The summer is winding down, but the ProRodeo action is not. From Greeley and Cowboy Christmas, to Salinas and Cheyenne, The Short Score is covering everything that has happened this summer as we roll into August.

Andrew Ward and Jake Long got Cowboy Christmas rolling earlier this summer with the Greeley Stampede win in June for $11,225 a man. And while Ward and Long were amongst the top of team roping's Cowboy Christmas earners, Clint Summers and Jade Corkill led the pack with $29,897 apiece.

Dustin Egusquiza and Levi Lord capitalized at the NFR Open in Colorado Springs, Colorado, winning the sudden-death finals with a 4.8-second run and claiming over $15,000 each. The win also secured them their first national circuit titles.

The longest score in ProRodeo and a the only five-head battle, California Rodeo Salinas was no problem for Tanner Tomlinson and Travis Graves. They roped five steers in 48.5 seconds to claim the win and $11,254 each.

Aaron Tsinigine and Jeremy Buhler won their second major PRCA rodeo of the summer, first with the Reno Rodeo and now the Cheyenne Frontier Days. But their road to No. 1 was perhaps less than conventional.

• The Short Score: Here Comes the Summer
• The Short Score: Old West Rope Horse Futurity 2025
• "Team Roping Is Going to Save the Day for Everybody" — Steve Friskup's 2025 Horse Market Report
• The $1.7 Million Rope Horse: Meet the Man Who Bought Her
• The NEW U.S.-Mexico Cattle Border Closure
• Top 5 “The Score” Podcast Interviews of 2025 (So Far)

When TRJ's Chelsea Shaffer picked up the phone to call Bobby Joe Hill of Hill Rodeo Cattle, she had no idea the U.S.-Mexico cattle border had closed just the night before. What started as a routine check-in turned into a breaking-news conversation about a closure that could ripple across the roping industry.

In this episode of The Score, Bobby Joe breaks down what he knows about the shutdown, what it means for ropers and producers, and how the situation is more political than biological. From skyrocketing steer prices to a dwindling supply of cattle for jackpots and ProRodeos alike, Bobby Joe shares hard facts and personal insight from a stock contractor’s front-row seat to the crisis.

Shaffer also shares follow-up conversations with Ty Yost, who offers a more measured perspective—but agrees on one point: this situation is far from simple.

Whether you rope, produce or are just trying to understand how a closed border affects an entire sport, this is one episode you don’t want to miss.

Brought to you by: The Hombre head rope from Fast Back Ropes – small, light, and built for performance. Available at fastbackropes.com or by calling (817) 279-1851.

When a $1.7 million bid stunned the rope horse world, everyone asked the same question: Who is this guy? In this exclusive episode of The Score, we sit down with Mr. Jones—the man behind the record-breaking purchase that turned heads across the western industry.

Jones didn’t set out to make headlines. He thought he was just buying a horse. But what followed was an industry-wide ripple effect, elevating the rope horse market and reshaping expectations for what's possible. From his humble beginnings in a radiator shop to building a successful manufacturing business and ranching legacy, Jones shares the backstory behind his bold move—and what it means for the future of roping.

The Old West Rope Horse Futurity paid out over $1 million in 2025 and saw ropers and horses make history.

Tate Kirchenschlager and Almost LostMy Ticket won the Old West Futurity Heading for a life-changing $100,000. Coming from second call, Kirchenschlager topped the field to mark a major milestone in his rope-horse training journey.

SLR Swinging Hickory's $100,000 Old West Futurity Heeling win with Jeremy Buhler earned her the title of the winningest mare on the heel side of the rope horse futurity industry.

Joseph Harrison also changed history becoming the first $1 million rider in ARHFA history. Harrison won the Pre-Futurity Heeling aboard Stunnerr for $50,000.

Rhen Richard swept the Pre-Futurity Heading for over $90,000. Richard and Reliance Ranches' Watch The Lane won the 4-&-Under for $50,000, and he also picked up $29,792 for second aboard Captain Leggett and $5,320 for eighth on Little Foose Sug.

