This might sting a little bit, but “you’re such a team roper” isn’t always meant as flattery—especially when it comes to taking care of stuff, horses included. In this roundtable talk powered by Professional’s Choice, Coleman Proctor, Tanner Tomlinson and Patrick Smith discuss the evolving mentality and reputation of team ropers, and the importance of good horsemanship and horse care.
“The older you get, the more that you do this, the more you realize the details matter,” Smith said. “From having the rope tie to not wearing the proper stuff on your horse—not having the right fit of the saddle, not having the right fit of the bit, whatever—is changing the mentality of horses are just a tool.”
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.
