The Team Roping Journal – September 2026

Summary

Korbin Rice and Cooper Freeman — "Livin' the Dream" — cover The Team Roping Journal September 2026, Volume 10 Number 1, with a 120-page issue focused on the Riata Championships (September 23-27 at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma) and the sport's financial growth. The cover photo by Calli Montague captures the two header-heeler pairs who dominated the 2026 winter circuits.

Four feature articles anchor the book. "Money Follows the Horse" by Chelsea Shaffer previews the Riata Championships with a 1.5-million-dollar total payout. "From Chasing to Being Chased" profiles Rice and Freeman's year. "Cowboy Committeemen" features Derrick Begay, Aaron Tsinigine, and Erich Rogers in Window Rock, Arizona. "Global Handicaps Oversight Committee" by Denny Gentry addresses industry rule changes. The Competitive Edge section runs 60 pages covering beefing, roping.com strategy, and association schedules.

Content Guide

▸ Features

p.64 · Money Follows the Horse — Riata Championships Preview
Chelsea Shaffer breaks down the payout structure at the Riata Championships: 1.5 million dollars total, with 250,000 dollars to the winning team. The Lazy E Arena seats 4,200 spectators. The article includes a draw schedule and a list of 8 teams to watch. The header-heeler pair draw is released 72 hours before the first run; check the Riata app for real-time updates.

p.74 · From Chasing to Being Chased — Korbin Rice and Cooper Freeman
Calli Montague profiles the duo who won 3 major winter circuit titles in 2026. Rice ropes left-handed; Freeman heels right-handed. Their combined 2026 earnings stand at 380,000 dollars. They practice 6 days per week at Rice's arena in Stephenville, Texas. Watch their warm-up routine: 5 practice runs at half speed before each competition run.

p.80 · Cowboy Committeemen — Derrick Begay, Aaron Tsinigine, Erich Rogers
Kendra Santos profiles 3 Navajo ropers who organize grassroots roping events on the Window Rock reservation. The events draw 150-200 competitors each month. Begay has qualified for the WSTR finals 12 times. The reservation events pay 10,000 dollars added money per division.

p.84 · Global Handicaps Oversight Committee
Denny Gentry explains the new GHOC rule changes taking effect October 1, 2026. The biggest change is a 5-point handicap adjustment for headers and heelers competing in mixed-class ropings. The GHOC website posts the full rulebook with a 30-day public comment period.

▸ Competitive Edge

p.46 · Finer Points — Head Roping Technique
A 4-page technical clinic with sequential photo breakdowns of the correct swing plane, release point, and follow-through for a clean head catch. The model is a 2025 world champion who demonstrates the 3-step delivery. Practice the release point at 75 percent speed before adding power.

p.52 · Next Level — Heel Positioning
A footwork and horse-positioning guide for heelers. The article uses freeze-frame photos from 3 championship runs showing the correct spacing between horse and steer. The ideal distance is 4 feet from the heeler's horse shoulder to the steer's hip. Film your runs from directly behind the box to measure your spacing.

p.58 · Horsepower — Equine Conditioning Program
A 3-phase conditioning plan for rope horses: phase 1 builds foundational fitness over 4 weeks, phase 2 adds pattern work over 4 weeks, phase 3 maintains competition readiness. Each phase includes specific workouts with duration and heart-rate targets. Phase 1 starts with 20-minute arena sessions at 120-140 BPM.

▸ Schedules / Industry

p.87 · WSTR Schedule
Full 2026-2027 schedule for the World Series of Team Roping, including qualification events, regional finals, and the Las Vegas Super Finals. The Super Finals pay 500,000 dollars per division. Early entry closes 45 days before each event.

p.104 · USTRC Schedule
United States Team Roping Championships schedule with 12 affiliate events across the Midwest. The USTRC National Finals return to Oklahoma City in November 2026.

Editor's Take

This is a well-executed issue of a niche sport magazine. The Riata Championships preview delivers exactly what a competitor needs: payout breakdown, draw schedule, and team profiles. The Rice-Freeman profile is the strongest feature — 380,000 dollars in combined earnings, 6-day practice weeks, specific warm-up routines. The Cowboy Committeemen piece adds genuine cultural depth that most roping magazines ignore. The Competitive Edge section is the issue's engine: 60 pages of roping-specific technical content. Advertising dominates the back half, especially supplement and trailer ads, but that is the business model of the sport. The GHOC rule-change piece is dry but necessary.

Strengths
• Riata Championships preview with 1.5-million-dollar payout specifics
• Rice-Freeman profile with 380,000-dollar earnings and 6-day practice schedule
• Competitive Edge section: 60 pages of sport-specific technical instruction

Weaknesses
• Advertising density in the back 40 pages is excessive
• GHOC rule change article lacks visual aids for the handicap adjustment table

Verdict: Recommended — Essential for team ropers competing in the 2026-2027 season.