The 15 best headers the team roping world have mostly settled on their head horses for Round 1 of the 2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo when it kicks off Dec. 5, 2024 in Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Dustin Egusquiza, who leads the world standings heading into Round 1, is fairly set on King Sabre Bar, the big bay gelding he rode most of the winter, but he’s waiting until after the steer run through Tuesday morning to decide.
Two-time World Champion Kaleb Driggers is still undecided on his mount, but he’s got a legend in Hustler Lena, Rhen Richard’s 21-year-old gelding he called “Midnight” in the rig just in case he needs him.
Perhaps most notably, Jake Smith plans to ride Pine Time Boogie, the 2001 gelding that Trevor Brazile first rode at the Finals in 2013, and who his brother Clay rode in Las Vegas again in 2021. He’ll be the oldest in the pack at 23. Clay, for his part, will ride the only mare on the list—his sister-in-law Miley Richey’s Hello Lashes.
As of Tuesday, Dec. 3, the youngest horse in the field on the head side is Cyle Denison’s Sanjo Playgun at 10. Of note, though: Cody Snow has SJR Diamond Billy, his superstar futurity horse, waiting in the wings in case he needs to make a change.
No sire or dam has two offspring on the head side going into Round 1, with quite a smattering of stallions and old-school cow and ranching bloodlines reigning supreme.
World Standings | Header | Head Horse | Mare/Gelding | Year Born | Sire | Dam | Dam Sire |
| 1 | Dustin Egusquiza | King Sabre Bar | G | 2011 | Time For Red Buck | OLE LADY SABRE BAR | OLE LAZY MAN |
| 2 | Tyler Wade | Espuela Bro | G | 2007 | Blue Lite Ike | Brio Victress (TB) | Sucha Pleasure (TB) |
| 3 | Kaleb Driggers | Hustler Lena | G | 2003 | |||
| 4 | Coleman Proctor | SCR Sporties Playgun | G | 2008 | Playgun | Haidas Sporty | Haidas Little Pep |
| 5 | Clint Summers | WSR Hesa Alive | G | 2004 | HESA SONOFA DUN | SMOKES ALIVE | SMOKIN 45 |
| 6 | Andrew Ward | Cole E Man | G | 2011 | Okey Dokey Dale | STREAKIN POLLY BEE | STREAKIN LA JOLLA |
| 7 | Jake Smith | Pine Time Boogie (Boogie) | G | 2001 | Pine Time | Tender Moments | Tender Six |
| 8 | J.C. Yeahquo | Captain Playboy Chex (El Chapo) | G | 2010 | PLAYBOY ALICE | MJ SNICKELS DOLL | GREAT CAPTAIN JAC |
| 9 | Brenten Hall | Flipped On Henry (Mikey) | G | 2011 | STREAKIN FLIPMIA | HENRETTA | BIG HORN DOC |
| 10 | Luke Brown | DM Jet Off | G | 2009 | Hand Off Boy | Rocket Jets | Easy Jet |
| 11 | Clay Smith | Hello Lashes | M | 2013 | DOCS WILD SEVEN | LITTLE TRAYLENE | CINCO MILAGRO |
| 12 | Cyle Denison | Sanjos Playgun (Gravy) | G | 2014 | SANJO STARLIGHT | MISS DOC PLAY GUN | Playgun |
| 13 | Erich Rogers | Undecided | |||||
| 14 | Cody Snow | Fanci Dox Ringo (Ringo) | G | 2007 | Dox King Gilligan | Fancy Chexi Shuffles | Shufflin On By |
| 15 | Derrick Begay | Caseys Glory (The Sorrel) | G | 2010 | Colonel Jeddo | Caseys War Bug | Warriors Glory |
1. Dustin Egusquiza’s King Sabre Bar
2. Tyler Wade’s Espuela Bro
3. Kaleb Driggers‘ Hustler Lena
4. Coleman Proctor’s SCR Sporties Playgun
5. Clint Summers’ WSR Hesa Alive
6. Andrew Ward’s Cole E Man
7. Jake Smith’s Pine Time Boogie
8. J.C. Yeahquo’s Captain Playboy Chex
9. Brenten Hall’s Flipped On Henry
10. Luke Brown’s DM Jet Off
11. Clay Smith’s Hello Lashes
12. Cyle Denison’s Sanjos Playgun
13. Erich Rogers Undecided
14. Cody Snow’s Fanci Dox Ringo
15. Derrick Begay’s Caseys Glory
