Tuf Cooper exclusive interview with Bridle & Bit in December

By Tracy Wager

TUF COOPER WAS BORN INTO RODEO GREATNESS

The son of ProRodeo Hall of Famer Roy “Super Looper” Cooper and Shari Smith Cooper, the caboose of this unparalleled cowboy dynasty grew up with highly respected roping grandfathers on both sides of his royal rodeo pedigree. Tuf and his brothers, Clif and Clint, have made pro rodeo history more than once as the only set of three tie-down roping brothers to compete at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo the same year. Tuf’s sister, Shada, also has competed at Rodeo’s Super Bowl, and her husband/ Tuf’s brother-in-law, Trevor Brazile, just happens to be the winningest rodeo cowboy of all time. Like Tuf and Trevor, Tuf’s Uncle Stran Smith also is a World Champion Tie-Down Roper.

Yes, winning is a family tradition. And Tuf Cooper is just the man for the job of taking this torch to even greater heights. He’s that rare combination of naturally gifted athlete with a work ethic that won’t quit and the mental strength it takes to withstand the pressure cooker that comes with all worldclass professional sports.

- Dad – Roy Cooper 8x World Champion - Brother – Clif 6x NFR qualifier - Brother – Clint 5x NFR qualifier

“Winning means everything to me, and not just in the arena,” Cooper said. “The rodeo world has shown me the importance of winning in all areas of life, and that’s my goal all day, every day. Every morning when I wake up, I read my Daily Devotion, and I write down, ‘Win the day,’ along with where I am and the date. Then I work hard to do whatever it takes to get that done. “People are the best part of every professional sport, and in my line of work that goes for my cowboy friends, and all the people I get to meet along the way. It means a lot to me that people go out of their way to connect with me in some way, and I want to make everybody’s experience the best it can be. Making someone else’s day does more for me than that other person. That’s what it’s all about.”

Tuf already owns several of the NFR gold buckles that go to the World Champion Tie-Down Roper. Tuf became the youngest cowboy millionaire in professional rodeo history when he cleared that magical milestone right after his 23rd birthday. In December of 2017, Tuf took center stage of the cowboy sport, winning the most prestigious of all professional rodeo titles as the World Champion All-Around Cowboy.

Q Tell us about the Tuf Cooper’s Junior World Championship?

A It was started by my Dad Roy Cooper and I had the chance to take the reins over a couple years ago. My dad is passionate about helping calf roping stay alive and the only way to do so is by helping the younger generations stay hooked and excited about doing this for a living. He thought having a Championship roping for the kids in Vegas was a great way to show them what it’s like to get to the top of this business. That there is a chance for some to be successful and Vegas is what that looks like. This year it won’t be in Vegas but the kids will still have a chance to rope in Fort Worth. Dirk and Jennifer Webb do all the hard work. I usually just show up, but this year I won’t be able to do that because of the COVID restrictions we have with testing at the

Q You always have great horses, who are you riding this year?

A I’ll be riding a full sister to Topaz in the finals this year. Her name is Jewel. I’ve rodeod with her all year. She’s owned by a couple of Brazilian ranches. Paddock Ranch and Fazenda Sapucaia, and managed by my friend Flavio Ribeiro. My vet, Dr. Havery of Outlaw Equine, keeps our horses sound with swimming and icing treatments at their facility.

Q With your name comes highexpectations. How does that effect you?

A It’s the best kind of pressure there is. I know in my family there are a lot of gold buckles. I’m just trying to break my Dad’s record of 8 first and then we’ll see what’s next.

Q How do you channel the pressure when you are on the big-stage and a Championship is at stake?

A I just have to remember how fun it is to do what we do. We get to be cowboys. People in the city think it’s cool to wear a cowboy hat and we get to put one on everyday to do what we love. I have a great support system in my wife and who I have around me. They make sure we just have fun and don’t let the pressure get to us.

Q Keeping horses shod correctly is a real challenge, how do you do it?

A It is a challenge. On the road it’s really hard with different ground conditions and it being wet and dry. Horses hooves are hard to keep intact but I have a great horse

shoer named Justin Knight, he does a great job of working with my vet to keep our horses on track.

Q What advice can you offer young people wanting to win?

A Be happy when you don’t win. If you’re only happy when you win you’re going to be mad a lot. Once you get to a level of roping competitively, it’s mostly about controlling your mind. So what I’ve learned is not to let your failures control your attitude. That’s why you’ll see me smile in the arena even when I don’t do the best at roping.

Q What time in the morning do you get started?

A I’m a night owl. I stay up till 2 or 3am and sleep till noon. It’s just what works for me, and since I’m my own boss, I get to make my schedule.

Q How do you get focused when it is time to perform?

A I just clear my head and make sure I have everything ready when I step my horse into the box. Going through the steps of what it takes to make a great run in my head.

Q Topaz is a special horse tell us about her?

A Topaz is such a special horse, and her along with her trainer James Barton, they helped me and my career so much. Unfortunately Topaz has been out due to an injury this year, so I have been riding a full sister to her. Her name is Jewel. She’s owned by a couple of Brazilian ranches. Paddock Ranch and Fazenda Sapucaia and managed by my friend Flavio Ribeiro. She has done a great job and keeps getting better. She is still younger so I see a great future for her and I in the PRCA.

The reigning Cowboy King became the youngest millionaire in professional rodeo history at 23

Dad -

My Dad, the Super Looper. Thanks for coming to help me practice even in the cold.

“For years I let people tell me I shouldn’t get married until I was a certain age, until I’d been with someone for a long time or until I accomplished my goals. I was told that it would hurt my career to even have a girlfriend. So I listened to people instead of God.

How many times has that happened to you? How hard is it to know if it’s God or people you hear? It’s hard! It’s happened plenty of times to me. I’ve let people keep me from what God had planned for me. I let people keep me from shining my light on someone who stood in the background holding my horse, drove the all night drives, worked the chutes, fed, saddled, cleaned stalls, cooked, took care of me and most importantly loved me for who I was to her, not for who I was to the world. This woman would lay down her life for me and I didn’t do right by her until I listened to God and not people. The night I asked Tif to marry me wasn’t planned, wasn’t what most people would do, no one else knew I was going to do it, people didn’t like it, I didn’t have a ring and I was as nervous as I’ve ever been. But that night I listened to God. Who told me it was time to shine my light on the woman HE chose for me. So I took the night I’d worked for all my life, the accomplishment that meant so much to me and gave it to her.

She’s strong, hard headed, doesn’t take crap from anyone but she’s also sweet, caring, loving and there isn’t another woman in the world that would have been so patient with God and I.”

Trevor -

Congratulations to my brother in law Trevor on his 25th gold buckle! Thank you for always helping me and being a great role model all these years.

Tiffany-

Have you met my ex girlfriend? That’s how I’ve been introducing my wife to people lately. The number one question I get now a days is , “How’s married life?” My answer,

“It’s awesome! I should have done it a long time ago.”and that’s the truth.