The Breakaway Breakdown: Hope Thompson Talks Rodeo, Futurity Horses and Building a Training Program

Four-time WPRA World Champion Hope Thompson joins The Breakaway Breakdown to talk about how life looks as she steps back from full-time rodeoing and steps into the futurity and training world and what it takes to build great rope horses from the ground up.

Thompson talks through the wins that shaped her career, from the college finals to WPRA world titles and all-around championships, and how adding more events only fueled her love for roping.

The conversation dives into the shift from hauling hard to the rodeos to focusing more on young horses, futurities and creating a long-term business in the arena. Thompson breaks down why the futurity world has become such an important part of her program, how she defines success now and why she still has no plans to step away from rodeo completely.

She also gets into the technical side of training rope horses, from scoring and tracking cattle to letting each horse tell her when they are ready. Thompson shares what she looks for in a prospect, why a good mind matters as much as talent and how horses like Ink and Gucci have helped shape the way she trains.

From career-changing horses to hard decisions, big wins, SmartPak routines and the business side of the sport, Thompson offers an honest look at what it takes to keep evolving while still staying true to the thing she loves most: roping.

About SmartEquine

This episode is brought to you by SmartEquine and ColiCare—an innovative approach to hindgut health and colic prevention. Designed with research-backed ingredients and a unique support program, when your horse is counting on you, you can count on ColiCare.

ColiCare combines targeted digestive support with a program designed to help you stay ahead of potential issues—not just react to them. It’s built on research, formulated to support a healthy gut environment, and backed by a unique benefit: eligible horses enrolled in the program may receive up to $15,000 in colic surgery reimbursement.

Whether you’re hauling, training hard, or just managing day-to-day stressors, your horse’s digestive system is constantly under pressure. ColiCare is designed to help you manage those risks with confidence.

Visit SmartEquine.com to learn more about how ColiCare can support your horse’s long-term