Clay O'Brien Cooper
5 Seasons
"Be a student of the game." - Clay O'Brien Cooper. Clay O'Brien Cooper has competed in 29 National Finals Rodeos in his career bringing home 7 World Titles and has earned just over $3 million in career earnings. Cooper, a renowned figure in team roping, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his instructional series on Roping.com. As a multi-time World Champion Header, he shares essential techniques and strategies to enhance roping skills. Cooper's videos cover various aspects of heeling, mental preparation, and competition tactics, making them invaluable for ropers at all skill levels. His expertise, paired with practical insights, ensures that viewers gain the tools needed for success in the arena.
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Horse Personalities, Scoring, and Practicing on Muley Steers
Episode 1
Team roping training insights from Jake Barnes and Clay Cooper focus on managing horse quirks, scoring correctly, and using muley cattle to improve practice sessions.
Hall of Fame ropers Jake Barnes and Clay Cooper share stories and strategies from their decades in the arena—covering everything...
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Evaluating Horses, Fresh Cattle, and Heeling Lines
Episode 2
Team roping greats Jake Barnes and Clay Cooper take a deep dive into evaluating horses, managing fresh muley calves, and building timing as both a header and a heeler. This practice session blends practical horse training tips with mental strategies for improving consistency.
In this video, the...
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Horse Quirks, Scoring, and Muley Practice
Episode 3
Jake Barnes and Clay Cooper share stories of quirky horses, the importance of scoring, and why practicing on muley cattle sharpens ropers of all levels.
They explain:
- How to handle horses with unique quirks and personalities
- Scoring tips and the cues that make a head horse leave the box
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Practicing for Your Horse & Neck Catches
Episode 4
Hall of Fame ropers Jake Barnes and Clay Cooper break down why practice should focus on your horse first and how to rope slow cattle and muley steers to build confidence and control.
They cover:
- Practicing for your horse vs. practicing for yourself
- Why slow cattle keep horses relaxed and ... -
02:21Episode 5Understanding Heel Ropes
Episode 5
Clay O’Brien Cooper explains the way heel ropes are tied and the importance of understanding how to care for a rope in all climates.
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Roping and Aging Full Practice Session with Jake Barnes and Clay O’Brien Cooper
Episode 6
Jake Barnes and Clay O’Brien Cooper are in their 60s, and they’re figuring out the best way to maximize their time in the arena to balance their health, longevity, horses and roping ability. This practice session is a mix of speeds of steers, horned cattle and muleys and great trainer lead steers...
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Monitoring Your Horse During a Practice Session
Episode 7
Clay O'Brien Cooper is constantly monitoring how his horse is feeling throughout a practice session and adjusting his practice and his game plan based on the responsiveness he's feeling. He talks about how he evaluates and tests his horse in a practice session.
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03:20Episode 8
Addressing Spooking in the Practice Pen
Episode 8
Jake Barnes and Clay O'Brien Cooper share expectations for young horses and the way they handle spooking and flightiness in the practice pen.
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06:22Episode 9
Slow-Cattle Practice Session
Episode 9
Jake Barnes and Clay O'Brien Cooper talk through a windy practice session on two very green horses, roping exceptionally slow cattle and trying to maintain control.
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38:25Episode 10
Pre-BFI Practice Session
Episode 10
As Jake Barnes and Clay O'Brien Cooper prepared to make an appearance at the 2022 Resistol Reno Open, Roping.com got into the practice pen with these two legends to learn how they prepare for full-contact competition.
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Green-Horse Practice Session on Mixed Cattle
Episode 11
Clay O'Brien Cooper covers riding young horses in adverse conditions, as well as keeping a young horse focused throughout a practice session.
