Dear Roper, 

This year marks our fifth Breeder’s Guide in this magazine, and it’s a constant work in progress. 

We started the practice of putting the top-earning competing stallion of the year on the cover in 2024 with Sevens Star Glo, so this year, you’ll find AQHA Junior Heeling World Champions Pride And Joyy and Miles Baker front and center on this issue. 

In the guide itself, which begins on page 61, check out Tate Kirchenschlager and Starlight Oak 017. That horse is a legacy good one, who won the AQHA World Championship in the Senior Heading in 2024, and he comes from the famous Starlight Gypsy line of great horses. His being on the cover is a nod to all the great geldings—like American Champ Parker County Oak and futurity standout American Greed—that carry the same genetics as Starlight Oak 017. 

Meanwhile, we’re learning the best way to quantify the industry’s top-earning horses with our partners at QData. On page 50, you’ll find a story I wrote breaking down the year’s biggest winners under 6 years old, calling out the richest horses, richest dams and richest sires of 2024 and all-time. 

I hope you keep this issue on your coffee table, where you can spend time at your leisure browsing all of the high-quality horse flesh inside it. Things are thriving over here in team roper land, and I’m just thrilled you’re all a part of it along with us. 

Hopefully we’ll see you at the next jackpot, 

Chelsea