04/01/2026
We’re excited to introduce a new system for 2026 at California’s Richest, the Breakaway Performance Index.
There have been producers and ropings creating their own number systems, but this is different. This is a global system built to be used everywhere, bringing consistency to the sport so ropers can compete with a true number wherever they go.
This number based system categorizes breakaway ropers based on ability, earnings and performance, using real data to create a fair and structured way to group competitors at every level.
We feel confident that our 3 and under incentive will take care of youth, beginners and 40 and over ropers, giving them a place to compete that truly reflects where they are in their roping.
This is where breakaway roping needs to go. As the sport continues to grow, having a consistent system keeps it fair and sustainable for both producers and contestants.
We’re proud to be one of the first ropings in California to adopt it in 2026.
Please give them a follow, check out their page and fill out the classification form to get registered. This is all free.
Go here to get classified: https://www.breakawayperformanceindex.com/?fbclid=IwVERDUAQ5gfRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeXN1PFjBC1YF8n_o6Yb_aFT4KjzVdb0H8qqmDeh98Gd9CwPt6cV3my1daG24_aem_BK8VjAhc7c56-zKmGPDz4g
⚠️ Long read ahead — but if you’re curious about the future of breakaway roping, read up.
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗣𝗜 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝟳 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀?
The number 7 might seem random, but it was extremely intentional. While building BPI, we analyzed every piece of breakaway roping data we could get our hands on. Let us walk you through each classification and show you what we found and why each number serves a specific purpose.
𝟭 — True beginner. This classification is designed to help get people started roping.
𝟮 — Developing roper. The natural next step for someone who is ready to compete, but at their own pace.
𝟯 — Intermediate roper. Ropers who have developed solid fundamentals and do not struggle to catch.
𝟰 — Amateur rodeo caliber. These ropers can compete effectively at amateur rodeos and local competitions. On their best days, they can hang with some lower level open competition, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿.
𝟱 — Circuit rodeo caliber. Ropers who are competitive at circuit-level professional rodeos.
𝟲 — Professional caliber. Elite ropers who compete at the highest levels of professional rodeo.
𝟳 — Elite professional. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱.
If you go through those two-word descriptions, everything seems pretty straightforward until you get to the 5. Based on those definitions alone, you have three levels of open competitors. So why not just lump them together?
Here is why.
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝟳𝟱 𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 — not even factoring in money won or ROI (because obviously a top-15 roper is going to out-earn the 50th ranked roper regardless) — 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮,𝟯𝟬𝟬+ 𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝟭𝟱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝟯𝟱-𝟲𝟬.
That told us there needed to be another classification available to divide the top 100 ropers in the world beyond the 4 or 5 classifications someone might come up with based on feel alone. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝗽, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽.
This actually makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Compare it to team roping classifications. Many of the top 50 headers and heelers in the world are in fact not the highest possible classification, because 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝟭𝟬-𝟭𝟱 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗲. 𝗪𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝘁.
This level of intentionality is why BPI will become the universally accepted classification system for breakaway roping. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻, 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻. That is the standard this sport deserves.
