United States Team Roping Championship

What United States Team Roping Championship does

United States Team Roping Championship (USTRC), founded in 1988 and operated as a for-profit dba of Equine Network, LLC, is a membership-based competitive sports organization that organizes and governs team roping events across the United States. Its core product is an annual event circuit anchored by the Cinch National Finals of Team Roping (NFTR), an eight-day flagship championship held at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas, supported by regional qualifiers in states including Alabama, Texas, Mississippi, and South Carolina. The 37th annual NFTR is scheduled for April 19–26, 2026. Underlying the events is the proprietary Global Handicaps classification system, a domain-specific skill-rating platform (globalhandicaps.com) that assigns and tracks handicaps to enable fair competition across skill tiers; the company also holds registered trademarks for "USTRC," "SuperLooper," and "USTRC Online." Specialized competitive divisions include the Resistol Jr Championship for junior ropers and the Cinch Ladies program for female ropers.

USTRC monetizes through four streams: recurring membership fees, per-event registration fees for qualifiers and championships, national sponsorship and partner revenue (anchored by Cinch as the title/national partner, with Resistol, YETI, NRS, and approximately 15 other equestrian brands as supporting sponsors), and a tournament/prize structure that returns meaningful payouts to competitors (e.g., $47,530 combined to JD Dubois at the 2025 NRS #9.5 Truck Roping). Go-to-market is event-driven: physical qualifiers feed the culminating NFTR, supported by social media (Facebook, Instagram), a content website, and partner co-marketing. The customer base is highly distributed, consisting of individual competitive team ropers segmented into beginners, youth/juniors, and age-protected veteran divisions, with no enterprise customer concentration.

The company maintains its corporate headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico (7500 Alamo Rd NW) and is privately held under Equine Network, LLC with no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, or revenue figures. Operationally it remains active, and its intellectual property footprint is anchored by the long-running brand and the Global Handicaps data asset, both of which have accumulated over nearly four decades.

Name

United States Team Roping Championship

Legal name

USTRC, Inc.

Website

https://ustrc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

USTRC is a for-profit, membership-based team roping championship organization founded in 1988, operating a U.S. event circuit anchored by the annual Cinch National Finals of Team Roping in Fort Worth. It serves individual competitive ropers through its Global Handicaps classification system, regional qualifiers, and specialized junior and women's divisions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equestrian Sports & Rodeo Competitions

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Sport Governing Bodies & League Sanctioning Authorities (MPAKAFAE)

Keywords

• Team roping competitions
• Rodeo championships
• Equestrian event management
• Roper handicapping system
• Western sports membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Albuquerque

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Revenue generated from membership registration and renewals for ropers participating in the USTRC circuit
2. Event Registration: Entry fees from qualifiers and championship events including the National Finals
3. Prize Payouts: Prize money distributed to winners, including the $47,530 combined prize won by JD Dubois at the 2025 NRS #9.5 Truck Roping event
4. Sponsorships: Partnership revenue from national sponsors including Cinch, Resistol, YETI, and other equestrian brands

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

USTRC organizes and operates a national circuit of team roping competitions across the United States, including regional qualifiers and the flagship annual Cinch National Finals of Team Roping (NFTR). The organization sells memberships, runs age-protected and skill-based divisions such as the Resistol Jr Championship and Cinch Ladies, and uses its proprietary Global Handicaps rating system to classify ropers for fair competition.

Product overview

USTRC operates as a for-profit team roping championship organization organized as a platform of event and membership services. The core offering centers on the annual Cinch National Finals of Team Roping (NFTR) and associated qualifying events held across multiple U.S. locations. Supporting products include a membership program, the Global Handicaps rating system for competitive classification, and specialized divisions such as the Resistol Jr Championship for youth competitors and Cinch Ladies for female ropers. The organization operates USTRC Online for event registration, member services, and online transactions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Global Handicaps: Handicap system for team roping competitions

Products and services

• USTRC Events & Championships Organized team roping competitions across the United States, including regional qualifiers and championship events with age-protected divisions for ropers at every skill level. Targeted at individual competitive team ropers in the USTRC membership circuit.
• Cinch National Finals of Team Roping (NFTR) The flagship annual eight-day team roping championship where champions are crowned across multiple divisions with significant prize payouts. Targeted at USTRC members and competitive team ropers culminating their season at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
• USTRC Membership Recurring membership program that gives ropers access to USTRC events, USTRC Online services, point-of-sale systems, classified services, and event registration. Targeted at individual team ropers who compete in the USTRC circuit.
• Global Handicaps Skill-based handicap rating system for team ropers that tracks performance and classifies competitors so they can compete against peers of comparable ability. Targeted at USTRC members and competitive team ropers seeking fair matchups across divisions.
• Resistol Jr Championship Junior championship division for ropers under 18 that provides a structured competitive environment and development pathway within USTRC events and the NFTR. Targeted at young ropers and their parents/guardians.
• Cinch Ladies Championship division and program specifically for female team ropers, providing dedicated opportunities for women to compete within USTRC events and the NFTR. Targeted at female team ropers.
• Winners Circle

