The Score from The Team Roping Journal

The money in team roping has never been bigger—and most ropers still don’t realize how deep it goes.In this crossover episode with Solo Select, industry leaders break down the full earning potential across futurities, Riata, Old West, Royal Crown, and the Global Handicap System. From 4-year-olds with million-dollar upside to everyday ropers stacking checks, this episode maps out where the money is, how to access it and why the pipeline has never been stronger.You’ll hear:How team roping surpassed $120 million annually in payoutsThe real earning potential of futurity horses (hint: it’s bigger than advertised)How intermediate and non-pro ropers are winning serious moneyWhy tracking earnings and pedigrees is changing the breeding gameThe full lifecycle of a rope horse—from yearling to jackpot winnerWhy youth roping is outpacing every other sport in earningsIf you rope, own horses, or are thinking about getting into the futurity game, this is the clearest look yet at where the industry is headed—and how to get your piece of it.

After stepping away from competition for two years due to multiple surgeries, 2020 Cinch Timed Event Champ Taylor Santos returned to the CTEC for the 2026 Ironman title for $100,000.Santos breaks down his surgeries, recovery, months of rehab and the mental battle of not knowing if he’d ever compete at the highest level again. He shares how he decided he was ready to come back, the horsepower that carried him through all five events, how his wife stayed steady and encouraging and what the emotional win meant for his family after years of setbacks.The Score’s Chelsea Shaffer caught up with Santos in the arena at the Lazy E after his second Ironman title.__This episode is presented by Fast Back Ropes. For close to thirty years Fast Back Ropes has been developing best selling ropes by listening to our customers. Fast Back offers a variety of ropes with a size, weight and style to fit every team roper.More from The ScoreThe Short Score: Winter Rodeo Catchup 2026How Team Roping Hooked Former UFC Fighter Travis BrowneThe Short Score: 2025 NFR Average + World Champs Ward and LongThe Short Score: Aguilera and Profili Win Round 9 of the 2025 NFR

The Short Score is back in 2026 as the winter rodeo run is well underway. One of the winter's biggest rodeos wrapped up in February with the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, introducing some newer names on top. Corben Culley and Trent Vaught took home the 2026 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo win after a 5.4 in the clean-slate finals. They pocketed $24,900 a man and join this episode of The Short Score.The end of February also wrapped up the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, and Lightning Aguilera and Wyatt Cox came out on top. Aguilera and Cox were 3.8 in the short round and took the win with the most money won at $24,218 a man. Arizona had La Fiesta De Los Vaqueros -- The Tucson Rodeo as well. Brye Crites and Ross Ashford came out on top with a 9.9 on two head for $7,034 a man winning $12,709 apiece with the round monies.

In this episode, we sit down with Travis Browne, a former UFC heavyweight contender who has traded the octagon for the roping box and embraced life as a team roper.Travis talks candidly about what it’s like to go from the elite level of one sport to being brand new in another, and how quickly team roping humbled him. From missing steers at his first jackpot to learning horsemanship, pressure, and patience, he shares the challenges and the rush that hooked him on the sport.We also dive into how his background as a professional fighter shaped his mindset, coachability, and approach to learning, why team roping has become a family affair, and what he loves most about the people and culture in the industry.It’s an honest conversation about starting over, being willing to fail, and finding joy in the process. Whether you’re new to team roping or have been in it your whole life, this episode is a reminder of why this sport pulls people in and keeps them coming back.---Episode sponsored by DECHRA: Every horse deserves to feel their best. That's why veterinarians trust Dechra Veterinary Products — a global leader in equine health. From joint comfort and mobility to reproduction, skin and eye care, and essential fluid therapy, our solutions support horses through every stage of life. When your veterinarian recommends Dechra products, you can be confident your horse is receiving high-quality, proven care. Because at Dechra, we're dedicated to helping your horse live healthier, longer, stronger.

