Roping Information

The Riata Buckle - The 2023 Ropings

The Riata Buckle is an exciting new stallion incentive program for horses sired by Riata stallions. This program uses standard jackpot handicapped team roping, team payoffs and at the same time placing emphasis on the horses. The program will place heavy emphasis on all ages of horses but will offer a Futurity in its Open Division and will promote young horses by offering Futurity Incentives within the other divisions. 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, clearly the most Guaranteed/Added money ever offered at a roping event! Once again, the Riata Buckle will hold its spot as the fourth richest roping in the World. Featured this year will be the 12.5, 10.5 and 9.5 All-Age divisions with futurity incentives, each paying a minimum of $650,000!

Roping Purse Guaranteed Minimums have been posted. As a result of the complicated nature of tracking multiple horses, ropers, proxies and ages of horses, pre-entry is required. However, the Junior Championship's events will be pre-enter or enter onsite with entries closing 7:30 am the day of the event.

Riata Buckle Pro Futurity

This premier division is the only Riata Buckle Futurity and is Open (no handicap or age restrictions) to ropers riding 5-year-old or younger roping horses. This roping will feature a Four Year Old Horse Incentive. Teams within the Four Year Old Horse Incentive will be allowed to double dip in the Pro Futurity purse.

Roping format will be a five-steer aggregate, progressive after one. Traditional Barrier. Team may consist of two Nominated Riata horses, or one Nominated Riata horse and one proxy horse (substitute horse, see description of proxy below). Entry Fee $500/roper. May enter up to three times in combinations as described below:

Pro Futurity - Both Ends 5-Year-Old or Younger Horses $150,000

  • Ropers and horses may enter only once in the pro futurity, (unless up and back). If entered up and back in the pro futurity, then ropers may enter a third time in the 4 YO incentive.
  • Ropers entered may enter only once in the 4 YO Incentive, (unless up and back). If entered up and back in the 4 YO Incentive, then they may enter the Pro Futurity only once.
  • The event will be a WSTR 2023 Open Finale Qualifier. WSTR, USTRC, or Key Card membership required.

Open Futurity - Four-Year-Old Incentive $25,000

  • Both ends must be on a 4-year-old or younger horse.
  • Eligible for Pro-futurity payout (may double dip).

Riata Buckle #14.5 All-Age Championship

Roping format will be a four-steer aggregate, progressive after one. World Series Barrier. Team may consist of two Nominated Riata horses, or one Nominated Riata horse and one proxy horse (substitute horse, see description of proxy below). Entry Fee $500/roper. Ropers and horses may enter twice in the 14.5 All-Age and once in the futurity incentive, or twice in the futurity incentive and once in the 14.5 All-Age. Enter up to three times provided at least one is an incentive. Up and back is permitted but there shall be NO duplicate teams (same header and heeler twice).

#14.5 All Age Championships - $100,000

  • No Age restriction
  • WSTR barrier
  • WSTR 2023 or 2024 Finale Qualifier (WSTR qualification rules apply except $2500 maximum if applied to accumulated earnings).

#14.5 Futurity Incentive - $25,000: Both Ends 5-Year-Old or Younger Horses

  • Both ends must be on a 5 year-old or younger horse.
  • Eligible for #14.5 All Age payout (may double dip).

Riata Buckle #12.5 All-Age Championship

Roping format will be a four-steer aggregate, progressive after one. World Series Barrier. Team may consist of two Nominated Riata horses, or one Nominated Riata horse and one proxy horse (substitute horse, see description of proxy below). Ropers must be 21 years old (year of birth) or older. Entry Fee $500/roper. Ropers and horses may enter twice in the 12.5 All-Age and once in the futurity incentive, or twice in the futurity incentive and once in the 12.5 All-Age. Enter up to three times provided at least one is an incentive. Up and back is permitted but there shall be no duplicate teams (same header and heeler twice).

#12.5 All Age Championships - $550,000

  • WSTR 2023 or 2024 Finale Qualifier (WSTR qualification rules apply except $2500 maximum if applied to accumulated earnings).

