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 heeling on bay horse.
words from the champ
Riding Is as Important as Roping at the Highest Level
Jake Barnes and Clay O’Brien Cooper have 56 National Finals Rodeo qualifications and seven NFR average wins between them. They won Rodeo’s Super Bowl together in three different decades—in 1985, 1994 and 2007. Dan Hubbell Photo
The Short Score: Rodeo Responsibilities with Jake and Clay
Jake Barnes and Clay O'Brien Cooper roping a steer.
The Short Score: Turnout Stories with Jake and Clay
Clay O'Brien Cooper roping in arena with mountains in the background
Words from the champ
The Battle of Making All Moving Parts Work as One
Jake Barnes heading a steer for Clay O'Brien Cooper.
Listen Here
The Short Score: Jake & Clay's Beginning
hi_resJake and Clay Award Ceremonies 1983 NFR ©Rosoff
History Lesson
The Short Score: Days Before Equal Money
Leo
WISE WORDS
The Art of Timing Steers 
Clay O'Brien Cooper heeling on one of his favorite horses: Ike.
Special Horses: My Big Three
Clay O'Brien Cooper Team Roping Journal
How To Mentally Block Out Things Going On Outside The Arena
Fanning-brothers-BFI
Backyard Baddies
The Team Roping Journal
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