In this conversation, Jake Barnes shares his honest take on investing in good horses and building a career through consistency, not risk. He explains why every successful roper credits their horse, how he’s always taken a conservative approach to buying and training, and what it means to make the most of what you’ve got.
Jake reflects on the balance between raising a family, staying competitive, and finding horses that fit his program without overreaching financially. He also offers insight into how different ropers approach the game—and why his philosophy has always been to “buy one and make the best I could.”
Up Next in Head Horse Horsemanship
-
Mental Aspect of Team Roping
In this practice session, Jake Barnes and Clay O’Brien Cooper switch things up—Jake rides a 7-year-old who hasn’t had a full year of roping yet, while Clay’s on a 6-year-old green horse. Together, they break down each run, how the muleys handled, and how their horses responded to different cattle...
-
Evaluating and Roping Different Types...
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, m...
-
Understanding the Lay of Head Ropes
Seven-time World Champion Jake Barnes says he’s no rope guru, BUT the guy knows a thing or two about catching horns. In this video, he explains how he adjusts his rope for different scenarios—like the size of cattle, the score, the pace of the jackpot and more.
