resistol Rookie of the Year contenders were making waves across ProRodeo all weekend, from Clovis, California, to the Lone Star State of Texas.

The third-annual Resistol Rookie Roundup was at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, April 26-27. Utah cowboys Ben Jordan and Scott Lauaki took home the 2024 win with a 4.5-second run in the four-man Round to pocket $2,500 a man.  Chelsea Shaffer, host of The Score, caught up with Jordan and Lauaki after their win.

Over on the West Coast, the muleys were back in Clovis, and Resistol Rookies came out on top there, too. Resistol Rookie of the Year contender Korbin Rice took home the Clovis Rodeo win with 2021 Resistol Rookie Heeler of the Year Caleb Hendrix. They were 32.3 seconds on four head for $5,305 a man. Rice joins The Short Score to talk about their win.

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• The Short Score: Sydney Ball
• The Short Score: Luke Brown’s 2008 Pendleton Win
• Genuine Billy Cook’s Saddlemaker Jody Ramer
• The Short Score: 2024 BFI Week

The post The Short Score: Weekend for the Resistol Rookies appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Sydney Ball is headed to her fourth Women’s Rodeo World Championship, this time with the 2023 Challenger world title to her name.

The 23-year-old Virginia native, now living in Texas, leads the 2024 WRWC Challenger leaderboard on the head side heading into the WRWC May 13-28 in Fort Worth. Sydney, 23, and her twin sister Sally didn’t start roping until they were 17, yet they’ve had an impressive start with the Women’s Rodeo Championship.

Read Sydney's Story HERE

On this episode of The Short Score, Sydney talks about how she started heading, what it means to be the reigning Challenger world champion header and more.

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The 2024 Women’s Rodeo World Championship will take place May 13-18. The first four days of competition will happen at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, followed by the Championship Round at AT&T Stadium in Arlington May 18-19. For more information, visit www.wrwc.rodeo.

More from The Score

• The Short Score: Luke Brown’s 2008 Pendleton Win
• Genuine Billy Cook’s Saddlemaker Jody Ramer
• The Short Score: 2024 BFI Week
• The Short Score: Horsemanship and More with Kory Koontz

The post The Short Score: Sydney Ball appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Though the ProRodeo spring run is in full swing, The Short Score is reflecting on Luke Brown’s Pendleton Round-Up in 2008.

Back in 2008, Luke qualified for his first NFR where he would place in seven of 10 rounds. But his trip to Las Vegas wasn’t really punched until September that year when he won the Pendleton Round-Up with his regular season partner Monty Joe Petska. On this episode, Chelsea Shaffer, host of The Score, has a quick conversation with Luke about winning Pendleton that year and why it was so important. This episode is an inside like at an article from the May 2024 issue of The Team Roping Journal Magazine, reliving the win and featuring cool pictures from the day.

READ: Luke Brown: Lessons Learned From 13 NFRs

Host of The Short Score, Taylor Vollin, also notes who won which ProRodeos over the weekend, including Logandale, Nevada, Oakdale, California, Davie, Florida, and Kingman, Arizona.

Listen Now

This episode is brought to you by Purina RepleniMash. Attention horse owners. Are you looking to help your horse recover with ease, after a strenuous workout? Would you like to nourish your horse and their digestive system? If so, try the new Purina RepleniMash Product. It’s much more than a mash. RepleniMash promotes hydration, replenishes electrolytes and supports gastric comfort.  Put Purina’s research to the test. Stop into your local Purina retailer and grab a bag of Purina Replenimash product.

More from The Score

• Genuine Billy Cook’s Saddlemaker Jody Ramer
• The Short Score: 2024 BFI Week
• The Short Score: Horsemanship and More with Kory Koontz
• Horse Market Report: Brooke Wilson’s Horse Sale Dominance

The post The Short Score: Luke Brown’s 2008 Pendleton Win appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Jody Ramer is an AQHA Professional Horseman, World Champion, ARHFA Judge and professional saddlemaker for Genuine Billy Cook Saddles.

Ramer has spent a lifetime perfecting all of these crafts, and in this episode he sits down with host Chelsea Shaffer to discuss how he applies all of those skills to his career at Billy Cook Saddles.

