The Riata Open will play host to some horse/rider and team combinations you’ll never see again when it kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 26 from the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma, and streaming live on Roping.com starting at 8 a.m.
Full Draw Available on TimeTracker with a Global Handicaps login
The whole roping is stacked top to bottom with 49 teams vying for $200,000-added and a $50,000 futurity incentive, but some teams we’re running to the fence to watch:
Draw 8: Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp
The reigning world champs are ducking into Guthrie before heading to Sioux Falls’ Governor’s Cup Thursday, with Wade heading on Good Timin Lorrie by The Goodbye Lane, and Thorp heeling on the Once In A Blue Boon son Neato.
Draw 15: Andy Holcomb and Dakota Kirchenschlager
These two futurity trainers will get to let their hair down and go fast on five head at the Riata, with Holcomb on the Isaac Starlight son, Isaacs First Cody, with Kirchenschlager on the stallion Mayhemm by Metallic Rebel.
Draw 16: Colby Lovell and Jade Corkill
Lovell will head on Mr Seven Come Eleven by Quails Dun Remedy for Corkill, who’s riding two full siblings in the Riata Open. For Lovell, he’ll heel on Little Big Blue, by Seven S Big Valley.
Draw 18: Tate Kirchenschlager and Daniel Reed
Kirchenschlager will go at em on five head on Hes Misleading Dude, by Lazy E stallion Bucks Hancock Dude. He’s partnering with Daniel Reed, who’s excelled on Probably Smart N Nu to $92,762 at the futurities the last two years, winning the ARHFA Sun Circuit and TX Best Futurity on the son of Smart Nu Shiner.
Draw 21: Dean Tuftin and Jeremy Buhler
The iconic Tuftin will swap ends and head for World Champion Buhler. Tuftin will ride his home-raised DT Hickorys Zinger by Hickory Holly Time, while Buhler is on another Hickory Holly Time, DT Get Yer Mask On.
Draw 22: Clay Smith and Joseph Harrison
A day after the loss of great stallion Winners Version, Smith will ride one of his colts, Sammis Version, for Harrison on the elite stallion Nu One Time Blues, by One Time Pepto.
Draw 28: Wesley Thorp and Will Woodfin
French Streakin, by the late A Streak Of Fling, will carry Thorp on the head side, with Will Woodfin on Stylish Hawk LB by Catty Hawk on the heels. Thorp won $40,000 at the RFA in 2023 on this horse on the head side.
Draw 33: Miles Baker and Colby Lovell
Miles Baker will ride Lunchbox, by One Time Honor, while Colby Lovell will climb aboard Time To Glo, the leading rope horse earner trained by Bobby Lewis. Time To Glo is a son of Hickory Holly Time.
Draw 37: Tate Kirchenschlager and Jade Corkill
Kirchenschlager will use his second bullet on Lazzertag, by Hashtags, heading for Corkill on Valleys Red Delta, a full sibling to his other mount by Seven S Big Valley.
Draw 45: Cody Snow and Wesley Thorp
The past NFR average champs will reunite at the Riata, with Snow on the Jesses Topaz offspring Jesses Bella Cat, while Thorp rides DT Hickorys Diego by Hickory Holly Time.
Draw 48: Trevor Brazile and Paul Eaves
Brazile will ride syndicated Riata stallion The Darkk Side, by Once In A Blu Boon, while Eaves will be aboard the Metallic Rebel, Chiquita Rebel.
