Talkin’ Smack, Takin' Cash: Beau Peterson Set to Hit Rodeo Road After Futurity Domination

By Teal Stoll

With Hez Talkin Smack leading the charge, Beau Peterson roped in major wins at the Gold Buckle Futurity—and now, she’s setting her sights on another kind of gold buckle as she chases her second NFBR qualification.

“HEZ TALKIN SMACK” & BEAU PETERSON. PHOTO CREDIT: SHELBY LYNN PHOTOGRAPHY

We caught up with the incredibly talented Peterson, rope horse futurity trainer and 2022 National Finals Breakaway Rodeo qualifier. Currently sitting sixth in the 2025 Women’s Professional Rodeo Association World Standings with $42,848 won, she’s aiming for another trip to Las Vegas this December.

Balancing a full schedule of training young horses and hitting the rodeo trail, the Kansas-raised cowgirl had a standout weekend at the Gold Buckle Futurity Spring Showdown, held May 8-11 at the Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore, Oklahoma. The event paid out a total of $462,778.

Peterson won the Four and Under Breakaway Futurity aboard Hez Talkin Smack (Smooth Talkin Style x Lanas Little Dual x Dual Banditos Gold), taking Round 2 with a 231.11 and Round 3 with a 233.24. They claimed the Average with a total score of 927.11, banking $8,258, and added another $13,675 for topping the Elite Stallion Incentive.

“I think I rode 15 horses total that weekend,” Peterson said. “It was busy, but the calves were really good. It was a tough show. There’s a lot of really good horses out there now and really good ropers. It’s not easy, so that makes it a lot more fun when you win and I was riding some really good horses.”

In the Six and Under Breakaway, she won Round 2 aboard her standout mount, Aldo The Apache (Kit Kat Sugar x DMAC Easter Bunny x Young Gun), with a 233.28. She rode three horses to top-10 finishes in the Average: Rollin On The River placed second with a 920.10 for $6,144; Hez Talkin Smack earned another $2,688 for sixth; and A Tru MVP scored 906.91, winning $1,412.

“HEZ TALKIN SMACK” & BEAU COOPER. PHOTO CREDIT: SHELBY LYNN PHOTOGRAPHY, ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF BEAU PETERSON

A byproduct of her collaboration with World Champion tie-down roper Shane Hanchey, Rollin On The River “River” (Smooth As A Cat x Creedence Clearwater x Peptoboonsmal) earned $9,360 for second in the Elite Stallion Incentive, while Hez Talkin Smack (“Sam") added $3,120 for fourth. Sam is another winner coming from her partnership with Shane and Taylor Hanchey.

“Sam is a pretty special baby to them,” Peterson said. “He’s out of one of their really good mares they rodeoed on, and it’s kind of full circle. They’ve raised some others, but sold them, so this is the first one they’ve been able to raise, train, and take to a show. It’s a long process, but he’s been worth it—and has already won a lot. He won a bunch at the RFA with Shane and I.”

Aldo The Apache (“Grizz”) also took home championships in the Six and Under Tie-Down with Beau Cooper, winning the Average for $6,750 and the Elite Stallion Incentive for $14,375. The five-year-old continues his winning ways from 2024, where he was a futurity standout with both Peterson and Cooper. Despite his small size, his grit in the arena sets him apart.

“I should’ve had a little luck on Grizz in the Six and Under Breakaway,” Peterson added. “He was the highest marked on two head and I caught a tail on one of my calves, so that was pretty heartbreaking. Beau Cooper won the Six and Under Tie-Down on him, so that was pretty special. He’s just really special and a lot of fun. It’s really cool to watch him in the tie-down.”

Peterson, who always keeps a deep string of nice horses, has another four-year-old she’s excited about this season: Talkin Seconds (Smooth Talkin Style x Second Spot by Spots Hot).

“He’s probably one of the most athletic horses I’ve ever ridden and super talented,” she said. “He has a lot of potential, and once he finally matures, I think he’s going to be a really great horse. He’s probably all I’ll show this year, but I have a Dual Reyish that I might show this fall.”

As for what’s next?

“We’ll go to Royal Crown next week, and about a week after that, we’ll head out for the summer,” she said. “So the young horses will get put on hold for a bit and have a break while I rodeo. We have a pretty good start from this winter, so I’m looking forward to going this summer and seeing how it shakes out.”

Though she’s deeply passionate about the young horses and futurity scene, Peterson is excited to get back to some of her favorite rodeos.

“I love Salinas, California, I think that one’s really fun. I like the unique setup. I like Cheyenne (Wyoming). I love the Northwest rodeos: Ellensburg (Washington), Puyallup (Washington) is a really fun one. I love to rodeo and get to do this. I travel with Madison Outhier, we have a lot of fun.”

While Peterson hits the rodeo trail, her younger horses will get a chance to rest and recharge. Grizz will stay home, and River will spend the summer with Shane Hanchey, competing in tie-down roping at pro rodeos. Meanwhile, Peterson’s summer trailer will be stacked with horsepower.

“I have an eight-year-old, Cash Bonus (Reyzin The Cash x Sevens N Eights x Smart Little Lena), I bought in 2023 right before the first Gold Buckle in Belton, Texas, and won the Stallion Incentive on her,” she said. “I bought her a couple weeks before, and it was her first and last show because she aged out. I’ve rodeoed and jackpotted on her since then, and she’ll go with me for the summer.”

“I bought another horse right before Houston. He’s 11 and his name is Festus (Cowboys Missn A 338, Miss N Catch x Spoonful Of Cookies x Hes A Peptospoonful). He’s the first finished horse I’ve ever bought, and it’s kind of a breath of fresh air. Being on something where all I have to worry about is roping is nice. I’ve been on young horses all my life, so he’s been really fun and a game changer for me.”

We’re looking forward to following Beau Peterson through the rest of her 2025 season and watching this exceptional group of horses continue to shine.