Andrew Ward and Jake Long got the second NFR average titles of their careers and their first world titles in 2025.Ward and Long went 3.9 seconds in Round 10 of the 2025 NFR to split the round win and take home the average title with a 44.0 on nine steers. It also sealed the deal on the world championship, bringing them to $373,838.26 and $372,091.71 on the year. Ward and Long join The Short Score to talk about their run, the wins and more.__This episode is brought to you by Oz Ona Hot Streak,, the Nebraska-raised stallion built for both AQHA gold and NFR pressure. Oz is the 2019 AQHA Jr. Heading World Champion, a top-ten heeler, and the first stallion with that title to rope inside the Thomas & Mack. During the NFR, Solo Select is offering $500 off every Oz breeding. Lock your contract in at SoloSelectHorses.com or by calling Madison at 940-580-0156.

Lightning Aguilera and Kaden Profili topped Round 9 of the 2025 NFR for their third round win.Aguilera and Profili pocketed another $36,667.95 apiece for their 3.4-second run. They've collected $130,846.52 a man inside the Thomas & Mack to jump from 15th and 14th in the world to sixth and fifth.Heading into Round 10, Kolton Schmidt and Jonathan Torres continue to lead the aggregate after a 4.3 in Round 9, as well as the world standings with $294,451.12 and $286,185.02, respectively. Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira have moved up in the world standings again, now sitting third and second, trailing by $19,714.53 and $11,448.43. Andrew Ward and Jake Long sit second in the aggregate, behind Schmidt and Torres by 7.1 seconds. They're also fifth and fourth in the world, sitting $47,472.13 and $40,952.58 behind the world leaders.___This episode is presented by Oz On A Hot Streak, the stallion that wins everywhere he goes. AQHA World Champion. PRCA champion. Calgary champion. And now the first AQHA World Champion stallion ever to rope at the NFR. Oz breedings are $500 off all NFR long. Lock your contract in at SoloSelectHorses.com or by calling Madison at 940

Kolton Schmidt and Jonathan Torres not only won Round 8 of the 2025 NFR, they officially lead the pack.Schmidt and Torres turned in a 3.8-second run for the round win to give them the lead in the average with a 28.7 on seven head and the lead in the world standings with $279,074.24 and $270,808.14, respectively. They've raked in $159,136.03 a man to skyrocket from 14th and 15th in the world to No. 1. They join The Short Score for the third time this week to talk through their run and their world-championship chances.___This episode is presented by Oz On A Hot Streak, the record-breaking grey from Nebraska. AQHA World Champion. PRCA money winner. And the first stallion with an AQHA world title to rope at the NFR. Solo Select is offering $500 off all Oz breedings during the NFR. Lock your contract in at SoloSelectHorses.com or by calling Madison at 940-580-0156.

Dawson and Dillon Graham were back for their second go-round win at the 2025 NFR after winning the Round 7 team roping fight.The Grahams turned in a 3.5-second run for $36,667.95 apiece to push them to fifth in the world standings with $229,858.23. They join The Short Score to talk about their round win, their first solo win.___This episode of The Short Score is presented by Oz On A Hot Streak, the stallion who brings the same run every time. AQHA World Champion. Major rodeo winner. And the first AQHA World Champion stallion ever to rope at the NFR. Oz breedings are $500 off during the entire NFR. Lock

Tanner Tomlinson and Travis Graves got their first round win of the 2025 NFR in Round 6. Tomlinson and Graves came within one-tenth of a second of the Thomas & Mack arena record with a 3.4-second run to pocket $36,667.95 apiece.The win puts Tomlinson No. 1 in the world with $276,605.71 and Graves No. 2 with $242,717.48. It also puts them fourth in the aggregate. They join The Short Score to talk about their win, a horse change and more.___This episode is brought to you by Oz Ona Hot Streak,, the Nebraska-raised stallion built for both AQHA gold and NFR pressure. Oz is the 2019 AQHA Jr. Heading World Champion, a top-ten heeler, and

