June 19, 2024

The Tie-Down Breakdown: Resistol Rookie Contender Gio Piloto

22 minutes

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.

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.