The Solo Select Futurity, held during the Clay Logan Open, just upped the game for rope horse incentives: $400,000 in added money is now confirmed for Solo Incentive horses—making it one of the richest 4-year-old futurities in the industry.

Designed to reward the breeders, owners and riders behind rope horse development, the Solo Incentive is powered entirely by stallion enrollments and breeding sales.

“This is about giving trainers and owners real opportunity,” said Ty Smith, CEO of Solo Select. “The format puts everyone on equal footing in the short round, and that makes it exciting for the whole field—not just the frontrunners.”

How to Become Eligible for the Solo Select Futurity

Eligibility for the 2025 Solo Select Futurity, held October 1–2 during the Clay Logan Open to the World at the Circle T Arena in Hamilton, Texas, is designed to be straightforward and accessible:

• Buy a Breeding. To enter, riders or owners must purchase a breeding to any stallion in the Solo Select lineup for the 2025 season.
• One Breeding = One Entry. Each breeding secures one entry to the Futurity. You can ride any 4-year-old horse, regardless of sire, as long as you’ve purchased a qualifying breeding.
• Four-Horse Limit per rider, per side. Each rider may enter up to four horses in heading and four in heeling.
• Divisions Offered:
  • Open and Intermediate Team Roping (October 2)
  • Breakaway and Tie-Down Roping (October 1)

The Solo Incentive is funded directly by a portion of each stud fee, which goes into a dedicated payout account—bringing hundreds of thousands in added money back to breeders, owners and ropers.

Entry Fees:

• Open Division: $1,000 per horse
• Intermediate Sidepot: $500 per horse (100% payback)
  • Intermediate capped at 6.5 headers and 8 heelers
  • Intermediate scores will roll from the Open short round, if eligible

Roping will be judged by three judges, with a fourth score based on time, using a three-head average and clean-slate short round.

“This is one of the simplest and most rider-friendly incentives out there,” said 26-time World Champion Trevor Brazile. “You don’t need to buy a specific prospect or chase down a long list of conditions. Buy a breeding, ride your horse, and rope for real money.”

A Finals Format That Levels the Field

The Futurity, scheduled for October 2, will feature a three-head average, followed by a clean-slate short round. Finalists will rope in drawn order, with the high-scoring horse drawing first.

It’s a format that mirrors cutting, cow horse and reining—where everything’s on the line in the finals.

“Your first horse back can win it all,” said producer Clay Logan. “It keeps fans hooked and owners invested. Every run matters.”

Intermediate Division: Built to Grow

With support from Solo Select, the Intermediate division is designed to spotlight rising talent. It’s open to headers 6.5 and under and heelers 8 and under, with a $1,000 entry fee and an optional $500 side pot—paying back 100% of sidepot entry fees.

“We want to build a place where trainers can compete, win and grow their programs,” Smith said.

Roping Schedule

• October 1: Breakaway and tie-down roping for Intermediate and Solo Incentive horses
• October 2: Team roping futurity: Open and Intermediate divisions, clean-slate finals same day

Backed by Stallions, Built for the Industry

The $400,000 added to this year’s Incentive comes directly from stallion enrollments—an investment by the people breeding and raising these horses. That foundational support sets a strong precedent—and opens the door for additional contributions from partners looking to back the future of rope horse competition.

“This is just the start,” Smith said. “We’ve built the structure and the momentum. Now it’s time to grow.”