The 15 Horses that Carried the 2023 NFBR Qualifiers to Breakaway’s Largest Stage

A top breakaway roper relies on a skilled horse to send their loop home and break the rope off—and these are the best of them.

Cheyanne Guillory and Gus compete in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Cheyanne Guillory and Gus compete in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Photo by Phil Kitts Avid Imagery Rodeo Photography.

The top ProRodeo breakaway ropers are nothing without the horses beneath them, and all season long they battled together for enough money to advance to the coveted 2023 NFBR in Las Vegas, Dec. 5-6, at the South Point.

Here’s who made the NFBR cut and the horses that got them there.

No. 15 Erin Johnson, $66,742

Husker Be Smokin “Chico”

The Definitive List Of Horses Headed To The National Finals Of Breakaway Roping

No. 14 Kendal Pierson, $74,031

Kendals Smokin Gun “Smoke”

Top 15 paternal line analysis: Cornerstone Quarter Horse stallions appeared one or more times in the Top 15’s horse lineups. The lines were primarily cow horse and cutting-bred, but running blood Frenchmans Guy and Corona Cartel made single appearances. Stallions High Brow Hickory, Playgun, Zan Parr Bar, Shining Spark, Grays Starlight, Freckles Playboy, Dual Pep, Playin Stylish and Topsail Whiz were among the stallions spotted once. Docs Hickory and Spots Hot were seen twice on the paternal side (also called the “top side” of the pedigree) in the Angelone sister’s horses “Wilma” and “Legend.”

Editor’s note: Pedigrees were only examined to the great-great-grandsire-and-dam due to the diminishing influence a single horse has on a pedigree as it’s moved further out. Mathematically, a great-great-grandparent is only 12.5% of the genetics of its progeny.

No. 13 Josie Conner, $74,763

Hermie Sadler “Tonka”

The Definitive List Of Horses Headed To The National Finals Of Breakaway Roping

No. 12 Rickie Engesser, $79,481

Lavaca Sting “Rollo”

The Definitive List Of Horses Headed To The National Finals Of Breakaway Roping

No. 11 Dani Lowman, $82,816

Ruf N Shine “Shi,Biz”

No. 10 Jackie Crawford, $85,240

Peppin Up My Step “Kevin”

Top 15 maternal line analysis: The “bottom side” of the Top 15’s horses continued to deliver big names in the Quarter Horse industry including; Gallo Del Cielo, Smart Little Lena, Doc Olena, Docs Stylish Oak, CD Lights and Wimpys Little Step. Some repeats from the paternal line include Shining Spark, Docs Hickory, High Brow Hickory and Freckles Playboy.

No. 9 Cheyanne Guillory, $85,703

Mister Dun Star “Gus”

No. 8 Bradi Good, $95,277

Oh Gotta Player “Rango”

No. 7 Taylor Munsell, $105,902

Pals Star Shine “Ray”

The Definitive List Of Horses Headed To The National Finals Of Breakaway Roping

Hotrod Song “Colonel”

No. 6 Joey Williams, $106,799

Baybe Bullet “Baybe”

The Definitive List Of Horses Headed To The National Finals Of Breakaway Roping

No. 5 Kelsie Domer, $109,725

Kits Tiana Play “Little Man”

Check out the horses that carried the Top 15 to the 2022 NFBR here.

No. 4 Sarah Angelone, $114,284

Dont Cry Me To Wendy “Wilma”

Dont Cry To Me Wendy pedigree

No. 3 Martha Angelone, $132,865

Spots Lil Legend “Legend”

The Definitive List Of Horses Headed To The National Finals Of Breakaway Roping

No. 2 Hali Williams, $146,743

Stylish Red Light “Red Light”

No. 1 Shelby Boisjoli, $164,549

No Wimpy Turns “Onna”

The Definitive List Of Horses Headed To The National Finals Of Breakaway Roping

Thank you to Top Hand Ropes for their committed support to Top 15 and 2023 NFBR coverage throughout the season.

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