Roping Information

The Riata Buckle – The Ropings

The Riata Buckle is an exciting new stallion incentive program for horses sired by Riata stallions. This is where stallion incentives and futurity team roping meets handicap jackpot team roping. The Riata Buckle will promote the breeding and training of thousands of rope horses over the coming years by engaging the recreational team roping industry; the largest horse discipline in the world.

The event is scheduled for November 2-5, 2023, with a Guaranteed Minimum Payout of $2.5 million, growing by $500,000 over last year, with hopes for much more! Once again the Riata Buckle will hold its spot as the Fifth Richest roping in the world. Featured this year will be the 12.5 and 10.5 All Age and Futurity combo, which will pay over One-Half Million each!

Roping Purses and incentive dollars will be posted on September 1^st! All adult events require pre-entry, Junior Championship's events are entry onsite, the entries closing the day prior to the event.

Riata Buckle Pro Futurity

This premier event is Open (no handicap restrictions), riding 5-year-old or younger roping horses.
NEW – a 4-year-old incentive which allows double dip.

Roping format will be a five-steer aggregate, 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).
Pro Futurity contestants are limited to a single entry on each end (up and back permitted). May enter a third time by an additional entry in the Four-year-Old Incentive.
No age limitations

Riata Buckle 14.5 Futurity

13.5 Cash Incentive
5 year and younger Futurity
Contestants are limited to two total entries on any end (two head or two heel or up and back once each).
Roping format will be a four-steer aggregate, progressive after one. WS Barrier. Team may consist of two Nominated Riata horses, or one Nominated Riata and one Un-Nominated horse.
No age or number caps for ropers.

Riata Buckle 12.5 All Age and Futurity

Futurity Incentive - 5 year old and younger - may double dip.
All Age contestants are limited to two total entries on any end (two head or two heel or up and back once each).
Futurity Incentive – may enter a third time, or twice in the futurity and once in the All Age. Total entries including futurity not to exceed three total.
Roping format will be a four-steer aggregate, progressive after one. WS Barrier. Team may consist of two Nominated Riata horses, or one Nominated Riata and one Un-Nominated horse.
Caps – limited to ropers 21 years old, (year of birth) and older

Riata Buckle 10.5 All Age and Futurity

Futurity Incentive - 6 year old and younger - may double dip.
All Age contestants are limited to two total entries on any end (two head or two heel or up and back once each).
Futurity Incentive – may enter a third time, or twice in the futurity and once in the All Age. Total entries including futurity not to exceed three total.
Roping format will be a four-steer aggregate, progressive after one. WS Barrier. Team may consist of two Nominated Riata horses, or one Nominated Riata and one Un-Nominated horse.
Caps – limited to ropers 21 years old, (year of birth) and older

Riata Buckle 9.5 All-Age Championship

Roping format will be a four-steer aggregate, progressive after one. WS Barrier. Team may consist of two Nominated Riata horses, or one Nominated Riata and one Un-Nominated horse.
Contestants and horses are limited to a total of two entries.
Caps – The 9.5 is capped at #5.5 heeler. Age cap: ropers 21 years old, (year of birth) and older

Riata Buckle 10.5 Junior Championships - $100,000

9.5 Incentive – may double dip.
Onsite Entries: Onsite entries accepted beginning 11/2 and close on 11/5 at 8:00 am, Rope at 9am
Contestants and horses are limited to a total of two entries.
All age horses.
Junior must be riding a nominated Riata Buckle.
Each team must have one junior roper aged 20 years or less (year of birth)
Four-steer aggregate, Progressive after one, $200/per nominated, $300/unnominated
Straight 80% payback, no stallion or breeder bonus.
Must show a Global membership to collect winnings.

Riata Buckle 12.5 Earnings Bonus Roping

Roping format will be a four-steer aggregate, progressive after one. WS Barrier. Team may consist of at least one Nominated Riata horse, that placed at an Earnings roping during the year (WSTR, USTRC, NTR, NTRL). Partner may be riding an unnominated horse.
All age horses
Entry fee $200 per nominated, $300 per unnominated.
Age cap: ropers 21 years old, (year of birth) and older

Riata Buckle 10.5 Earnings Bonus Roping

Roping format will be a four-steer aggregate, progressive after one. WS Barrier. Team may consist of at least one Nominated Riata horse, that placed at an Earnings roping during the year (WSTR, USTRC, NTR, NTRL). Partner may be riding an unnominated horse.
All age horses
Entry fee $200 per nominated, $300 per unnominated.
Caps: The 10.5 is capped at #6 heeler. Age cap: ropers 21 years old, (year of birth) and older

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 1^st OR $300 due December 1^st. 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. Payouts will not be split and 1099s will be issued to recipients.

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 that far exceed entry fees.

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. Refunds will be issued for switching to a nominated horse if notification is made no later than October 13^th.
All Age horses and contestants will be limited to two entries in each division. If a futurity is offered as an incentive, they may enter a third time as an incentive.
Open roping contestants are limited to a single entry on both ends (up and back permitted). They may enter a third time as 4 year old incentive.
Entry limitations apply to all ropers and all horses, regardless of whether nominated or un-nominated.
Entry Deadline – Mailed entries must be postmarked by October 2^nd. Online entries must be done by October 13^th.
Late Entries – All mailed entries postmarked after October 2^nd and online entries paid after October 13^th are considered late and 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. Refunds will be issued for switching to a nominated horse if notification is made no later than October 13^th.

Payoffs

Guaranteed Payouts

Payouts 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 - Nominated or un-nominated, May be DNA tested at Riata Buckle's discretion.
Formats - All handicapped ropings are four steer aggregates, progressive after one. Open Roping is a 5-steer aggregate, 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.
WSTR arena roping rules will apply.