Joseph Harrison and the powerhouse gelding Copperton added another major title to their résumé, taking the win at the TX Best Heeling Derby—a performance that reinforced what many already knew: this horse isn’t just a futurity standout.

Copperton’s a complete package, with the build, mind and feel to transition from aged events to the highest levels of rodeo. And he added $8,580 to his lifetime earnings after heeling four steers for 927.4 points behind helper Ketch Kelton.

Now owned by X Performance Horses’ JD McGuire and Hunter Koch, Copperton has developed from a snorty colt into a force of nature in the heeling. Harrison, who’s guided his journey from the start, said the win in Decatur is a result of maturity, not just talent.

“He started out pretty wild, and a lot of stuff bothered him,” Harrison said. “Now he’s just solid. I don’t have to show him anything—I just heel on him.”

The Evolution of Copperton

Copperton’s journey began under the ownership of Lloyd Cox/Cox Partnership, where he burst onto the futurity scene with show-stopping performances—including topping the Equinety Platinum Medal Futurity in 2023 and playing a central role in Harrison’s $168,000 sweep at the Old West Open Futurity in 2024. The horse has amassed $237,257 in earnings—and counting.

But even with those accolades, Copperton’s real progress has come in his ability to settle in and trust his job.

“I don’t have to pay near as much attention to how I ride him now,” Harrison said. “I just let him go find his spot, hit the cow, hit the turn—and he’s got enough expression and enough butt-dragging to finish it.”

When McGuire and Koch stepped in to purchase the gelding this spring, they weren’t betting on potential. They were investing in the real deal.

“I think Hunter’s going to ride him really good,” Harrison said. “And I think the transition from showing to rodeoing is going to be super easy for this horse.”

Built for Rodeo — Not Just the Show Pen

One of Copperton’s most defining characteristics is his size and structure. Harrison compares him to his great NFR gelding Main Street Boon: meaning big, strong and built to handle pressure from anywhere.

“Casino—Hunter’s current good one—is heavy-bodied, but Copperton’s big,” Harrison said. “He’ll be able to take the pull from a lot of different places, and you won’t have to set him up perfect to stop the cow.”

That sturdiness is key as Copperton heads into the next stage of his career. While many show horses have trouble adjusting to the intensity of rodeo setups—tighter turns, more unpredictable cattle and faster setups—Harrison believes Copperton will thrive.

“The third time Hunter shoves him up there around the cow and hits the turn, he’s just going to have it,” Harrison said.

That confidence comes from experience. Harrison’s transitioned plenty of horses from aged events to ProRodeos, and he knows the pitfalls. Most show horses are used to being sheltered—given clean setups to stay confident. But rodeo doesn’t offer that luxury.

“You’ve got to get ’em a little closer, a little farther up around the turn,” Harrison said. “The first few times they mess up. But with Copperton, I think once or twice and he’ll lock in.”

The End of One Chapter — and the Start of Another

Harrison will ride Copperton in three more events: the ARHFA World Show, the AQHA World Show in Oklahoma City, and the Gold Buckle World Finals in Abilene. After that, the reins pass fully to McGuire and Koch, and Copperton’s next chapter begins.

“I get three more spots, then I get the boot,” Harrison said, half-joking. “That’s my job these days—to get kicked off.”

Still, he admits it’s not always easy to say goodbye.

“When you lose a set of 5- and 6-year-olds like this one, it’s disheartening,” he said. “They’re easy to get paid on. But just like that, the 4-year-olds move up, and the 3-year-olds turn 4. That’s how it goes.”

A Horse With Staying Power

For Harrison, what separates Copperton isn’t just how he looks or performs—it’s how he feels.

“He’s just got that feel. He’s solid in his body, smart on a cow, and when he does it right, even as green as he used to be, he feels like an old seasoned horse.”

Copperton doesn’t just check the boxes. He builds confidence in every run. And he’s already showing signs of being that rare type of horse who can jump from aged events to big-league rodeos without skipping a beat.

“He’s predestined,” Harrison said. “I’ve been around enough good ones to know—he’s got it.”