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 proxy - substitute, see description of proxy below. 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.
All horses must be 5 year of age or younger. Four year old incentive is for 4-year-olds on both sides
No roper 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 proxy - substitute, see description of proxy below.
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 proxy or substitute, see description of proxy below.
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 proxy or substitute, see description of proxy below.
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 proxy or substitute, see description of proxy below.
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 - $50,000

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. Team may consist of two Nominated Riata horses, or one Nominated Riata and a proxy - substitute, see description of proxy below.
Each team must have one junior roper aged 20 years or less (year of birth)
Four-steer aggregate, Progressive after one, $200/roper.
Straight 80% payback, no stallion or breeder bonus.
Must show a Global membership to collect winnings.

Riata Buckle 12.5 Earnings Bonus Roping - $100,000

Roping format will be a four-steer aggregate, progressive after one. WS Barrier. Team may consist of Riata horse that placed at an Earnings roping during the year (WSTR, USTRC, NTR, NTRL). Partner must be riding a Riata or proxy - substitute, see description of proxy below.
All age horses
Entry fee $300 per roper.
Age cap: ropers 21 years old, (year of birth) and older
Non-qualified Riata will receive 100% payback, bonus to qualified horse.

Riata Buckle 10.5 Earnings Bonus Roping - $100,000

Roping format will be a four-steer aggregate, progressive after one. WS Barrier. Team may consist of Riata horse that placed at an Earnings roping during the year (WSTR, USTRC, NTR, NTRL). Partner must be riding a Riata or proxy - substitute, see description of proxy below.
All age horses
Entry fee $300 per roper.
Caps: The 10.5 is capped at #6 heeler. Age cap: ropers 21 years old, (year of birth) and older
Non-qualified Riata will receive 100% payback, bonus to qualified horse.

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.

Proxy Horses

Ropers that are the owner of record of a nominated Riata Buckle horse 3 years old or younger, including weanling or they can demonstrate proof of a 2023 breeding to a Riata stallion, will be allowed to ride a PROXY or substitute rope horse. The proxy horse is required to have a current stock horse registration. A Proxy form or substitution form must accompany roping entries.

Entries

Nominated Horses: Entry fees will be $500 per Nominated Riata horse or Proxy horse.
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.
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.

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.