54 • The WRANGLER • May, 2024
From the Start:
Dick Yates, the father of JD and grandfather of Trey,
started what would become a dynasty in the rodeo world.
If there is a title to be won, at least one of them has done it,
and chances are they have won it more than once.
Dick who is now 86 years old is still helping train horses,
entering jackpots, and still winning. JD, who still enjoys
rodeos but prioritizes his time training and showing horses,
relies on Trey at futurities where he needs a "sure thing"
backed into the other side of the boxes.
Trey trains horses while still chasing NFR goals in what is
still only the beginning of a long career should he follow in
his dad and grandfathers' footsteps.
Between the three of them they have 37 WNFR
qualifications and JD is one of the youngest cowboys to
qualify for the NFR when he was only 15 years old. Team
roping undeniably runs deep in their blood.
The American Rope Horse Futurity Association started
by Lindsay and Jay Wadhams created new opportunities
for the sport to grow and gave trainers like the Yates family
a chance to expand their programs and profit from their
talents.
"It's just another avenue if you're a roper to make some
money," said JD, "I was doing more of the training than
competing at rodeos and it was a good gig for me and now
it's developed into a pretty lucrative deal."
The rope horse futurity scene has grown since 2007 when
the Wadhams family started the ARHFA and essentially set
the standard in the industry. Since then, new organizations
have been created along with di«erent judging styles, all
of which allow ropers to attend the events that fit their
style.
JD explained in simple terms how the judging works at
most of these events, "the time counts for a third of your
score and each judge counts for a third as well, everybody
starts from a score of 80, if you have a time of seven
(seconds) flat for example, you have a 73 on the timecard."
Then, much like a cow horse or reining event, you are
judged by crediting or taking away points for maneuvers
at half point increments the final score is calculated.
"Until you've judged an event, you should not have an
By BreAnne Benson
JD & DT Air Jordan winning the Phoenix Sun Circuit in 2018. Photo courtesy of Kyle Hause.
The Yates Family Discusses the
Progression of the Futurity Scene
The Yates Last name & the sport of Team Roping Are Nearly Synonymous.