Quantifiable outcome

• Prize payouts such as $47,530 combined winnings for top performers at major events
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• CinchflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCinch is a proud national partner of the USTRC. The partnership includes the title sponsorship of the Cinch National Finals of Team Roping and Cinch Ladies program. Cinch provides apparel and branding for the championship events.
• ResistolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerResistol sponsors the Resistol Jr Championship division for junior ropers. The partnership provides branded headwear and promotional support for youth competitors.
• YETI Coolers and DrinkwearminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYETI provides prize support and branding for USTRC events as a national sponsor.
• NRScoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNRS (National Roper Supply) partners with USTRC for the NRS Truck Roping events, including the #9.5 Truck Roping that awards truck prizes and significant prize money.
• Bloomer TrailersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBloomer Trailers provides branded sponsorship for USTRC events and partner logo placement.
• CashelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCashel provides branded sponsorship for USTRC events.
• Cinch LadiescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCinch Ladies is a program sponsored by Cinch targeting female ropers in USTRC events.
• Classic EquineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClassic Equine provides branded sponsorship for USTRC events.
• Classic RopeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClassic Rope provides branded sponsorship for USTRC events.
• Covered By CoriminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCovered By Cori provides branded sponsorship for USTRC events.
• Cowboy TackminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCowboy Tack provides branded sponsorship for USTRC events.
• Gist SilversmithsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGist Silversmiths provides branded sponsorship for USTRC events.
• Holiday Auto GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHoliday Auto Group provides branded sponsorship for USTRC events.
• Horse Power BootsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHorse Power Boots provides branded sponsorship for USTRC events.
• Hot HeelsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHot Heels provides branded sponsorship for USTRC events.
• Lazy EminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLazy E provides branded sponsorship for USTRC events.
• PriefertminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPriefert provides branded sponsorship for USTRC events.
• Roping.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRoping.com provides branded sponsorship for USTRC events.
• Stretch Roping DummiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStretch Roping Dummies provides branded sponsorship for USTRC events.
• SucceedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSucceed provides branded sponsorship for USTRC events.
• Total FeedsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTotal Feeds provides branded sponsorship for USTRC events.
• US RoperminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUS Roper provides branded sponsorship for USTRC events.
• Equine Network, LLCflagshipOthersUSTRC is owned and operated by Equine Network, LLC. The parent company provides operational infrastructure, legal framework, and branding for the organization.

Scale indicators5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR): The premier annual championship event for professional rodeo, held in Las Vegas. Compares directly to USTRC's NFTR as a flagship team-roping championship producing the highest-profile payouts of the year.
• Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA): National sanctioning body for professional rodeo, including team roping divisions. PRCA is the higher-tier professional counterpart to USTRC's grassroots circuit, sharing the same discipline structure and sponsor pool.
• National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA): Sanctioning body for cutting horse competitions with a similar grassroots-to-major-event circuit, age-protected divisions, and significant corporate sponsorship.
• National Reining Horse Association (NRHA): Sanctioning body for reining, a major western horse sport. Highly analogous structure: membership-based, classification ratings, qualifier-to-National-Finals funnel, and title-sponsored championships.
• National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA): Governing body for reined cow horse competitions, combining reining, cow work, and roping elements. Mirrors USTRC's competitive-tiering and large-scale event format.
• Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA): Governing body for women's professional rodeo events, including team roping (via Cinch Ladies counterpart). Directly comparable in mission, sanctioning model, and demographic strategy.
• International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA): Sanctioning body for professional rodeo outside the PRCA tier, including team roping events. Closely comparable governance and event-circuit model.

Broad incumbents

• American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA): The largest breed registry and multi-discipline equestrian sanctioning body in the U.S. Comparably offers ratings, championships (AQHA World Show), and youth programs — operating as a broader incumbent in the same ecosystem.

Others

• Team Roping Journal: Primary media outlet covering team roping competition and lifestyle. Functions as an ecosystem participant that drives visibility and engagement into USTRC events, comparable to dedicated vertical coverage in peer sports.

Emerging players

• Roping.com: Digital platform for roping competition listings, results, and community. Adjacent technology layer that overlaps with USTRC's Global Handicaps and event-discovery functions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/USTRC
• Instagraminstagram.com/ustrcofficial
• Xx.com/ustrcofficial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about United States Team Roping Championship