Clay O’Brien Cooper

Clay O’Brien Cooper has enjoyed a 30-year career in professional rodeo during which he has earned seven world championship titles and has been a 20-time WNFR qualifier. With more than $2 million dollars in career earnings, Clay remains in the top 10 of the PRCA Career Earnings Leaders.

Clay has won every major event in team roping and is considered by most to be the greatest heeler of all time. Clay was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1997 and is a model and inspiration for thousands of ropers.

World Championships

Team Roping: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994

National Finals Rodeo Average Champion

Team Roping: 1985, 1994, 2007, 2012

RAM Circuit Finals Rodeo Champion

Team Roping: 1987, 1989, 1995, 1996

Clay O'Brien Cooper
get well soon
Speedy Recovery, Champ: Clay Cooper's Rotator-Cuff Surgery
Clay O'Brien Cooper heeling for Derrick Begay
own it
There’s More Than One Way to Rope
Clay O'Brien Cooper heeling
The Best Teachers
Life Lessons Learned From Horses
black and white photo of Leo Camarillo heeling
Level Up
The Never-Ending Evolution of Team Roping
Chad Masters and Champ celebrating another winning run at the 2012 NFR.
rise up
Can Failure Lead to Success?
Team roper Bobby Harris heeling
What It Takes
What's Your Roping Style?
DEc_23_Clay
Gooduns
Horses in the Thomas & Mack
Jennings Photography
finale prep time
5 Roping.com Videos to Prep for the 2023 Ariat World Series of Team Roping Finale
A very young Clay O'Brien Cooper heeling for Danny Costa.
Breaking Bad Habits
Break the Leaning Habit
Heelers can gain all kinds of helpful information by processing what they see unfolding in front of them throughout a run.
Words of Wisdom
Let's See It: Taking Advantage of Every Visual Cue