On this episode of The Short Score, Kirchenschlager, Buhler, Harrison and Richard talk about their wins at the Old West Futurity.

This episode is brought to you by Cactus Saddlery. All of Cactus Saddlery’s products are handcrafted right here in the U.S., and they stand firm in their belief that creating amazing product starts by using the highest quality materials. Cactus Saddlery provides premium saddles, tack and equine accessories that are designed, developed and ridden by some of the world's top endorsees. Head over to cactussaddlery.com today to check out all they have to offer.

When the gavel dropped on a $1.7 million sale at the Old West Futurity Rope Horse Sale in Heber City, Utah, Steve Friskup fought back tears. He'd sold horses before for $1.5 million, but Crosby Ray Von broke every record he'd ever set.

Some 48 hours after the sale, we caught up with Friskup as he'd had time to process the significance of the moment and what it means for the horse industry as a whole.

---

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 its customers. Fast Back offers a variety of ropes with a size, weight and style to fit every team roper.

June kicked off with a busy weekend of 2025 ProRodeo team roping action. With rodeos in nearly every circuit, there was a lot of rodeo action to unpack. On this episode of The Short Score, we break down who won what the final weekend of May to kick off June, who the biggest earners were and talked ProRodeo world standings.

• The Short Score: Corpus Christi Catch Up
• Miles Baker & Joseph Harrison: Oil Can Classic Champs
• Sweep: Saebens on The Score Podcast After Oil Can Classic Pre-Futurity Dominance
• JD McGuire: The Rope Horse Market Series Part 1
• Driggers & Nogueira Get Real on 2025 Battles After BFI Win
• Mike Gets the Mic: Hear from Doug Arnew's Heeler, Mike Ramsey

Andrew Ward and Jake Long had a dominant performance at the 2025 WCRA Rodeo Corpus Christi, winning $28,000 a man en route to the title.

With 19 NFR appearances between them, Ward and Long won Rodeo Corpus Christi with a 5.43-second run in the three-man round May 10, to clinch the $18,000 win and secure Ward a spot on the Free Riders team at Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo. Ward and Long kicked off their week with a 6.04-second run in the Wild Card Round for $2,500, followed by a 5.82 to win Progressive Round 1 for $5,000. Their consistency landed them second in the Progressive average for another $2,500. They powered through the Showdown Round with another 5.43, placing second and punching their ticket to the final three-man shootout.

On this episode of The Short Score, Ward and Long break down their win, how to nail the stoplight start system and the rest of the year.

• Miles Baker & Joseph Harrison: Oil Can Classic Champs
• Sweep: Saebens on The Score Podcast After Oil Can Classic Pre-Futurity Dominance
• JD McGuire: The Rope Horse Market Series Part 1
• Driggers & Nogueira Get Real on 2025 Battles After BFI Win
• Mike Gets the Mic: Hear from Doug Arnew's Heeler, Mike Ramsey
• Loss to Legacy: Troy Ashford Shares Significance of Wesley Thorp's BFI Cowboy Auction Donation on The Score
• That Time We Let Tyler Wade & Wesley Thorp Host The Score with Doug Arnew

Miles Baker kicks off this episode after a big win at the 2025 Oil Can Classic heading futurity aboard Sevens Hank 2—a bay gelding making a triumphant return. Baker explains the horse’s background, why he’s in Miles’ program instead of Trevor’s, and how time off may have preserved his expression. He breaks down the run that earned the high score of the day and shares insight into how short-round judging dynamics favor a horse that stays sharp under pressure. He also weighs in on Nala, his veteran mare, and how the bay might be her biggest competition this season.

Then, ARHFA World Champion Joseph Harrison joins the conversation after making headlines by taking first through fourth in the heeling futurity. He walks us through each of the standout horses in his program, and what makes them so effective. Harrison shares what it means to deliver for his owners, why certain movement patterns predict stopping power, and how he’s setting up for the rest of the futurity season.

It’s a behind-the-scenes look at two powerhouse horsemen with futurity strings that are turning heads—and winning checks.

Learn more about Baker's training program on Roping.com: https://bit.ly/3y515QT