The Riata Buckle – The Ropings
The Riata Buckle is an exciting new program for horses sired by Riata stallions and joined by jackpots team ropers.
From a different perspective, this is where the futurity team roping concept meets handicap jackpot team roping. The
Riata Buckle is a stallion incentive program that will promote the breeding and training of thousands of rope horses
over the coming years, by engaging the huge recreational team roping industry.
This program was announced on January 1st of 2022, to debut its inaugural event on November 3-6, 2022, with a Guaranteed
Minimum Payout of $2 million. No other event in the history of cowboy competitions has ever had that much up for grabs
in its first premier event. There are only four other roping events in the world that pay over $2 million. Riata Buckle will be debuting as the Fifth Richest roping in the world!
The event will breakdown into five primary divisions:
- The Riata Buckle Pro Futurity
- Two Riata Buckle Handicapped Futurities — Handicapped Low and High — Handi-Lo and Handi-High
- Two Riata Buckle Handicapped Aged L1 and L2 Championships.
Three of these roping divisions are for horses 5-years-old and younger and two divisions are for horses of any age, Nominated
(Riata Horses) and Un-Nominated horse. All horses must have a current stock horse registration. There is a potential and
opportunity for half of all purses to be paid to ropers riding Un-Nominated horses.
Riata Buckle Pro Futurity
This premier event is Open (no handicap restrictions), riding 5-year-old or younger roping horses.
- Roping format will be a five-steer average, progressive after three. Traditional Barrier. Team may consist of two Nominated Riata horses, or one Nominated Riata
and one Un-Nominated horse. Open roping contestants are limited to a single entry on both ends (up and back permitted).
- No age limitations
Riata Buckle Handi-High Futurity
(12.5 Handicapped Slide)
The Riata Buckle Handi-High Futurity is a 11.5, 12.5, or 13.5 division for horses age 5-years and younger. This is a handicapped slide
roping using Global Handicaps. The 12.5 teams will have straight times as computed, and the 11.5 teams will subtract 2 seconds,
13.5 teams will add 1.5 seconds. The times subtracted and added are based on twenty years of empirical data comparison on each
of these three divisions.*
- Roping format will be a four-steer average, progressive after two. WS Barrier. Team may consist of two Nominated Riata horses, or one Nominated Riata and one Un-Nominated horse.
Riata Buckle Handi-Lo Futurity
(10.5 Handicapped Slide)
The Riata Buckle Handi-Lo Futurity is a 9.5 or 10.5 division for horse age 5-years and younger horses. This is a handicapped slide roping
using Global Handicaps. The 10.5 teams will have straight times as computed, and the 9.5 teams will subtract 3 seconds. The time
discount is based on twenty years of empirical data comparison in 9.5 and 10.5 divisions.*
- Roping format will be a four-steer average, progressive after two. WS Barrier. Team may consist of two Nominated Riata horses, or one Nominated Riata and one Un-Nominated horse.
- Caps – The 9.5 is capped at #5.5 heelers, the 10.5 is capped #6 heelers.
Riata Buckle L1 All-Age Championship
(12.5 Handicapped Slide)
The Riata Buckle Level 1 Championship is a 11.5, 12.5, or 13.5 division for horses of all ages. This is a handicapped
slide roping using Global Handicaps. The 12.5 teams will have straight times as computed, and the 11.5 teams will subtract 2 seconds, 13.5 teams
will add 1.5 seconds. The times subtracted and added are based on twenty years of empirical data comparison on each of these three divisions.*
- Roping format will be a four-steer average, progressive after two. WS Barrier. Team may consist of two Nominated Riata horses, or one Nominated Riata and one Un-Nominated horse.
Riata Buckle L2 All-Age Championship
(10.5 Handicapped Slide)
The Riata Buckle Level 2 Championship is a 9.5 or 10.5 division for horses of all ages. This is a handicapped slide
roping using Global Handicaps. The 10.5 teams will have straight times as computed and the 9.5 teams will subtract 3 seconds. The time discount in this division is
based on twenty years of empirical data comparison between 9.5 and 10.5 divisions.*
- Roping format will be a four-steer average, progressive after two. WS Barrier. Team may consist of two Nominated Riata horses, or one Nominated Riata and one Un-Nominated horse.
