Gio Piloto grew up in Botucatu, San Paulo, Brazil, with a love for horses, and now he's chasing the 2024 Resistol Rookie of the Year title. 

The now 24-year-old moved to the United States back in 2019 to become a professional tie-down roper, learning from some of the best like Blair Burk, Shane Hanchey and Marcos Costa. Piloto and and Costa—first Brazilian world champion tie-down roper—have become like brothers, with Costa teaching Piloto about horsemanship, training and life outside of the arena.

Piloto is currently No. 10 in the Resistol Rookie Tie-Down Roping standings with $7,363.06 won on the year thus far. Piloto joins The Tie-Down Breakdown to talk about his life Brazil, moving to the United States, his mentors, goals and more.

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This episode is brought to you by Riata Buckle and the Buckle Breakaway Bonanza. 

The Pink, Ruby and Riata Buckles will combine their breakaway roping efforts into one mega-event for the progeny of stallions across all three programs, doubling the number of available horses and doubling the payout for fall 2024. This collaboration will guarantee a $200,000 purse, with a $50,000 guarantee for 5-and-under breakaway horses. These changes will make this contest one of the largest in the world, if not the largest breakaway purse offered this season.

The Riata Buckle Breakaway is a singles division event, women contestants only. Entry fees are $800 per entry. Entries close September 15th.

Entries:

• Horses may be any age offspring from nominated Riata Buckle, Ruby Buckle and Pink Buckle horses.

• Futurity incentive age is 5YO and younger. The 5YO Futurity is an incentive within the roping. The All-Age and 5YO Futurity incentive run together. Ropers entered in the Futurity rope for the incentive pot, and additionally may DOUBLE DIP the All-Age short round.

• Ropers may enter twice as all-age and once as Futurity, or twice as Futurity and once All-Age.

MORE FROM THE TIE-DOWN BREAKDOWN

• The Breakdown: Buckle Breakaway Bonanza
• The Tie-Down Breakdown: Dez Johnson
• The Tie-Down Breakdown: Westyn Hughes
• The Tie-Down Breakdown: The Shane Hanchey Story