—

This episode with Jody Ramer is presented by Genuine Billy Cook Saddles – the finest handmade saddles and tack, the fairest prices – world famous since 1953, Billy Cook saddles continue to be built in the USA by horsemen for horsemen. In 2020 Genuine Billy Cook was revitalized and has been operating under a new business model aimed at producing the highest quality to ensure maximum performance while keeping true to western horsemanship traditions. The finest handmade saddles and tack, the fairest prices. Genuinebillycook.com

The post Genuine Billy Cook’s Saddlemaker Jody Ramer appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

The 2024 BFI took place at the Lazy E Arena March 28-April 6, with the team roping wrapping up April 3.

Multiple champs from BFI Week join this episode of The Short Score to talk about their wins, including The Feist champs, Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira, the 12.5 champs, Cole and Birch Eiguren, and the Charlie 1 Horse All-Girl winners, Kenzie Kelton and Whitney DeSalvo.

Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira have both made multiple trips to the BFI, but 2024 marked their first-ever The Feist title. The long awaited win for the pair of world champs brought them $160,000 after roping six steers in 44.76 seconds.

WATCH THE BFI

Cole and Birch Eiguren might not be household names, but they took home a major win at the Lazy E. The cousins from Oregon took home the largest check of BFI Week, cashing in $200,000 for winning the 12.5 March 30, after roping four steers in 32.46 seconds.

Lastly, Kenzie Kelton and Whitney DeSalvo are now back-to-back All-Girl champs. Kelton and DeSalvo won the Charlie 1 Horse All-Girl last year, and this year they took home $23,000 for the win after roping four steers in 31.27 seconds. Also noteworthy, this marks six Charlie 1 Horse All-Girl wins for DeSalvo, and in 2024 she also won second…on the head side. 

The 2024 BFI can be watched at Roping.com.

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This episode is brought to you by Roping.com.

Become a better roper:

Roping.com is the online training resource for team ropers. In addition to thousands of videos and exclusive roping films in your back pocket, members get private access to World Champion coaches like Jake Barnes, Clay O’Brien Cooper, Matt Sherwood, 26-time World Champion Trevor Brazile, and more every day. Take advantage of step-by-step tutorials, run critiques, private members-only Facebook group, live video demos and other benefits. Join now for only $29.95/month. 

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• The Short Score: Horsemanship and More with Kory Koontz
• Horse Market Report: Brooke Wilson’s Horse Sale Dominance
• The Short Score: 2024 Lone Star Shootout Champs
• The Short Score: 2024 Lone Star Shootout Champs

The post The Short Score: 2024 BFI Week appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Kory Koontz has 22 NFR qualifications to his name, and one thing he credits to his success is horsemanship. 

Roping.com recently released a full youth clinic with Koontz, with a range of videos with great tips, from dummy roping, how to rope the sled, live steers and a lot of focus on the fundamentals. On this episode of The Short Score, Roping.com brings an audio clip from his Koontz’ clinic, focusing on the importance of horsemanship.

In this clip, Koontz explains how horsemanship defines winning and losing. He spends time talking to the kids about how critical good horsemanship was to the development of his career, and he explains how his great horses defined success in his career. This leads into a full explainer on attitude and mental game, and how gratitude and hard work affect the future of your career as a team roper.

Head over to Roping.com to watch his full series.

Listen Now:

This episode is brought to you by Roping.com.

Become a Better Roper:

Roping.com is the online training resource for team ropers. In addition to thousands of videos and exclusive roping films in your back pocket, members get private access to World Champion coaches like Jake Barnes, Clay O’Brien Cooper, Matt Sherwood, 26-time World Champion Trevor Brazile, and more every day. Take advantage of step-by-step tutorials, run critiques, private members-only Facebook group, live video demos and other benefits. Join now for only $29.95/month. 

More from The Score

• Horse Market Report: Brooke Wilson’s Horse Sale Dominance
• The Short Score: 2024 Lone Star Shootout Champs
• The Short Score: $50K for JC Yeahquo and Buddy Hawkins

The post The Short Score: Horsemanship and More with Kory Koontz appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Brooke Wilson has established herself as the queen of riding one through the sale ring in the last five years just as the rope horse market has exploded.

Wilson, 36, of Canyon, Texas, is a wife, mother and 5.5 header who won more than anyone else at the first Riata Buckle in 2022. She and her husband Rodey have topped the Horse Sale at Rancho Rio the last three years, and they’re consistently ringing a bell at the major rope horse sales across the country.

In this episode, Wilson talks about how Wilson Cattle Co. came to be and how they became one of the industry’s premiere sellers of World Series of Team Roping horses. She also analyzes where the rope horse market is from her perspective, and she talks about the impact the Riata Buckle is having on their program.