Kolton Schmidt and Jonathan Torres were back for another round win at the 2025 NFR, this time on their own.Schmidt and Torres took the Round 5 with a 3.7-second run for $36,667.95 a man Dec. 8. The win pushed Schmidt to fifth in the world with $223,776.61 and Torres to fourth with $215,510.51 on the year. Schmidt and Torres join The Short Score to break down their win.___This episode is presented by Oz On A Hot Streak, the stallion that wins everywhere he goes. AQHA World Champion. PRCA champion. Calgary champion. And now the first AQHA World Champion stallion ever to rope at the NFR. Oz breedings are $500 

The reigning World Champs Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp joined Dustin Egusquiza and Levi Lord atop the Round 4 team roping leaderboard at the 2025 NFR.Wade and Thorp and Egusquiza and Lord turned in 3.8-second runs to split the round for $32,823.73 apiece. The win comes as redemption for both teams after two no-times for Wade and Thorp and a no-time in Round 3 for Egusquiza and Lord.Both teams join The Short Score to talk about their Round 4 win.___This episode is presented by Oz On A Hot Streak, the record-breaking grey from Nebraska. AQHA World Champion. PRCA money winner. And the first stallion with an AQHA world title to rope at the NFR. Solo Select is offering $500 off all Oz breedings during the NFR. Lock your contract in at SoloSelectHorses.com or by calling Madison at 940-580-0156.

The third round of the 2025 NFR was crowded at the top of the team roping with a three-way tie for first.Dawson Graham and Dillon Graham took an early lead in the round with a 3.8-second run as the second team out. Lightning Aguilera and Kaden Profili and Kolton Schmidt and Jonathan Torres joined the 3.8-second club back-to-back. All six men pocketed $29,176.65.The Short Score caught up with the Grahams, Aguilera, Profili, Schmidt and Torres after their runs.___This episode of The Short Score is presented by Oz On A Hot Streak, the stallion who brings the same run every time. AQHA World Champion. Major rodeo winner. And the first AQHA World Champion stallion ever to rope at the NFR. Oz breedings are $500 off during the entire NFR. Lock

Jake Smith got his first NFR go-round win, taking top honors in Round 2 of the 2025 Finals with Douglas Rich.Smith and Rich turned in a 3.9-second run for $36,667.95 a man. After the round, they unofficially moved to fourth in the world standings with $194,087.46 and $183,337.45, respectively.They join The Short Score to talk about their win.___This episode is brought to you by Oz Ona Hot Streak,, the Nebraska-raised stallion built for both AQHA gold and NFR pressure. Oz is the 2019 AQHA Jr. Heading World Champion, a top-ten heeler, and the first stallion with that title to rope inside the Thomas & Mack. During the NFR, Solo Select is offering $500 off every Oz breeding. Lock your contract in at SoloSelectHorses.com or by calling Madison at 940-580-0156.

The first team out of the 2025 NFR took top honors in the team roping with Lightning Aguilera and Kaden Profili stunning the field.The pair of two-time NFR qualifiers set the pace with a 4.0-second run that stayed No. 1 for the remaining 14 teams. Aguilera and Profili pocketed $36,667.95 apiece to bump them to No. 8 and 7 in the world with $161,403.70 and $160,203.50, respectively. The round was a first for Aguilera and a second for Profili, and they join The Short Score to break down their win.__This episode is brought to you by Oz Ona Hot Streak, the 2015 grey stallion rewriting what a rope horse can do. Oz is the 2019 AQHA Junior Heading World Champion, a top-ten heeler the same year, and now the first AQHA World Champion stallion ever to compete at the NFR. Dec. 4, is officially National Oz Day, and Solo Select is celebrating with a Buy-One-Get-One breeding special, today only. Starting tomorrow Dec. 5, mare owners get $500 off every Oz breeding during the NFR. Lock your contract in at SoloSelectHorses.com or by calling Madison at 940-580-0156.

