With a name like Jake Cooper Clay, roping was his destiny. The Sapulpa, Oklahoma, cowboy headed for Tyler Worley at the 2023 NFR and qualified for his first National Finals Steer Roping in 2025. Clay, who’s 27, won the 2022 BFI heading for Billie Jack Saebens, and is this year heading for Whip Peterson at the BFI and the rodeos. This talented switch-ender helped Taylor Santos win the 2026 Cinch Timed Event Championship in March with his clutch heading and heeling help.
Q: Take us all the way back to the origin of your roping-rich name.
A: My mom and dad, Julana and Dwayne, named me after Jake Barnes and Clay O’Brien Cooper. My dad knew Jake and Clay, and they were both big fans of those guys. The Clay part just worked out.
Q: How far back does roping go in your life?
A: Roping goes as far back as I can remember. My dad roped, and my mom ran barrels. Roping was what I was going to do.
Q: Which ropers did you grow up admiring most?
A: For sure Jake and Clay. They say when I was little, the only thing I would watch was their “Winning Edge” video. I didn’t want to watch cartoons; just that tape.
WATCH ON ROPING.COM: Jake Barnes and Clay O’Brien Cooper’s Roping Series
Q: Have you incorporated any of what you saw as Jake and Clay’s strengths into your own roping style?
A: After watching that video so many times, there’s no way I haven’t. I heeled growing up, and obviously wanted to rope like Clay O. And when I headed the dummy, I wanted to head it just like Jake.
Q: When did you make your move from heeler to header?
A: In 2020, I was staying at Brenten Hall’s house. We went to town (in Stephenville, Texas), and sat beside Martin Lucero. He asked me what my plans were for that year. I asked if he wanted to heel for me, kind of as a joke. He said yes, so I sold my heel horses, went to Stephenville and roped with Martin at some circuit and amateur rodeos. I learned a lot about how to win from him, and just went on from there.
Q: Name the person with the single most influence on the cowboy you are today.
A: My dad. He taught me a lot about roping and horses. He trained horses for a living, so I rode a lot of horses that a lot of people wouldn’t put their kids on growing up. That’s just what we did, and in the long run that helped me more than I’ll ever know.
Q: You’re heading for Arizona’s Whip Peterson this year. When did you join forces, and how was that connection made?
A: This year’s BFI (on March 29) was our start. We’ve roped together off and on before. Last year, I roped with Tanner Braden and Whip roped with Peyton Holliday, and we all buddied together. Our ultimate goal is to make the National Finals. Whatever it takes to get there again is what I’m willing to do.
Q: Was roping at the NFR all it’s cracked up to be?
A: Yes. It’s worth it. We didn’t have a great Finals, but when I left there, all I wanted to do was get back.
Q: What are you and Whip’s greatest strengths as a team?
A: Whip likes to throw really fast, so it makes it easy on me. I just have to get out of the barrier and turn ’em.
Q: What do you consider the greatest accomplishment of your roping career so far?
A: Making the NFR and the NFSR. You grow up watching the NFR on TV, and back then that was all almost a different world. To get there meant a lot.
Q: What stands out four years later about the day you won the BFI?
A: The main thing that stands out to me about that day is that I was riding Sun (Streakin Sun Do also won Head Horse of the 2022 BFI that year). I bought him from Kaleb Driggers, who’d bought him from Zac Small (who won the 2016 BFI heading for Wesley Thorp on Sun). Sun’s probably the best horse I’ve ever ridden, and maybe the best one I ever will ride. He made it easy. Riding him over a long score almost felt like stealing.
Q: You won the BFI with Billie Jack and helped Taylor win the Timed Event at the Lazy E Arena. How far is the Lazy E from home, and do you feel right at home there?
A: The Lazy E is exactly an hour and a half from home, and yes, I’ve been going there since I started going to the USTRC ropings there as a kid. I always looked forward to going there.
Q: You played a pivotal role in Taylor winning his second Timed Event title this year, and also headed and heeled there for his three-time Timed Event champ brother-in-law, Paul David Tierney. What’s it like helping at such a high-powered, prestigious event?
A: It’s the most nervous I’ve ever been. It’s not about me, and I get more nervous there helping than I do for myself. Yeah, it pays. But you’re working for that other guy, and he has a lot of time and money invested. I’m just out there not to screw up, and that makes me feel a lot of pressure.
Q: Who’s your No. 1 head horse in 2026, and what makes him great?
A: Louie (a sorrel 10-year-old gelding whose registered name is RLLittlebit) is my No. 1 head horse and my No. 1 tripping horse, too. I’m partners on him with my cousin Wayne Clay. He ranched on him, then sent him to me to sell. He was a little watchy. But when I got to roping on him, I told him I didn’t think we needed to sell him. He told me I could ride him as long as I want, and we’ll just be partners on him. That was four years ago. (Louie was the 2024 Head Horse of the BFI, and Jake also rode Kevin Williams’ LeRoy to 2021 Head Horse of the BFI honors.)
Q: What’s your rodeo plan for 2026?
A: My plan is for me and Whip to get to all the rodeos I think we need to, and for me to get to as many steer ropings as I can also.
Q: What’s your ultimate goal as a cowboy?
A: Most people say win a gold buckle. That would be a dream come true, but I don’t know that that’s my ultimate goal in life. To me, to get to rope and cowboy and just be a good person would be perfect.
—TRJ—