—

This episode is presented by Genuine Billy Cook Saddles – the finest handmade saddles and tack, the fairest prices – world famous since 1953, Billy Cook saddles continue to be built in the USA by horsemen for horsemen. In 2020 Genuine Billy Cook was revitalized and has been operating under a new business model aimed at producing the highest quality to ensure maximum performance while keeping true to western horsemanship traditions. The finest handmade saddles and tack, the fairest prices. Genuinebillycook.com

The post Horse Market Report: Brooke Wilson’s Horse Sale Dominance appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

The Lone Star Shootout is one of the biggest ropings of the year, and it’s notorious for its gunslinging nature. In 2024, Dustin Egusquiza and Jake Long took the win with an impressive 11.66 seconds on three steers at the jackpot’s new home in Abilene, Texas. Egusquiza and Long took home $76,000 for the average but pocketed $80,000 on the day, as well as new trailers, saddles and a lineup of additional prizes.

Just 24 hours later, Egusquiza and Long headed to Austin for the Rodeo Austin short round with their regular season partners—Levi Lord on the heel side for Egusquiza and Clint Summers on the head side for Long. When it was all said and done, Egusquiza and Lord took the Rodeo Austin win with a 12.5 on three head.

On this episode of The Short Score, Casey Allen—host of The Rundown at BarrelRacing.com—caught up with the winners following the short round to talk about the win.

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Watch the Lone Star Shootout at Roping.com

Roping.com streamed all four days of the Lone Star Shootout, starting with the 2D Rope Horses Open, March 21–24, 2024, providing full coverage of the fastest jackpot of the year. The event streamed to all Roping.com members live from the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene, Texas, and is now available on-demand.

Roping.com is the online training resource for ropers. In addition to thousands of videos and exclusive roping films in your back pocket, members get private access to World Champion coaches like Jake Barnes, Matt Sherwood, Miles Baker, 26-time World Champion Trevor Brazile and more every day. Join now for only $29.95/month and take advantage of step-by-step tutorials, run critiques, private members-only Facebook group, livestream event coverage and other benefits available exclusively to Roping.com members. 

The post The Short Score: 2024 Lone Star Shootout Champs appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

JC Yeahquo and Buddy Hawkins copped the biggest check of the PRCA regular season, winning the 2024 RodeoHouston for $50,000 a man.

Yeahquo and Hawkins are a new team in 2024 and have both jumped to No. 1 in the world standings after taking home $54,375 a man in Houston. Yeahquo now has $65,674.40 won on the year, and Hawkins has $70,240.46 on the heel side.

Yeahquo and Hawkins join The Short Score to talk about the win and their new partnership.

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Read about their win: JC Yeahquo and Buddy Hawkins Win Houston, Debut Partnership at No. 1

This episode is brought to you by Purina. The PhD Equine Nutritionists at Purina Animal Nutrition tackle problems using science. And their love of horses keeps them at it until they get it right. Even with the most established feeds, they keep innovating. Even when it takes years of research, they don’t stop until it’s right. They are dedicated to the scientific method, but it can’t capture the feeling of seeing a horse reach their full potential. It takes science and love to help your horses live their best life. Put their research to the test at HorseInnovation.com.

The post The Short Score: $50K for JC Yeahquo and Buddy Hawkins appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Why would two-time World Champion Patrick Smith put WSR Hesa Dunofa Lena in The Select Online Sale March 17?

Don’t worry—The Score host Chelsea Shaffer sits down with Smith to talk about this tough choice and what “Rooster” has to offer the rope horse community—both as a performer and a stallion.

Rooster has over $500,000 in earnings under the best in the business—from Randon Adams to Dakota Kirchenschlager to Russell Cardoza and Cesar de la Cruz. He’s won everywhere from the NFR to the BFI and California Rodeo Salinas, and everywhere in between. The stallion has stood for the last two years at Highpoint Performance Horses, and he sells with a coveted Riata Buckle stallion spot.

ABOUT THE SELECT GROUP: Founded in November 2018, Solo Select began with the goal of connecting great horses with eager buyers through its online sale platform, TheSelectOnline.com. Since then, Solo Select has expanded into sale fitting for the top-tier sales, start-to-finish breeding management, recipient mare leasing, semen freezing and marketing and promotion across the Western performance industry. 

The post BONUS EPISODE: Patrick Smith Explains Why He’s Selling WSR Hesa Dunofa Lena in Select Online Sale March 17 appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Paul David Tierney has one of the most impressive careers of the last decade at the Cinch Timed Event Championship, having won some $388,500 at the Lazy E’s premier event.