#12.5 Futurity Incentive - $100,000: Both Ends 5-Year-Old or Younger Horses:

  • Both ends must be on a 5 year old or younger horse.
  • Eligible for #12.5 All Age payout (may double dip).

#12.5 Earnings Bonus Incentive - $50,000

  • This money is for Riata Horses that qualified by earning aggregate money during the year at WSTR, USTRC, NTR, or NTRL ropings.
  • All age horses.
  • Horses are limited to two bonus qualification entry positions for the 2023 season.
  • Ropers must be 21 years old (year of birth) or older

Riata Buckle #10.5 All-Age Championship

Roping format will be a four-steer aggregate, progressive after one. World Series Barrier. Team may consist of two Nominated Riata horses, or one Nominated Riata horse and one proxy horse (substitute horse, see description of proxy below). Ropers must be 21 years old (year of birth) or older. #6 Heeler Cap. Entry Fee $500/Roper. Ropers and horses may enter twice in the 10.5 All-Age and once in the futurity incentive, or twice in the futurity incentive and once in the 10.5 All-Age. Enter up to three times provided at least one is an incentive. Up and back is permitted but there shall be no duplicate teams (same header and heeler twice).

#10.5 All Age Championships - $550,000

  • WSTR 2023 or 2024 Finale Qualifier (WSTR qualification rules apply except $2500 maximum if applied to accumulated earnings).

#10.5 Futurity Incentive - $100,000 : Both Ends 6-Year-Old or Younger Horses

  • Both ends must be on a 6 year old or younger horse.
  • Eligible for #10.5 All Age payout (may double dip).

#10.5 Earnings Bonus Incentive - $50,000

  • This money is for Riata Horses that qualified by earning aggregate money during the year at WSTR, USTRC, NTR, or NTRL ropings.
  • All age horses.
  • Horses are limited to two bonus qualification entry positions for the 2023 season.
  • Caps: The 10.5 is capped at a #6 heeler.
  • Ropers must be 21 years old (year of birth) or older

Riata Buckle #9.5 All-Age Championship

Roping format will be a four-steer aggregate, progressive after one. World Series Barrier. Team may consist of two Nominated Riata horses, or one Nominated Riata horse and one proxy horse (substitute horse, see description of proxy below). Ropers must be 21 years old (year of birth) or older. #5.5 heeler cap. Ropers and horses may enter twice in the 9.5 All-Age and once in the futurity incentive, or twice in the futurity incentive and once in the 9.5 All-Age. Enter up to three times provided at least one is an incentive. Up and back is permitted but there shall be no duplicate teams (same header and heeler twice).

#9.5 All Age Championships - $550,000

  • WSTR 2023 or 2024 Finale Qualifier (WSTR qualification rules apply except $2500 maximum if applied to accumulated earnings).

#9.5 Futurity Incentive - $100,000 : Both Ends 6-Year-Old or Younger Horses:

  • Both ends must be on a 6-year-old or younger horse.
  • Eligible for #9.5 All Age payout (may double dip).

Riata Buckle Junior #10.5 All-Age Championship

  • Roping format will be a four-steer aggregate, progressive after one. Enter two times. Pre-entry fee $300/roper, on-site entry fee $500/roper, 80% payback. No stallion or breeder bonus. Team may consist of two Nominated Riata horses, or one Nominated Riata horse and one proxy horse (substitute horse, see description of proxy below), however, Junior roper must be riding a Riata nominated horse, not proxy. WSTR, USTRC or Key Card membership required, Global membership if under age 16. Age capped on one end at 20 years old (year of birth) and 6 heeler cap. Ropers and horses may enter twice in the 10.5 Junior and once in the 9.5 incentive, or twice in the 9.5 Incentive and once in the 10.5 Junior. Enter up to three times provided at least one is an incentive.

