Qualification Ropings
WSTR sets the guidelines for independent contractors to produce qualification ropings throughout the year giving members an opportunity to win their way to the Grand Finale in Las Vegas. Contractors producing qualifiers are limited to 20% stock charge when per roper fees are $200 and up and 25% stock charge when per roper fees are $150. Producers will have the option to set their entry fee price by each roping division and will be advertised on their ad. The 80%/75% payback provides ropers the means to acquire prizes through the association prize program where none are provided by the qualification roping. Qualification ropings are on-site cash payment entry, with a select few pre-entry ropings on GlobalHandicaps.com (opens in a new tab) as advertised. Contractors do require "cash only" at on-site entry ropings unless advertised that they will accept credit card payments.
Divisions
The Open, #13.5 and higher divisions have no age minimum; in every other division you must be 21, or turn 21 during the calendar year. Please see the handicaps for each division listed.
| Division | Age Cap | HDCP Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Open | No Age Cap | Draw in floor 7HD/8HL |
| #14.5 | No Age Cap | Draw in floor 5HD/7HL |
| #13.5 | No Age Cap | Draw in floor 5HD/6HL |
| #12.5 | 21 and up | Draw in floor 4HD/6HL |
| #11.5 | 21 and up | Draw in floor 4HD/5HL; Heel Cap 7.5 |
| #10.5 | 21 and up | Heel Cap 6.5 |
| #9.5 | 21 and up | Heel Cap 5.5 |
| #8.5 | 21 and up | Head/Heel Cap 4.5/4.5 |
| #7.5 | 21 and up | Head/Heel Cap 4/4 |
Formats
| Division | Entries | Scoring |
|---|---|---|
| Open | Enter 2x, Pick or draw* | Progressive after 1 |
| #14.5 | Enter 2x, Pick or draw* | 4 head aggregate, Progressive after 1 |
| #13.5 | Enter 2x, Pick or draw* | 4 head aggregate, Progressive after 1 |
| #12.5 | Enter 2x, Pick or draw* | 4 head aggregate, Progressive after 1 |
| #11.5 | Enter 2x, Pick or draw* | 4 head aggregate, Progressive after 1 |
| #10.5 | Enter 2x, Pick or draw* | 4 head aggregate, Progressive after 1 |
| #9.5 | Enter 2x, Pick or draw* | 4 head aggregate, Progressive after 1 |
| #8.5 | Enter 3x, Pick or draw | 4 head aggregate, Progressive after 1 |
| #7.5 | Enter 3x, Pick or draw | 3 head aggregate, Progressive after 1 |
| * A $40 draw-in fee applies. | ||
Qualification Payout
Payoffs will be paid on 20% or 25% commission of Paid ropers by the following pay scale:
Qualifier payout
Slide the table sideways to see every column
| Team count | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th & 14th | 15th & 16th | 17th & 18th | 19th & 20th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-10 | 100% | |||||||||||||||
| 11-20 | 60% | 40% | ||||||||||||||
| 21-40 | 50% | 30% | 20% | |||||||||||||
| 41-60 | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% | ||||||||||||
| 61-90 | 35% | 25% | 19% | 14% | 7% | |||||||||||
| *91-120 | 33% | 23% | 17% | 12% | 9% | 6% | ||||||||||
| *121-150 | 30% | 21% | 16% | 12% | 9% | 7% | 5% | |||||||||
| *151-180 | 28% | 19% | 15% | 11% | 9% | 8% | 6% | 4% | ||||||||
| *181-210 | 26% | 18% | 14% | 11% | 9% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 4% | |||||||
| *211-240 | 24% | 18% | 13% | 11% | 9% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 3% | ||||||
| *241-270 | 23% | 17% | 12% | 10% | 9% | 8% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 3% | |||||
| *271-300 | 22% | 17% | 12% | 9% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 3% | ||||
| *301-350 | 22% | 17% | 12% | 9% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 3% | GM* | |||
| *351-400 | 22% | 17% | 12% | 9% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 3% | GM* | GM* | ||
| *401-500 | 22% | 17% | 12% | 9% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 3% | GM* | GM* | GM* | |
| *501-Up | 22% | 17% | 12% | 9% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 3% | GM* | GM* | GM* | GM* |
Ground Money Scale
Ropings with 301 teams or more.
Ground money per team, by entry fee and number of teams
Slide the table sideways to see every column
| Entry fee | Places | 301–350 teams | 351–400 teams | 401–500 teams | 501 & up teams |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $300 | 13th & 14th | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| 15th & 16th | — | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | |
| 17th & 18th | — | — | $1,000 | $1,000 | |
| 19th & 20th | — | — | — | $1,000 | |
| $400 | 13th & 14th | $2,000 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| 15th & 16th | — | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 | |
| 17th & 18th | — | — | $1,250 | $1,250 | |
| 19th & 20th | — | — | — | $1,250 | |
| $500 | 13th & 14th | $2,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| 15th & 16th | — | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | |
| 17th & 18th | — | — | $1,500 | $1,500 | |
| 19th & 20th | — | — | — | $1,500 | |
| $600 | 13th & 14th | $2,000 | $4,000 | $4,000 | $4,000 |
| 15th & 16th | — | $4,000 | $4,000 | $4,000 | |
| 17th & 18th | — | — | $2,000 | $2,000 | |
| 19th & 20th | — | — | — | $2,000 |
Short Round Fast Time
A fast time check will be paid in each roping short round to the fastest time not placing in the aggregate. If there are not as many catches as there are average paychecks the fast time will be given to the fastest team that DID place in the aggregate. For ropings 100 teams or less the fast time will be valued at the price of the entry fee. If the roping has 101 teams or more the fast time will be valued at three times the money of the entry fee. Under NO circumstances will this short-round check be paid to the fastest on two or three head, or a team that did not catch in the short round.
Practice Pen Qualifiers (PPQ)
PPQ is a Finale Qualification opportunity. Rope 4 steers, meet or beat par time to win a paid entry to the 2026 Ariat WSTR Finale XX. Non-winning Entry fees go to Accumulated Earnings (Double accumulated earnings for Key Card Max members). Ropers can enter an unlimited number of times until winning. PPQ Rules
Fees: $150/roper; WSTR, Key Card or Key Card Max required; Must be 21.
| Division | Cap | Par |
|---|---|---|
| #10.5 | 6.5 HL | 39 seconds |
| #9.5 | 5.5 HL | 42 seconds |
| #8.5 | 4.5 HD/HL | 50 seconds |
| #7.5 | 4 HD/HL | 55 seconds |
You are not eligible to enter a PPQ Division if you have already won in that division, have a paid qualification entry in that division, or you are within 30 days of eligibility for a qualification entry to the Finale in that division.
Please note: If you enter and you or your partner are not eligible, all entry fees are forfeited regardless of how many times you have entered.
Memberships Required at Qualifiers
A current WSTR or USTRC membership, Key Card or Key Card Max is required. WSTR membership, including Key Cards may be purchased online, on-site before you rope, or call (505) 898-1755 to renew by phone. WSTR memberships are free to renewing ropers 70 and older.