Tierney finished the three-day marathon with a time of 322.8 seconds on 25 head worth $100,000, winning second with a 58.7 in Round 2 worth $2,000, third in Round 3 with a 57.9 worth $1,000 and third in Round 5 with a 60.3 worth another $1,000. 

The Score’s Chelsea Shaffer caught up with Paul David Tierney in the arena at the Lazy E after his third Ironman title.

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This episode is presented by Genuine Billy Cook Saddles – the finest handmade saddles and tack, the fairest prices – world famous since 1953, Billy Cook saddles continue to be built in the USA by horsemen for horsemen. In 2020 Genuine Billy Cook was revitalized and has been operating under a new business model aimed at producing the highest quality to ensure maximum performance while keeping true to western horsemanship traditions.  genuinebillycook.com. The finest handmade saddles and tack, the fairest prices. Genuinebillycook.com

The post Full Interview: Paul David Tierney’s $388.5K Cinch Timed Event Championship Career appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

On March 4, 2024, Chris Neal of CN Productions and Rising Stars announced the richest breakaway roping event in the history of the sport—the Kimes Ranch Million Dollar Breakaway Roping.

The roping will take place in Scottsdale, Arizona, Nov. 27-30, 2024, and will pay out $1 million across a 10-round Open format.

In this Breakaway Breakdown crossover episode of The Short Score, the host of The Breakaway Breakdown, Lillian Kent, joins Chris to shed light on the new event, the payout, format and how to get qualified.

Listen Now

The post The Short Score: Kimes Ranch Million Dollar Breakaway Roping appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

Jeremy Barwick is one of the horse industry’s biggest players—selling millions of dollars in performance horses, prospects and breeding stock annually through Western Bloodstock and Triangle Horse Sales.

Jeremy Barwick doesn’t often do interviews, but when he does, he says what he means and means what he says, dropping the most useful knowledge you’ll find on the horse industry anywhere. Barwick’s background is in the NCHA, but he’s been a quick study on the rope horse game since partnering with guys like Shane Hanchey, Kaleb Driggers and Haven Meged on Gold Buckle Futurities.

If you enjoy this episode, remember to follow The Score on your favorite podcast platforms and leave us a review.

• Triangle Spring Sale Offers 244 Head in OKC May 1
• Leading Breeder Flag Ranch Offers First-Ever 2-Year-Old Production Sale Jan. 26-28 in OKC
• Bid on This: Providence and Provenance with Steve Friskup
• World No. 1: Jeremy Buhler
• 2022 NFR Round 9: Rhen Richard and Jeremy Buhler

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Genuine Billy Cook Saddles – the finest handmade saddles and tack, the fairest prices – world famous since 1953, Billy Cook saddles continue to be built in the USA by horsemen for horsemen. In 2020 Genuine Billy Cook was revitalized and has been operating under a new business model aimed at producing the highest quality to ensure maximum performance while keeping true to western horsemanship traditions.  genuinebillycook.com. The finest handmade saddles and tack, the fairest prices. Genuinebillycook.com

The post The Man Behind the Curtain: Jeremy Barwick and the New Rope Horse Market appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

The Relentless Remuda’s Miles Baker won three Open Futurities at the Royal Crown in Buckeye, Arizona, outright, and Jeremy Buhler jump-rode Remuda stallion Pride And Joyy for the only other Open futurity there was to win Feb. 8-10. Baker also let Paul Eaves ride Remuda horse Gunners Nite Train for the Open Jackpot win.

All told, the Remuda took home over $83,000 in two days, and this episode is a snapshot of each horse as we interviewed Baker after each class win.

The only two classes Baker didn’t win were the intermediate divisions, and Logan Anseth, the intermediate heeling champ, joins us as well. 

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This episode is presented by Fast Back Ropes’ Cobalt. The Cobalt is the rope Dakota Kirchenschlager used on the help side behind Baker for all those wins. The Cobalt is a perfect combination of poly and dyed nylon resulting in a highly durable rope. The Cobalt is medium in diameter and weight and will likely appeal to ropers who prefer more tip weight and less body or bounce. 

