With the Kimes Ranch Million Dollar Breakaway and the National Finals Breakaway Roping stacked back-to-back, preparation for the Top 15 breakaway ropers has looked different in 2025.
Between schedule changes, limited jackpot opportunities, winter weather and heightened biosecurity concerns, the ladies have had to adapt—balancing practice, horse care and mental sharpness as the biggest week of the season approaches.
Dig into the first of three articles in a series breaking down how the top ProRodeo breakaway ropers are preparing for the $1.3M week below thanks to Top Hand Ropes.
5. Hali Williams – Loving the reset
Williams and her collection of horses have taken the time since September 30th to take a deep breathe and reset. If it’s been too cold, she’s been taking things inside and riding her Speed Trainer.
“I’ve been doing lots of drills, and having a chance to just take a step back, not rush, and fix some things. With it being cold we’ve in the office using the Speed Trainer, roping the dummy, working on my reaching, working on some bad habits I created over the summer, just kind of trying to get a little sharper going into [Kimes and the NFBR]. And then taking temperatures on the horses twice a day, which has been a blast. The horses were over it in two days, but they’re going to have to just deal with it and understand it’s a priority right now.”
“I think time of really helps Red Light, and we’ll see on Chester. It’s been since JJ’s roping that I have ridden him.”
4. Rylee George – Staying hooked
George has been without a-stringer “Royce,” but it hopeful he’ll be back for Kimes. If not, she has short setup “Deputy” to fill in.
“My horses got a week off right there when the virus surfaced. Since then I’ve been trying to practice as much as I can. I’ve had a couple of horses hurt, so the young ones have been getting the runs. I’ll have Deputy and a younger one for [the NFBR] and hopefully Royce will be better for Kimes. Royce tweaked something in his stall, he’s sore in his front feet.”
“I’ve been focusing on staying mentally strong—It’s been hard not getting to go to the jackpots. I’ve been trying to stay sharp at the house and know that we know [how to rope]. There is a little jackpot near the house we’re going to try to drive to, and then I am driving out to Kimes with Beau.”
3. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged – Keeping things fun
Now four months pregnant, Meged is focusing on not putting too much stress on the upcoming events. Previously, the less pressured up Meged has been, the better she’s roped.
“I have been temping horses morning and night, making sure everything feels good. Nothing has come in or left our place for a long time. And then just been trying to make real-life runs. I have Kendal Pierson here and her have the box and the barrier set up. We practice together and will run the chute for one another. I just try and run eight, nine, maximum 10 calves per day. Just try to keep it light and so I’m craving it. Not overdoing it or anything like that. I’ll make sure I am getting my reps in on the dummy, work on my rope placement. But I don’t want to do anything too extra, I just want to stay sharp and keep as much stress off as possible.”
“I’m in my second trimester now. The first little bit when I got home from the summer was brutal. It was really hard, I was riding two horses maximum and going straight back to the house, I was so sick. But the last couple of weeks I have been feeling better, getting my energy back and able to start working out again.”
2. Josie Conner – Quiet period + Vegas
Conner and Munsell are arguably the closest they’ve ever been to a World Championship coming into the NFBR, and both have been hard at work both physically and mentally to give themselves the best chance.
“It’s been a little different, just in terms of schedule. But everyone has tried their best for us. But once I got home from Sioux Falls in September, I didn’t go a lot of places. I went to Bart Hutton’s roping and the Hondo Rodeo. So I’ve spent a lot of time at home practicing, preparing, and letting Dutch rest. It’s more time than I’ve gotten in the past, but I opted to stay home this year and I think it really worked out with the schedule change.”
“I’ve been in Vegas since the 30th, so the last time I roped a live calf was [November] 29th. So I’ll take a red eye the Houston Saturday night. I’ll rope Sunday and hopefully Monday—I just looked and it’s supposed to be 21 degrees on Monday, which is odd, so I don’t know if I’ll get to rope. Then I leave Monday afternoon for Kimes. The schedule is a little backwards, but I think everything happens for a reason, and I think it’ll be great for Dutch. He got to rest, and he does better when he’s fresh.”
“I am going to leave a horse at home, just in case they say, ‘Hey, can’t bring a horse back to Texas [due to EHV].’ Right now I’m thinking I’ll leave Hickory at home but it’s not decided yet.”
1. Taylor Munsell – Playing her horsepower
Munsell and her team of horses; Ray, Colonel and Monster, are primed for Kimes and Cowtown. Pair those three with up-and-comer “Goon” and new purchase “Vegas,” and it seems Munsell is prepared to take over with handy horses.
“It’s been weird, because I’ve been by myself. But it’s been good. And we’re all in the same boat, pretty much. After the Hondo, I left Ray in Arizona because I planned to be back so soon for the NFBR. So he’s still out there, and the Usher family, who make my saddles, were taking care of him. Then my friend and hauling partner Braylee Shepherd picked him up and has been excersizing him, running a couple on him every week.”
“At home, I’ve been roping on Goon. I also bought a little roan horse named Vegas that was a finished calf horse, and he stays real free and I can run a bunch on him. And then Tonto, my head horse that I breakaway on some. You could run 30 on him just blasting. I don’t do that—I ran 12 on him today. But he’s the same every time, best practice horse ever.”
“I plan to ride Ray at Kimes, with the way the barrier and calves were last year. I plan to ride Colonel at the NFBR, he has an advantage on the bigger, older calves that I think we’ll have this year. It’s been a lot to get my mind around [the schedules] and horses here and there.”
