Old West paid out $1.37 million in Heber City, put some of the best rope horses in the industry on display and backed it all up with a horse sale that proved just how fast this side of the business is growing.

Chelsea Shaffer sat down with Rhen Richard to reminisce on the week in Utah, from Richard winning $186,000 on five different horses to what those results say about his training program, his family’s breeding program and where the rope horse industry is headed next.

Richard breaks down why consistency at home has mattered so much in his program, and how the time spent getting young horses truly broke is starting to show up when it counts. He talks through the horses that stood out in Heber City, including the ones raised out of his family’s mares, and why the best futurity horses now have to be built with more than one job in mind.

The conversation then dives into the crossover between futurity horses, rodeo horses and jackpot horses, and why a strong foundation matters long after a horse leaves the show pen. Richard also explains what he wants judges to reward, from scoring and control to a horse that stays true to the cow and looks like it has a future beyond the futurity world.

They also get into the Old West sale, the $1 million bonus opportunity and what it means as more owners, breeders, trainers and ropers start buying into the system. With millions changing hands and more money on the line than ever, Old West is helping shape what the next era of the rope horse business looks like.

If you want to understand where the rope horse industry is headed, this episode is a good place to start.

Check out this episode to hear the full conversation.

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This episode is brought to you by Old West Futurities. Old West isn't just raising the bar—we're redefining what's possible in the rope horse industry. With more than $1.12 million paid out in Guthrie and over $1.37 million paid out in Heber City, Old West has quickly become one of the premier destinations for Heading, Heeling, and Breakaway competition.

With record-setting horse sales, industry-leading payouts, exclusive Sale Graduate incentives, and a $1 Million Bonus opportunity, Old West is where legends are made and records are broken.

Learn more about our futurities and horse sales at OldWest.com.

Cooper Freeman grew up in Carthage, Missouri, surrounded by roping. His parents bought an indoor arena, steakhouse and western store when he was young, and Freeman grew up in the middle of jackpot team ropings, barrel races and weekend events.

By 14, he was amateur rodeoing. At 19, he bought his PRCA permit and made a run through the Great Lakes Circuit. He spent two years at Cisco College, where Tyler and Brittany Worley gave him a place to live, horses to ride and the kind of help that made rodeoing for a living feel a little more possible.

Now, at 23, Freeman is sitting No. 1 in the world on the heel side with Korbin Rice, with more than $112,000 won so far in 2026. They won RodeoHouston in their first trip there, after rodeoing their way in at the start of the 2026 season, and just recently added a win at the Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho, to their list.

Freeman calls Houston the coolest rodeo he’s ever been to, and months later, he still catches himself daydreaming about it. With Rice turning steers and Freeman keeping things simple on the back side, the two are living out the kind of season kids play out in the practice pen.

Check out the episode to learn more about the No. 1 man on the heel side.

About Fast Back Ropes

This episode is presented by Fast Back Ropes. A longtime supporter of The Team Roping Journal, Fast Back takes pride in building quality ropes that offer the durability, performance, and consistency ropers can rely on. With a commitment to craftsmanship, innovation, and customer satisfaction, Fast Back continues to create products designed to bring value both in and out of the arena. Visit fastbackropes.com to shop ropes and gear, find a retailer, or download the latest catalog.

After eight years and more than 3 million downloads, Chelsea Shaffer is handing The Score’s reins to the Team Roping Journal’s newest hire, Calli Montague.

Montague, known to most as “Frank’s daughter,” grew up with a rope in her hand and engulfed in the world of team roping from the beginning. A South Texas native who now calls the Texas Panhandle home, Montague came up through West Texas A&M before landing in the American Quarter Horse Association communications department.

She spent years waiting for her shot at Team Roping Journal, even after getting told she wasn’t ready the first time she asked. She listened, got to work, and came back when another opportunity presented itself in the spring of 2025.

On this episode, Shaffer and Montague sit down for a proper introduction before officially passing the torch. Montague opens up about growing up going to ProRodeos, having a front-row seat to the early 2000s team roping scene, and how she found her way from a communications job to covering jackpots and rodeos full time. She talks about the weekend jackpot crowd and what being a part of it means to her career, how special it is to tell the stories of the ones entering every weekend, and just how much she loves team roping—and talking.

The TRJ ladies also dig into what the next chapter of The Score looks like, including Montague’s plans to dig into the existing archives, shine a light on the weekend warriors and build the kind of relationships where guys call her first when something happens instead of the other way around.

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This episode is brought to you by The Dead Horse Ranch. The Dead Horse Ranch is an elite equine facility located outside of Santa Fe, NM. The property sprawls over +\- 6,100 acres and includes multiple houses, over 100 horse stalls, an indoor arena and multiple outdoor riding areas. This unique ranch is turnkey and offers usability as well as upscale luxury. The Dead Horse Ranch is proudly offered for sale by Michael Gregory Jr. Real Estate. To see more visit thedeadhorseranch.com.