Jake Long knows what a Horse of the Year feels like, but after three-time winner Colonel, he wasn’t sure he would ever find another one of that caliber.

Then came 7-year-old Hezaluckysonofagun “Copper,” the horse that carried Long to his first world championship and is now the 2026 Nutrena Heel Horse of the Year.

On this episode of The Short Score, Long talks about Copper’s traits that make him a Horse-of-the-Year-type of horse, several of those reminding him of Colonel. But for Long, what makes Copper special goes beyond his ability in the arena. He’s a horse that wants attention, wants to be his buddy and, as Long puts it, “tries his hardest every single time.”

Long also reflects on the horse that helped build his career. After winning his first gold buckle aboard Copper, Long went home to Oklahoma to see Colonel, hugged the retired Horse of the Year and told him, “We got one.” Now, with Copper adding that same title to his résumé, Long has found another one he plans to keep for life.

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For Colby Lovell and Ty Arnold, winning $100,000 at the 2026 Riata Championships was about more than the check.

Lovell and Arnold won the Pro Futurity in Guthrie with a 34.82 on five head aboard Royal Underdog and Sugar Boom Boom, respectively, giving Lovell his third Riata Championship. But both horses carried a little extra meaning into the Lazy E: Royal Underdog came through Lovell’s own breeding program, while Arnold’s Sugar Boom Boom was raised by his longtime friend Justin Henson.

On this episode of The Score, Lovell talks about watching his breeding program come full circle and what it means to remember these horses from the day they were born. He also dives into the influence Metallic Payday has had on his program, what he looks for in a stallion and why great-minded horses with the ability to rise to the occasion have shaped the standard he tries to reproduce.

Arnold explains how Sugar Boom Boom came through Henson’s program before landing in his hands as a young horse, eventually becoming a horse he used every day and developed into the winner he rode at the Riata. He and Lovell also talk about their partnership at home, the importance of practicing against people who push you and the confidence that comes from knowing each man will handle his side of the run.

For Lovell, that trust showed up in the high call. Arnold said his only concern was doing his own job because he knew Lovell would give him the shot. Lovell echoed the same confidence from the other side: “If I do my job, Ty completes the course.”

The two East Texas cowboys break down the horses, the partnership and the years of breeding, training and preparation behind a Riata win that was anything but overnight.

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This episode is brought to you by SmartEquine and ColiCare—an innovative approach to hindgut health and colic prevention. Designed with research-backed ingredients and a unique support program, when your horse is counting on you, you can count on ColiCare.

ColiCare combines targeted digestive support with a program designed to help you stay ahead of potential issues—not just react to them. It’s built on research, formulated to support a healthy gut environment, and backed by a unique benefit: eligible horses enrolled in the program may receive up to $15,000 in colic surgery reimbursement.

Whether you’re hauling, training hard, or just managing day-to-day stressors, your horse’s digestive system is constantly under pressure. ColiCare is designed to help you manage those risks with confidence.

Visit SmartEquine.com to learn more about how ColiCare can support your horse’s long-term health.

At just 5 years old, A Relentless Buzz is already the kind of head horse Trevor Brazile can back into the box on without much to manage—and that maturity helped carry the gray to the 6-&-Under Heading win at the Texas Best Futurity in Decatur, Texas.

On this episode of The Short Score, Brazile breaks down what makes A Relentless Buzz so solid, from the box and plenty of run to the smooth way the big horse handles himself. The gelding has become one Brazile takes to the jackpots, too, because there simply is not much about him that is easy to fault.

Brazile also talks through why the lighter cattle and setup at the Texas Best Futurity offered a valuable test ahead of the bigger fall shows. For young horses, he said, every trip to town is another chance to add pressure, see where anxiety may show up and make sure they are ready for the rest of the year.

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