Match for match, team roping is a passionate sport

By MINDY POEHL | Central Texas Edition

Clay O’Brien, a seven-time roping World Champ from Morgan Mill, dashes after a steer on his horse, while about to rope the steer’s legs. -- Staff photo by Ty Stepp

August 11, 2005 - Team roping is exciting, and it happens so quickly.

The sudden release of a wiggling and straining steer is the beginning of a catapult reaction, calling for better-than-equal response from horse and rider. The quick dash by the steer for the exit is hopefully matched by two horsemen bent on capturing the steer with rope and speed.

The test of this competition is what has made team roping such an increasingly popular sport among the rodeo circuit. One mastering that talent reigns from Erath County.

Clay O'Brien is a professional, World Champion team roper, who has earned a living off of roping for the past 25 years. He says he has trained hard to be a roper and it has paid off with success and a thrill of doing his job.

O'Brien was in Waco last week competing in the United States Team Roping Championship (USTRC). He won the open roping division with his partner Kevin Stuart.

O'Brien was raised in Los Angeles, where he began roping when he was only 7-years-old.

"My family used to put on roping competitions on the weekends. The people my parents talked about became my idols," O'Brien said. "I wanted to be like them."

Now, at 44, O'Brien is continuing his passion for the sport; but he is doing it from the steps of the Lone Star State. He recently moved from California to Morgan Mill where he lives with his wife and three girls who are 13, 14 and 18 years of age.

"I'm blessed to make a living at this. It's a job in itself and it takes lots of hard work. It's a seven day/24 hour job, but I enjoy it," O'Brien said. "Not many people can say that they have a job that they love."

O'Brien started competing in junior rodeos when he was a young boy and he has gone on to win seven team roping world championships.

"I learned a principle when I was a kid. I had a trademark," O'Brien said. "The movie Rocky inspired me. It's about a guy who no one thought was good enough. I learned that if you work as hard as you can, you can overcome hurdles and do anything."

O'Brien said the most difficult part of his job is all of the traveling.

"It's also difficult to keep the horses where they are working and feel good and are ready to do the job," he said. "That takes a lot of maintenance."

The roping competitions are different than they used to be. O'Brien said roping has really evolved.

"Team roping exploded about 15 years ago," he said. "The money is better and the sport has just changed for the better."

O'Brien has words of advice for those who are interested in getting involved with roping.

"Do what's in your heart," O'Brien said. "Really decide what you want to do and do it. You will have to work hard to be successful."

And, he assumes he has "quite a bit more left in him" when it comes to competing.

"I make sure I take good care of myself," O'Brien said. "As long as I can still physically do what I do, I'll keep at it."