Team roping legends Jake Barnes and Clay O’Brien Cooper put their experience to work on a diverse set of muley cattle and short horned steers—each one broke in a little differently and presenting unique challenges in the run. This practice session focuses on adjusting to the feel of each steer, managing cattle behavior, and keeping horses honest through every setup.

In this video, they explain:

How to handle cattle that want to shoot behind the header before the turn

Why keeping cattle lean and fresh helps them handle more consistently

How to retrain muleys that have been roped incorrectly or pull to the inside

Jake’s approach to continuing a run after a less-than-ideal head catch to help the heeler finish

Why roping “junk” or duckers can hurt your timing and habits in the long run

How Clay uses missed shots in the practice pen to teach horses to stay square and balanced through the corner

Evaluating each steer’s style and adjusting your roping to match its run

Part of the Barnes & Cooper: Inside the Practice Pen series, this episode offers a deep look at how two Hall of Fame partners adapt to different cattle, manage their practice pens, and turn every run—good or bad—into a learning opportunity.