Dean Tuftin is one of the rope horse industry’s most powerful forces, through both his top-notch breeding and training program and his support of the futurity industry. 

For the first time, NFR heeler Tuftin is pulling back the curtain on his training program at DT Horses in Scottsdale, Arizona, taking Roping.com members through his start-to-finish system of making top-tier rope horses. 

“Dean’s unique approach to building great horses focuses on getting each horse’s buy-in on his methods, building their confidence in a way that ropers at home can mimic,” Content Director Chelsea Shaffer said. “His ability to break down the smallest details of his horsemanship will help ropers just starting out, and it will shed light on the finer points of horsemanship for experienced ropers.” 

The series starts as Tuftin demonstrates the responsiveness he looks for when just riding a 2-year-old in a halter, a responsiveness that he carries over into a snaffle bit while tracking the sled and into the lead steer and live cattle.

Tuftin’s program got him to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and helped make AQHA/PRCA Heel Horse of the Year Rey Shines On Top, piloted by Brady Minor. His horses have gone on to win at the American Rope Horse Futurity Assocation World Championship under J.D. Yates, and they have picked up many AQHA World Champion titles. His mare, DT Hickorys Mistycat, was the first-ever Riata Buckle Futurity Open Champion on the heel side under Dakota Kirchenschlager, and he raised Billie Jack Saebens’ and Dixon Flowers AQHA/PRCA Heel Horse of the Year, DT Sugar Chex Whiz. He currently stands the World’s Greatest Horseman Champion Hickory Holly Time, and most of the horses in these videos are offspring of the red roan stud.