Breakaway roping has always been defined by horsepower, and from Dutch’s blistering burst across the line to Onna’s hard-running, hard-stopping consistency, the greatest horses in the sport have not only carried cowgirls to wins but reshaped the standard of what it means to be elite in the arena.
To honor those legends, we asked today’s top ropers to name the great breakaway horses they believe stand above the rest—and these 10 made the list.
Dutch – Stylish Drifter
Rider: Josie Conner
- “Solid, strong across the line with a big stop.” – Kinlie Brennise
- “Amazing horse who breaks the rope so fast.” – Hali Williams
- “Dutch” is one of those horses that you have to stop what you were doing and watch every time. You can hear a pin drop when she’s in the box because everyone is paying attention.” – Shelby Boisjoli-Meged
- “Dutch and Josie are a great team and are proven winners.” – Hope Thompson
- “She’s won so much on him, maybe not a style of horse that everyone would excel with but him and Josie compliment each other so well. He stops the clock as fast as any horse.” – Beau Peterson
- “Dutch is an unreal athlete. I have never seen anything like it.” – Summer Williams
Onna – No Wimpy Turns
Rider: Shelby Boisjoli-Meged
- “Onna is a winner and extremely consistent. She gives Shelby a chance every time.” – Summer Williams
- “I have always loved her, she runs hard and stops hard.”– Kinlie Brennise
- “I also think Onna is one of the greatest horses you’ll see for a very long time.” – Madison Outhier
Baybe – Baybe Bullet
Rider: Joey Williams
- “As rock solid as you can as a horse to be. Doesn’t make a mistake and gives her a chance to win a majority of the time!” – Beau Peterson
- “Another one of my favoritves to watch, solid in the corner with a pretty stop.” – Kinlie Brennise
- “So consistent.” – Hali Williams
- “No explanation needed she’s great!” – Hope Thompson
Gangster – Smart N Spook
Rider: Lari Dee Guy
- “One of the greatest horses I’ve ever or ridden. Proven winner with many ropers.” – Hope Thompson
- “What makes him so good is that he’s got every quality. He scores, he runs so fast to the calf, he kills the rope. He stops the rope. He’s got all the tools. It’s hard to find those horses that have stats like a great baseball player who hits, makes all the plays in the field and can run the bases—he does it all. He can hit the ball, he can catch the ball and he can run.” – Lari Dee Guy
T-Boy – DS Sassy Shiner
Rider: Jackie Crawford
- “He was a breakaway, tie-down, head and heel horse. And first World Champ.” – Jordan Jo Hollabaugh
- “I didn’t get to see much of him in his prime, but he was rank for being older.” – Hali Williams
- “He was a winner and lasted a long time.” – Hope Thompson
- “T-Boy was the winningest breakaway horse ever until I won the American twice on Kevin. Tons of girls won on him! He was incredible.” – Jackie Crawford
Little Man – Kits Tiana Play
Rider: Kelsie Domer
- “He’s like 20 years old and still out here winning!” – Hope Thompson
Ink – Super Chrome Ink
Rider: Hope Thompson
- “I think Ink is incredible and played a huge role in Hopes’ success along with Eight Track. It was amazing growing up watching hope accomplish so much on those two horses.” – Madison Outhier
- “I’m biased of course but not did she get me to my first NFBR, she’s been ridden and won on by other ropers like Jackie Crawford, Lari Dee Guy, Josie Conner, Jade Mitchell, Taylor Munsell and many others at a professional level. She excels in and set up.” – Hope Thompson
Eight Track – CD Or Eight Track
Rider: Hope Thompson
- “If we are naming best of all time; He’s gone now but should be in the history books definition of great breakaway horse.” – Hope Thompson
Chico – Husker Be Smokin
Rider: Erin Johnson
- “Erin Johnson’s horse “Chico” it’s hard to keep a horse going on the road and she’s ridden him many years and on her way back to the NFBR this year.” – Hope Thompson
- “In my opinion a horse shouldn’t make an “all time great list” without career longevity. I’ll have to include T-Boy, Little Man, Baybe, Onna and my Chico because they are “main mounts” and have been such for several or more years, and have had very little “help” from backup mounts over the course of multiple NFBR qualifications or world championships.” – Erin Johnson
Rooster – Allo Gallo Colonel
Rider: Madison Outhier
- “Has been one of the best horses going for a long time now. He’s got some age on him now but hasn’t shown that and they have been such a power team for many years now.” – Beau Peterson
- “Being bias, I’ll say Rooster. I’ve won over $800k on him alone, which I believe is probably close to one of the most winningest breakaway horses LTE. I’ve rode him virtually everywhere for the last 12 years which is also a testament that one horse can stay that good for the same person for that long and taught me how to win. I won reserve horse of the year on him my rookie year when I missed out on the NFBR even so that was pretty awesome as well!” – Madison Outhier
Honorable mentions
Rio – Little Rio Jeep
Rider: Kinlie Brennise
“True as they come in any setup. Is also like a dog, has the funniest personality. And has been great going down the road, staying honest to score one out or will come hard off the corner on a fast setup.” – Kinlie Brennise
Sooner
Rider: Lari Dee Guy
“Ok I’m going to age myself here but one of my favorite horses of all time was Sooner of LD’s… he was a LONG time ago… before Gangster. He could run so much and was so honest every time. His longevity of course speaks for LD’s horsemanship, as with each of her other great horses Gangster and Rex.” – Erin Johnson
Boss – Boss Tin Lights
Rider: Loni Kay Yates
“I think Loni’s “Boss” was just one of those horses that you had to stop what you were doing and watch every time.” – Shelby Boisjoli-Meged
Cookie – Grade
Rider: Jordan Jo Hollabaugh
“Because I am biased and she won the first NFBR average ever.” – Jordan Jo Hollabaugh
Bingo – CD Bing
Rider: Quealy Probst
“Jordan Jo won a lot on him including Cheyenne. He then went to Josie Conner who won a bunch and now Quealy Probst. and is winning with her!” – Hope Thompson
Rolo – Lavaca Sting
Rider: Rickie Fanning
“He was he was just a winner in any set up. He gave me 100% all the time. I accomplished so many things I didn’t know was possible because of him. He made it easy. His personality and to top it off he was blind in one eye and never missed a beat.” – Rickie Fanning
Festus – Cowboys Missn A 338
Rider: Beau Peterson
“He’s new to the rodeo scene with me but I feel like he has been unmatched this year. Same trip every time and has given me the opportunity to win on every type of calf.” – Beau Peterson
Tonka – Hermine Sadler
Rider: Josie Conner
“Tonka is also one I think is up there in highest LTE of a breakaway horse. He was so essential in teaching Josie how to win like Rooster has been for me, and I believe he deserves on there too!” – Madison Outhier
Red Light – Stylish Red Light
Rider: Hali Williams
Jigsaw – Jigsaw Wild Card
Rider: Aspen Miller
Colonel – Hotrod Song
Rider: Taylor Munsell
Monster – Grade
Rider: Taylor Munsell
Rango – Oh Gotta Player
Rider: Bradi Good
Muffin – SC Off Your Rocker
Rider: Harley Pryor
Coon – Catalac Escalade
Rider: TiAda Gray
Legend – Spots Lil Legend
Rider: Martha Angelone
Wilma – Dont Cry To Me Wendy
Rider: Sarah Angelone
Sambo – BCR Lenas Nic
Rider: Samantha Fulton
