story by Lindsay Humphrey
When Clay Casper and his brothers – Ty and Wyatt – turned 18, their dad, John, made them all get their CDL. This was a safeguard to make sure the boys always had a job option in their back pocket. While pursuing a degree in agricultural communications from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Clay didn’t anticipate using that CDL again. “My plan was to use my degree to teach so I could become a coach,” said the Balko, Oklahoma, team roper. “I really loved playing sports in high school and thought I would like coaching. I realized I could make a lot more money and have free time if I drove a truck every day.”
Driving his own truck and trailer, Clay works under Casper Express, which is his dad’s hauling company. “I haul grain to feedlots quite a bit and then sometimes I haul fertilizer. I stay local though so I can rope and be home at night.” Last September Clay married Lainie, and she’s made staying close to home much easier. Even though Lainie didn’t grow up around rodeo like Clay, she doesn’t like getting left behind when he hits the rodeo trail. “She comes along and videos for me and now I have a horse that she ran ride around at the rodeos.”
Five-year-old Sonny is Clay’s main mount for the current season. “I bought him about three years ago and he was just halter broke. I’ve done everything with him so far. He was easy to start, and he picked things up quick.” Even though Sonny has exceled swamping ends in the team roping, he’s gotten stout enough that it’s time to keep him on the head side for good. A 3-year-old, roan stud colt is Clay’s next great heel horse. “My parents used to keep my brothers and I on good horses because they bought them. Ever since I got out of college, I figured it’s probably cheaper in the long run to start and make my own.” As prices for good roping horses easily reach 20,000 and above, Clay’s theory is proving to be true for the time being.
Even though Clay is a tried-and-true team roper today, that wasn’t always his event. When his family moved to Balko from Minnesota in 2003, Clay was only 6 years old. “At first, we rode and roped calves. I think we even tied goats. We did that until we got into high school rodeo and started team roping.” Clay roped with his older brother, Ty, in high school rodeo and then teamed up with his younger brother, Wyatt, in college. “We almost made the college finals our last year, but we pulled up short at the last rodeo of the season. Wyatt always made the finals in saddlebronc. He’s riding as a pro now, so we don’t get to rope together as much.” Even though their older brother, Ty, isn’t hot on the rodeo trail, he doesn’t get to rope with his brothers nearly as often as any of the three would like.
“When we were younger, we always practiced together. I started out heading and then moved into heeling. With two brothers, I had to choose which side I wanted but that also depended on what they were doing and what horses were available.” Today, Clay is a number six header and an eight heeler. He’s been revisiting his roots this year by heading for Cale Morris in the KPRA. The two live a few miles apart, so it’s not uncommon for them to practice at least four times a week. Even though Clay’s been a card holding member for the past seven years, he hasn’t been able to enter as many KPRA events as he’d like. That is, until this summer. “I’m working to make the finals this year. I’m sitting fourth in the team roping right now [July], so I think we have a good shot.” Living in the Oklahoma panhandle makes it easy for Clay to hit a large number of KPRA events throughout the season. He’s looking forward to Perryton this month simply because it’s a short drive from his house, it’s almost like a hometown rodeo for him.
