The Score from The Team Roping Journal

The Score Podcast from The Team Roping Journal
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

.Featuring the team roping industry’s movers and shakers and the inside story on iconic moments in team roping history. Part of the Horse Radio Network.

  1. 1d ago

    The Road to the Announcer's Stand: Cade Passig on Life These Days, Announcing Ropings, and Roping For a Living

    It took Cade Passig years of working every job on the crew before he found his was to the microphone announcing for Mathews Land and Cattle. Growing up with a rope in his hand, Passig never wanted to do anything else—but rope. That led to life now: being the "conductor" at some of the biggest jackpots in the country, being a student of the game in both announcing and heeling steers, and being a dad to a little one who is already ate up with the sport. On this episode of The Score, Passig talks us through how he grew up and the grind that it was, how he found his was onto the M.L.C. crew, and how even though he doesn't hit the rodeo road "full time", he wouldn't change a thing. He takes listeners back to he and Chris Francis' win of the 2018 Bob Feist Invitational and how that helped shape his career, and what growing up with guys like Francis around made him realize how important raising his son, Hardy, in the same way truly is. This listen is long, but worth it, as is expected for a guy who ropes and talks for a living. Listen now for the Cade Passig story, brought to you by our friends at 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.

  2. 3d ago

    The Short Score: Summer Momentum

    The end of June and Cowboy Christmas saw momentum build for numerous teams, especially ones who were in need. Lightning Aguilera and Kaden Profili kicked off a three-week span of huge ProRodeo team roping storylines, winning $30,740 over a two-week period at the end of June. Aguilera and Profili took home $20,868 a man the week of June 16-21, highlighted by wins at the Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho, and the Silver State Stampede in Elko, Nevada. They rolled into another strong week June 24-28, pocketing $9,872 apiece with checks at the Reno Rodeo, West Of The Pecos Rodeo and Greeley Stampede. James Arviso and Levi Lord also got on a heater, winning the prestigious Reno Rodeo for $15,705 apiece. Their momentum rolled right into the Greeley Stampede where they won the average for $10,192 a man. That kicked off their Cowboy Christmas, and they ended up third in The Team Roping Journal's high-money earners calculations with $22,395 a man. Perhaps no bigger storyline came from Cody Snow and Lane Mitchell, however. Snow and Mitchell were the top earners over Cowboy Christmas, winning $30,192 a man. Their biggest hits came from the St. Paul Rodeo where they won $9,116 apiece and Greeley, winning $7,410 a man. The huge Fourth run moved them from outside the top 30 in the 2026 PRCA team roping world standings to right around the Top 15. On this episode of The Short Score, some of the biggest winners talk about their big weeks. ____ 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

  3. 3d ago

    Where They Are Now: What Chris Francis has Been up to Since Winning the 2018 Bob Fiest Invitational

    Chris Francis has won some of the sports biggest ropings, but much of his life happens behind the scenes at some of the biggest jackpots in the country. On this episode of The Score, Las Vegas, New Mexico's Francis talks about how he went from helping Oren Mathews gather cattle and work a truck roping to taking on a major role on the Mathews Land and Cattle crew. He explains what goes into managing cattle, putting on World Series of Team Roping jackpots across the Southwestern United States, and how he always knew his life would revolve around team roping. Along the way, Francis looks back on the wins that helped define his own roping career, including winning the 2018 Bob Feist Invitational with Cade Passig and claiming the Turquoise Circuit Finals average and year-end titles together. He shares how their partnership grew from Francis knowing Passig as a toddler to watching him become a 10 heeler, partner and little brother. Francis also gets honest about how his priorities have changed over time. His girls, wife Kenna and 8-year-old daughter Karstyn, are as involved in the industry as he is. Francis talks about how being a dad and husband to two cowgirls is his favorite job in the world, and what life looks like being their biggest fan and supporter. ___ 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

  4. Jul 3

    $186K Week in Utah: Rhen Richard Talks All Things Old West After Heber City Success

    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. --- 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.

  5. Jun 26

    Who is the Missouri Man Leading the World on the Heel Side: Get to Know Cooper Freeman

    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.

  6. Jun 18

    Passing the Torch: Chelsea Shaffer Hands Over The Score to Calli Montague

    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. --- 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.

  7. Jun 16

    The New Mexico Man Who is Leading the World on the Head Side: Get to Know Korbin Rice

    Korbin Rice grew up in Hobbs, New Mexico roping calves with his brother. By his freshman year of high school, they'd switched to team roping full time. By his senior year, he'd made up his mind to rodeo for a living—even though nobody in his family had ever done it. His rookie year, he and Caleb Hendricks drove everywhere. One horse apiece, never got on a plane. He figured out the entering as he went, and eventually landed at Chad Masters' place in Lipan and the rest was history. From Masters came Papa Rock, the sorrel that Rice owes most of his big wins to over these last few years. He was crowned the 2026 RodeoHouston champion with Cooper Freeman, won the Ariat WSTR Finale Open with Jake Edwards back in 2024, and is now sitting No. 1 in the world on the head side with $101,329 won so far. Korbin Rice is a name you ought to write down and remember, we have a feeling he isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Check out this episode to hear his story. --- 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

  8. Jun 8

    The Short Score: How Smith and Rich are Rolling into the Summer Run

    Jake Smith and Douglas Rich head into the 2026 ProRodeo summer run with plenty of momentum after winning the Music City Rodeo in Nashville. In this episode of The Short Score, Smith and Rich break down their win, which moved them to No. 2 in the PRCA world standings and talk about how building confidence before the busiest stretch of the season is so important. Smith and Rich share how their consistent approach paid off in Nashville’s three-head aggregate format, plus what horses they rode. ____ This episode is brought to you by SmartPak and ColiCare. Colic is one of the leading causes of emergency vet visits—and it’s something every horse owner worries about. That’s why SmartPak developed ColiCare, a comprehensive approach to hindgut health and colic prevention. 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 SmartPakEquine.com to learn more about how ColiCare can support your horse’s long-term health.

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.Featuring the team roping industry’s movers and shakers and the inside story on iconic moments in team roping history. Part of the Horse Radio Network.

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