- Caps – The 9.5 is capped at #5.5 heelers, the 10.5 is capped #6 heelers.
*The par time discounts and additions are provided by Global Handicaps, and based on twenty years of empirical data comparisons,
and actual application in challenge - PPQ ropings.
Jerry Bailey Junior Mixed Ropings
Memorial roping in memory to the well-known team roper and horseman. Among his many endeavors, Jerry was the first resident veterinarian for the Lazy E Arena, later became the Lazy E Manager and built the Lazy E Training Center.
- Onsite Entries: Books open 11/6 at 8:00, Rope at 9am
- There are two divisions, Handicapped High and Handicapped Low format.
- All ropings same rules as the L1 and L2.
- All age horses
- Four-steer average, Progressive after one, $250 /per Roper
- Each entered team must have at least one Nominated Riata horse.
- Each entered team must have at least one Junior team roper (20 years or less)
- Straight 80% payback, no stallion or breeder bonus.
- Must show a Global membership to collect winnings.
Nominated Horses
All teams must contain at least one nominated horse. Those nominating must do so prior to entering the Riata Buckle. Nomination fee
is $200 due August 1st OR $300 due December 1st. Late nominations will be accepted up until roping check in.
Ropers, trainers, or agents riding Nominated Riata horses or Un-Nominated horses are not required to have ownership nor to prove
ownership but must provide current stock horse registration that shows the ownership. All leases, shared entry fees arrangements
or any arrangement with owners are considered private, and any monies won will be paid to the winning ropers.
Un-nominated Horses
Unlike Futurities, there are no "Help" horses, this is a true jackpot with "teams" entering. It is possible for one member of each
team to be riding an Un-Nominated horse. Entry fees are higher for ropers riding Un-Nominated horses. The fee differential is obviously
for the opportunity to compete for huge purses, and small team counts.
Ropers riding Un-Nominated horses are required to have a current stock horse registration, and for ropers entered in all ropings other
than the AGED horses, the Un-Nominated horse must be 5-year-old or less, same age criteria as the Nominated Riata horse.
Entries
- Nominated Horses: Entry fees will be $500 per Nominated Riata horse, $1000 per team if both horses are nominated.
- Un-Nominated Horses: Entry fees will be $700, must be partnered with a nominated horse, for $1200 per team.
- Handicapped roping contestants will be limited to two entries per end (head or heel), in each division.
- Open roping contestants are limited to a single entry on both ends (up and back permitted).
- Horses in handicapped ropings will be limited to one entry per end (head or heel), in each division.
- Entry limitations apply to all ropers and all horses, regardless of whether nominated or un-nominated.
- Entry Deadline – Postmarked by October 15th.
- Late Entries – Late Entries, pay-ups and partner changes accepted if received no later than November 3, 5pm. All entries received after 10/15 will pay an additional $100 per partner, per entry.
- Draw Out and Refunds - Draw-outs and refunds will be paid directly to the payer of the entry fee.
Payoffs
Guaranteed Payouts
- Payoffs and 1099s will go directly to winning ropers. We are not responsible for private financial arrangements between horse owners, trainers, or lessors.
- 80% paid to Ropers of the advertised Guaranteed money.
- 10% paid to Stallion owners.
- 10% paid to Breeders.
Roping Rules
- Winning Teams - Regardless if nominated or un-nominated, all horses in the top two teams of each division will be DNA tested.
- Formats - All handicapped ropings are four steer averages, progressive after two. Open Roping is a 5-steer average, progressive after three.
- All ropers must have a current Global Handicap membership or have a membership with one of the various national roping associations that includes a Global Handicap membership, to enter.
- Horses must have a current registration with a breed association.
- Riata Buckle handicapped events are adult and limited to ropers 21 years of age and older. The Riata Buckle Pro Futurity has no age limitations.
- WSTR arena roping rules will apply.