More on Miles Baker and the Relentless Remuda:

• Start-to-Finish: Baker Ends Royal Crown Weekend with $83K Sweep, Winning 4-&-Under Heading on Relentless Honor
• Inside the Remuda: Relentless Glory
• Roping.com Takes Members Inside the Foundation of the Relentless Remuda
• Inside the Remuda: Trevor Brazile’s Toybox
• Colt-Starting Series: Hand Use Dos and Don’ts

The post How the Relentless Remuda Won $83K in One Weekend: Baker and Buhler on The Score, PLUS Holcomb Performance Horse’s Anseth appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

The 2023 ProRodeo season didn’t end how Brenten Hall planned, right outside the Top 15 at No. 16. For the three-time NFR header, it was a wave of emotions, but he’s bouncing back in 2024 with a positive outlook, fueled by his faith.

Hall and his new partner, Kaden Profili, are hot off their $15,000-win at The American Contender Finals Feb. 10, in Abilene, Texas. Hall joins The Short Score to talk about the win and reflect on past struggles—including horses injuries and missing out on the NFR—and how these experiences have shaped his current mindset of enjoying the journey and relying on his faith.

Listen Now

The post The Short Score: Brenten Hall appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

The Henry’s 88 Ranch is a six-generation operation in Douglas, Wyoming, where the family raises and trains performance horses that are bred to compete in the richest incentives in the country and work for a living on the ranches of the American West.

In its third year, the 88 Ranch’s Remuda Sale runs Feb. 2 to Feb 4 online, offering the ranch’s finest prospects and a ranch-raised stallion, Roller And A Shaker. In this episode, 88 Ranch owner Garrett Henry sits down with Chelsea Shaffer and discusses the ranch’s history, 88 Remuda Sale, their new stallion Sheik Jean Fly HHT and the future of the rope horse and barrel horse industries.

88 Ranch-Raised Summer Colada and Kaden Richard

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This episode is presented by 88 Ranch. The 88 Remuda Sale goes live Friday, February 2, 2024 at 8 a.m. MST and closes Feb. 4, 2024, at 3 p.m. MST. Join 88 Ranch live on the 88 REMUDA SALE Facebook Page at 5 p.m. MT February 2 for a virtual preview of all of the sale horses. You are more than welcome to come to the ranch at this time to watch the preview in person. The Henrys will talk about each horse, take a look at them and watch them ride! They will also be able to answer any questions.

The post Ranch-Raised: The 88 Remuda Sale and Wyoming’s Henry Family’s Hidden Gem of Elite Rope-Horse Prospects appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.

In the Season 7 premiere of “The Score” with Chelsea Shaffer two-time NFR heeler Billie Jack Saebens joins the conversation to share insights into the world of rope horse breeding programs, buying and selling rope horses and the competitive landscape of rope horse futurities.

Saebens was one of the podcast’s first interviews back in 2018, and that episode has been listened to thousands of times reviewing the early years of Saebens’ career.

This 2024 episode covers a range of topics, including the shifts in the horse market over the last 12 months, the increasing interest in breeding programs, and the evolving preferences of buyers.Saebens provides valuable insights into the growing demand for mares in contrast to the historical preference for geldings, highlighting the financial considerations and the changing landscape of breeding programs. He touches upon the rising trend of investing in stallions and its potential impact on the industry.

The conversation navigates through various aspects, such as Saebens’ experiences with different horses, the challenges of transitioning from futurities to the rodeo arena, and the importance of aligning goals with clients when selling horses. Saebens also shares thoughts on embryo shopping and the gradual acceptance of this practice in the roping community.

Listeners can expect a candid and informative discussion about Saebens’ perspective on the rodeo scene, his personal preferences between heading and heeling, and the strategic planning involved in preparing horses for different aspects of the sport. Shaffer explores Saebens’ rodeo goals for the year, the challenges of finding the right balance between horse shows and rodeos, and the prospects for his horses beyond the futurity stage.

As the episode unfolds, Saebens provides a glimpse into his future plans, the unique characteristics of certain horses he has worked with, and his considerations when selling horses to clients. Shaffer ensures a well-rounded exploration of Saebens’ experiences and opinions, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in the intricacies of the roping world.

This episode is presented by Spalding Fly Predators. Too many flies last year? Fly Predators® can fix that! 

Effective and easy-to-use Fly Predators kill flies before they hatch, which dramatically minimizes your fly problem while saving you time.  

Don’t struggle with flies another season. Learn more about Fly Predators and other Spalding Labs’ fly control solutions at spalding-labs.com. 

The post Horse Market Report 2024: Billie Jack Saebens’ Industry Outlook on The Score Podcast appeared first on The Team Roping Journal.