When the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo kicks off on December 4, first-time NFR qualifier Lane Mitchell will be backing in the box on a 10-year-old gray stallion named Oz Ona Hot Streak, owned and raised by Nebraska breeder Nate Osentowski.Oz is a 14.3 hand rocket by A Streak Of Fling and out of Oz One Hot Mama, a One Hot Jose daughter. He is fast, honest and about as drama free as a stallion can be. He is also making history. Oz won the 2019 AQHA Junior Heading World Championship and is the first AQHA roping world champion to ever go on and qualify for the NFR in team roping.In this episode, you will hear how Oz got his name, why Nate bought him back after selling him as a baby, how Lane ended up with the ride and what makes this stallion the same horse whether he is running at Salinas, Odessa or under the bright lights of the Thomas & Mack. We will also talk about his growing breeding career, his special day in Nebraska, and what this NFR run means to everyone behind him.---Today’s episode of The Score is brought to you by Fast Back Ropes, proud supporters of team ropers and the presenting sponsor of this show.

Clint Summers' Mr Joes Shadow Bar and Coleby Payne's Cut Off My Spots are the 2025 Nutrena Head and Heel Horses of the Year, presented by AQHA. This is Mr Joes Shadow Bar's second award and Cut Off My Spots first. ---This episode is presented by Fast Back Ropes. For close to thirty years Fast Back Ropes has been developing best selling ropes by listening to our customers. Fast Back offers a variety of ropes with a size, weight and style to fit every team roper.

Kaleb Driggers and Jade Corkill won The CoJo—worth $72,000, Bill Fick Fords and Bloomer Trailers on Saturday, October 11, 2025—capping off Driggers' biggest year ever and Corkill's comeback. ---This episode is brought to you by Dechra. Dechra is a global specialist in veterinary pharmaceuticals and related products. Our expertise is in the development, manufacture, and sales and marketing of high-quality products exclusively for veterinarians worldwide. We are driven by our purpose of sustainable improvement of local animal health and welfare. Dechra’s equine portfolio is diverse andfocuses on mobility, joint health, reproduction, anesthesia/analgesia, dermatology, ophthalmology, and fluid therapy.Our key brands include Zycosan (pentosan polysulfate sodium injection), Osphos (clodronate injection), ProVet APC(Autologous Platelet Concentrate) system, Orthokine vet irap, Equidone Gel (domperidone) and Vetivex Fluids. Dechra’s rapid growth is fueled by these key products and others in the portfolio, as well as recent highly successful acquisitions. We continue to grow because we understand the challenges veterinarians face and we give them what they need. Dechra provides continual training and support to help veterinarians help animals. For more information, please visit www.dechra-us.com or call (866) 933-2472.

In December 2025, Lightning Aguilera will back in the box for his second NFR, three years after his first qualification.The Florida transplant finished the regular season No. 15 in the PRCA world standings with $114,735.75 won on the year after battling it out near the bubble the last month of the season. On this episode of The Score, Aguilera talks about his 2025 season, returning to the Thomas & Mack and how he's preparing for his second NFR.Lightning Aguilera: From South Florida to San AntonioLightning Aguilera’s Jess A Moose is 2022’s Head Horse of the YearWithin Reach: Aguilera’s Team Roping Roots and AspirationsBrought to you by: The Hombre head rope from Fast Back Ropes—small, light, and built for performance. Available at fastbackropes.com or by calling (817) 279-1851.MORE FROM THE SCOREThe Short Score: 2025 Riata ChampionshipsFinally: The Score's Head Horse of the Year EpisodeThe $465K Added Solo Select Stallion Incentive FuturityWho Deserves the 2025 AQHA/PRCA Heel Horse of the Year Award?Ride Registered: Stressman and Canida of AQHA Talk Team Roping and Registered Horses on The Score