The difference between a good roper and a great one often comes down to the horse. So what makes a great rope horse? In this roundtable talk powered by Professional’s Choice, Coleman Proctor, Tanner Tomlinson and Patrick Smith discuss what makes a great rope horse great.
“Anymore, everywhere we go, you got to have every ounce of try out of your horse, every single time, to have a chance,” said Smith. “One thing I’ve learned being around as long as I have been is you don’t really realize how good the good ones are until you have a good one and then you don’t.”
About Coleman Proctor:
Since turning pro in 2004, Coleman Proctor has qualified for the National Finals Rodeo seven times. In 2022, he finished sixth in the team roping (heading) world standings. Throughout his career, Proctor has earned more than $1.5 million in prize money, cementing his status as one of the top earners in the sport. Proctor, his wife, and two daughters live in Pryor, Oklahoma.
About Patrick Smith:
Patrick Smith is a two-time team roping world champion heeler and 12-time NFR qualifier. Smith has deep ties in West Texas’s oilfield business, meaning he understands as much as the everyday roper how critical it is to balance day-to-day life with time in the arena. His easy-to-understand teaching style will improve your roping at every level, from horsemanship basics to heeling fast. Smith also brings with him his DVD collection, including Driven, Driven 2.0 and Legend, streaming exclusively on Roping.com.
About Tanner Tomlinson:
In 2020, the Angleton, Texas, header was crowned the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Rookie of the Year and finished out the season in the top 40 of the PRCA world standings. In 2021, he joined up with two-time World Champion heeler Patrick Smith and finished out the year ranked 30th. In 2022, Tomlinson and Smith finished as the average champions at the NFR and overall reserve champions.
