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 payouts
• The real earning potential of futurity horses (hint: it’s bigger than advertised)
• How intermediate and non-pro ropers are winning serious money
• Why tracking earnings and pedigrees is changing the breeding game
• The full lifecycle of a rope horse—from yearling to jackpot winner
• Why youth roping is outpacing every other sport in earnings

If 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.

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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.

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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.