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.

1. The Short Score: Winter Rodeo Catchup 2026
2. How Team Roping Hooked Former UFC Fighter Travis Browne
3. The Short Score: 2025 NFR Average + World Champs Ward and Long
4. The Short Score: Aguilera and Profili Win Round 9 of the 2025 NFR

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.

In this episode, we sit down with Travis Browne, a former UFC heavyweight contender who has traded the octagon for the roping box and embraced life as a team roper.

Travis talks candidly about what it’s like to go from the elite level of one sport to being brand new in another, and how quickly team roping humbled him. From missing steers at his first jackpot to learning horsemanship, pressure, and patience, he shares the challenges and the rush that hooked him on the sport.

We also dive into how his background as a professional fighter shaped his mindset, coachability, and approach to learning, why team roping has become a family affair, and what he loves most about the people and culture in the industry.

It’s an honest conversation about starting over, being willing to fail, and finding joy in the process. Whether you’re new to team roping or have been in it your whole life, this episode is a reminder of why this sport pulls people in and keeps them coming back.

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Episode sponsored by DECHRA: Every horse deserves to feel their best. That's why veterinarians trust Dechra Veterinary Products — a global leader in equine health. From joint comfort and mobility to reproduction, skin and eye care, and essential fluid therapy, our solutions support horses through every stage of life. When your veterinarian recommends Dechra products, you can be confident your horse is receiving high-quality, proven care. Because at Dechra, we're dedicated to helping your horse live healthier, longer, stronger.

Andrew Ward and Jake Long got the second NFR average titles of their careers and their first world titles in 2025.

Ward and Long went 3.9 seconds in Round 10 of the 2025 NFR to split the round win and take home the average title with a 44.0 on nine steers. It also sealed the deal on the world championship, bringing them to $373,838.26 and $372,091.71 on the year.

Ward and Long join The Short Score to talk about their run, the wins and more.

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This episode is brought to you by Oz Ona Hot Streak,, the Nebraska-raised stallion built for both AQHA gold and NFR pressure. Oz is the 2019 AQHA Jr. Heading World Champion, a top-ten heeler, and the first stallion with that title to rope inside the Thomas & Mack. During the NFR, Solo Select is offering $500 off every Oz breeding. Lock your contract in at SoloSelectHorses.com or by calling Madison at 940-580-0156.

Lightning Aguilera and Kaden Profili topped Round 9 of the 2025 NFR for their third round win.

Aguilera and Profili pocketed another $36,667.95 apiece for their 3.4-second run. They've collected $130,846.52 a man inside the Thomas & Mack to jump from 15th and 14th in the world to sixth and fifth.

Heading into Round 10, Kolton Schmidt and Jonathan Torres continue to lead the aggregate after a 4.3 in Round 9, as well as the world standings with $294,451.12 and $286,185.02, respectively. Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira have moved up in the world standings again, now sitting third and second, trailing by $19,714.53 and $11,448.43. Andrew Ward and Jake Long sit second in the aggregate, behind Schmidt and Torres by 7.1 seconds. They're also fifth and fourth in the world, sitting $47,472.13 and $40,952.58 behind the world leaders.

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This episode is presented by Oz On A Hot Streak, the stallion that wins everywhere he goes. AQHA World Champion. PRCA champion. Calgary champion. And now the first AQHA World Champion stallion ever to rope at the NFR. Oz breedings are $500 off all NFR long. Lock your contract in at SoloSelectHorses.com or by calling Madison at 940

Kolton Schmidt and Jonathan Torres not only won Round 8 of the 2025 NFR, they officially lead the pack.

Schmidt and Torres turned in a 3.8-second run for the round win to give them the lead in the average with a 28.7 on seven head and the lead in the world standings with $279,074.24 and $270,808.14, respectively. They've raked in $159,136.03 a man to skyrocket from 14th and 15th in the world to No. 1.

They join The Short Score for the third time this week to talk through their run and their world-championship chances.

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This episode is presented by Oz On A Hot Streak, the record-breaking grey from Nebraska. AQHA World Champion. PRCA money winner. And the first stallion with an AQHA world title to rope at the NFR. Solo Select is offering $500 off all Oz breedings during the NFR. Lock your contract in at SoloSelectHorses.com or by calling Madison at 940-580-0156.

Dawson and Dillon Graham were back for their second go-round win at the 2025 NFR after winning the Round 7 team roping fight.

The Grahams turned in a 3.5-second run for $36,667.95 apiece to push them to fifth in the world standings with $229,858.23. They join The Short Score to talk about their round win, their first solo win.

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This episode of The Short Score is presented by Oz On A Hot Streak, the stallion who brings the same run every time. AQHA World Champion. Major rodeo winner. And the first AQHA World Champion stallion ever to rope at the NFR. Oz breedings are $500 off during the entire NFR. Lock