Junior Championships #10.5 All-Age $40,000

  • One end under the age cap of 20 years old (year of birth).
  • Junior Roper must be riding a Riata Buckle nominated horse, not proxy.
  • Limited to a total of two entries with different partners, unless up and back.
  • Third entry may be a 9.5 Incentive

Junior Championships #9.5 Handicapped Incentive $10,000

  • Eligible for Junior #10.5 All Age payout (may double dip).
  • Limited to a total of two entries with different partners, unless up and back.
  • Third entry may be a 10.5 All-Age

Entry Deadlines & Drawouts and Refunds

  • Entry Deadline – Mailed entries must be postmarked by October 2nd.
  • Entry Fees
    • All Riata Buckle Championship Events: $500/roper
    • Junior Championship Events: $300/roper - pre-entry, $400/roper - onsite entry.
  • Drawouts and Refunds - Draw-outs and refunds will be paid directly to the payer of the entry fee.
  • Horse and Rider Changes - Draw-outs may occur at any time prior to the roping without penalty, including horse or rider emergency draw-outs the day of the roping. However, any rider or horse changes made the day of the roping, without medical or veterinarian documentation, are subject to $50 change fee.

Payoffs

Guaranteed Payouts

  • Payouts and 1099s will go directly to winning ropers regardless of who owns the horse. We are not responsible for private financial arrangements between horse owners, trainers, or lessors.
  • 80% paid to Ropers of the advertised Guaranteed payout riding a Riata Buckle Horse.
  • 10% paid to Stallion owners of the advertised Guaranteed payout.
  • 10% paid to Breeders of the advertised Guaranteed payout.
  • Any winning team containing a Proxy Horse:
    • Ropers on Proxy horses will receive 100% of the placing percentage payback from the roping entry fee purse, excluding Guaranteed minimum added money.
    • The roper riding the Riata Buckle horse gets the advertised Guaranteed money for both partners less the Proxy horse payout.

Roping Rules

  • Winning Teams - Nominated or Proxy, may be DNA tested at Riata Buckle's discretion.
  • Horses must have a current registration with a breed association.
  • WSTR arena roping rules will apply.

Nominated Horses

  • Ropers, trainers, or agents riding Nominated Riata horses must submit registration documentation at time of entry.
  • All Riata horses and proxy horses must provide a current stock horse registration that shows 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 only. Payouts will not be split and 1099s will be issued to the winning roper.

Proxy Horses

Ropers who are the owner of record of a nominated Riata Buckle horse 3 years old or younger, including weanlings, will be allowed to ride a proxy or substitute rope horse. Only one proxy horse is permitted per nominated Riata. Only one rider is permitted per proxy horse. There are only two potential riders for Proxy horses, one family member or in the case of a futurity horse, only one futurity agent or trainer.

Proxy Horse Rules:

  • The proxy horse is required to have a current stock horse registration.
  • A Proxy form must accompany roping entries.
  • One nominated Riata, 3 yrs. or younger, per each Proxy horse.
  • Only one proxy is permitted for each 3yr or younger nominated Riata.
  • Only one proxy rider is permitted for each proxy horse.
  • There are only two potential riders for Proxy horses, one family member or in the case of a futurity horse, only one futurity agent or trainer.
  • Ropers riding Proxy horses are not eligible for Guaranteed minimum purses.
  • Ropers on Proxy horses will receive 100% of the placing percentage payback from the roping entry fee purse, excluding Guaranteed minimum added money.
  • The Proxy/Guaranteed minimum forfeit will be paid to the contestant riding the Riata Buckle horse, less the 100% Proxy purse payment.

* Ropers claiming an in-utero or heartbeat as a proxy, will need to include with the proxy form confirmation of the breeding from the stallion owner, and confirmation of fetus from a veterinarian. There is no required payment or extra charge for Proxy, however, everyone roping in the Riata Buckle will have paid a nomination fee for a Riata, therefore heartbeat proxies are required to pay a $200 nomination according to the nomination rules and pending registration information to be eligible to use a Proxy horse in its place.