The Top 10 Breakaway Roping Horses of All Time, According to Breakaway Ropers

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

2X Horse of the Year, Shelby Boisjoli’s “Onna”

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

The Return of T-Boy

Little Man – Kits Tiana Play

Rider: Kelsie Domer

• “He’s like 20 years old and still out here winning!” – Hope Thompson

Little Man: Kelsie Domer’s Go-To Breakaway Horse

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

Remembering Loni Kay Yates’ “Boss”

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

From One-Eyed Practice Horse to 2x NFBR Qualifier: Remembering Rickie Fanning’s “Rolo”

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

Hali Williams Leads the World with RodeoHouston Win

Jigsaw – Jigsaw Wild Card

Rider: Aspen Miller

Colonel – Hotrod Song

Rider: Taylor Munsell

Monster – Grade

Rider: Taylor Munsell

Taylor Munsell Made a “Monster”

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

“Bucket List” Win for Martha Angelone at 2024 California Rodeo Salinas

Wilma – Dont Cry To Me Wendy

Rider: Sarah Angelone

Sambo – BCR Lenas Nic

Rider: Samantha Fulton