The Breakdown

Tuf Cooper claimed the win at the inaugural Music City Rodeo in Nashville, Tennessee, with a 7.2-second run that carried far more emotional weight than the paycheck alone—and he’s breaking it all down on the latest episode of The Tie-Down Breakdown.

In this episode, Cooper opens up about what that win meant just weeks after losing his father, Roy “Super Looper” Cooper, and how he's navigating grief, family and rodeo in 2025.

He shares insight on:

• What it’s like to rope with his dad’s legacy in the arena
• The horse, the draw and the near-miss that made Nashville unforgettable
• Why he's gunning for a $500K season
• The story behind walking out of high school to rope 35 fresh calves with Roy

🎧 Tune in now to hear how Tuf Cooper is honoring a legend and chasing another gold buckle—only on The Tie-Down Breakdown.

Get unlimited access to roping.com‘s comprehensive tie-down, breakaway, and team roping video library and learn from World Champions Caleb Smidt and Shad Mayfield as well as top trainers Logan Harkey and Justin Maass. Rope with legendary breakaway ropers like Lari Dee Guy, Hope Thompson, and 2024 NFBR World Champion Kelsie Domer. Plus, binge hundreds of hours of live and archived ropings including the Cinch Timed Event Championship, The Patriot Events, and more.

The Tie-Down Breakdown is getting a new host.

In this episode, we are thrilled to introduce the new host, Hannah Wheeler. As our listeners know, CalfRoping.com is the leading source of news and information for calf ropers and fans of the sport, and Hannah has brought a wealth of experience to CalfRoping.com as a digital content creator.

Taylor Vollin and Hannah discuss Hannah's background and life growing up in Missouri, as well as her diverse professional career that led her to CalfRoping.com. They dive into her plans for The Tie-Down Breakdown and what she's loved so far.

Taylor Munsell just set a new standard in ProRodeo breakaway roping—and she’s breaking it all down on the latest episode of The Breakaway Breakdown.

Over the weekend of May 31–June 1, 2025, Munsell became the fastest breakaway roper in history to surpass $100,000 in a single ProRodeo season.

With wins in Mt. Pleasant, Texas (1.9 seconds), and Durant, Oklahoma (2.3 seconds), plus a tie for fifth with a 2.4-second run in Hugo, Oklahoma, Munsell added $5,918 to her earnings—vaulting her past the six-figure mark before the summer run has officially begun.

🎧 Tune in now to hear how Taylor Munsell is rewriting breakaway history—only on The Breakaway Breakdown.

Get unlimited access to roping.com‘s comprehensive tie-down, breakaway, and team roping video library and learn from World Champions Caleb Smidt and Shad Mayfield as well as top trainers Logan Harkey and Justin Maass. Rope with legendary breakaway ropers like Lari Dee Guy, Hope Thompson, and 2024 NFBR World Champion Kelsie Domer. Plus, binge hundreds of hours of live and archived ropings including the Cinch Timed Event Championship, The Patriot Events, and more.

The Ruby Buckle, Pink Buckle and Young Guns League announced the addition of a new, $50,000-guaranteed breakaway in South Jordan, Utah, running alongside the $1 million-plus Ruby Buckle Western Regional barrel race June 24-28.

All Pink Buckle, Ruby Buckle and Young Guns League horses are eligible for the $50,000 guaranteed payout classes, and any breakaway horse can enter the $10,000 added HayChix Open Breakaway.

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• Josie Conner’s $100K Win at The American Rodeo
• RodeoHouston Champ Taylor Munsell on The Breakdown Podcast
• Breakaway Futurity 101 with Cheyanne McCartney
• Mastering Rodeo Mental Performance with Donene Taylor

Spring has been a whirlwind between the ProRodeo race and fun one-offs like The American Rodeo and Kid Rock's Rock N Rodeo.

In April, the world watched Shane Hanchey and Kincade Henry tie for the win in the 10-man round of The American with a 7.58-second run. The 2013 world champion took the title, however, after a 6.73 in the finals to give Hanchey his second American Rodeo title and $100,000. 

Kid Rock's Rock N Rodeo took Arlington, Texas, by storm for the second year in a row May 17, 2025. When the dust settled, team Jokers--led by legends Joe Beaver and Sid Steiner--took the overall team title with John Douch and Haven Meged to help.

• The Tie-Down Breakdown: NFR Catch-Up
• The Tie-Down Breakdown: Dylan Hancock Wins Round 7 of the 2024 NFR
• The Tie-Down Breakdown: Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2024 NFR
• The Tie-Down Breakdown: Riley Webb Adds Round 4 to 2024 NFR Wins
• The Tie-Down Breakdown: 2024 NFR Round 3 Winner Ty Harris

Bailey Bates got the big Texas Swing ProRodeo win she was looking for at the 2025 San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo with three 1.9-second runs worth a total of $10,217.

The win was a sigh of relief following a winter rodeo season that saw her come close to the big paychecks but barely miss out. The earnings coupled with her No. 18 finish in the 2024 ProRodeo standings are fueling Bates to push to greater heights as the rodeo season enters the spring.

Get unlimited access to roping.com's comprehensive tie-down, breakaway, and team roping video library and learn from World Champions Caleb Smidt and Shad Mayfield as well as top trainers Logan Harkey and Justin Maass. Rope with legendary breakaway ropers like Lari Dee Guy, Hope Thompson, and 2024 NFBR World Champion Kelsie Domer. Plus, binge hundreds of hours of live and archived ropings including the Cinch Timed Event Championship, The Patriot Events, and more.

Connect with Your Hosts: The Breakaway Roping Journal

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• Macy Auclair on The Breakdown Podcast Ahead of Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo
• Josie Conner’s $100K Win at The American Rodeo
• RodeoHouston Champ Taylor Munsell on The Breakdown Podcast
• Breakaway Futurity 101 with Cheyanne McCartney
• Mastering Rodeo Mental Performance with Donene Taylor

Ponoka’s Macy Auclair is slated to make her debut at Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo on May 16 in AT&T Stadium on Cody Ohl’s team “Convoy.”

Auclair has always been a gamer, but her skill was on full display at the 2024 Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR), where she broke the Canadian record with a 1.5-second run in Round 3, and finished the Finals as the aggregate champion with a time of 11.1 seconds on five head.

That performance—coupled with the knowledge and coaching Ohl had already poured into the 22-year-old cowgirl—made her an ideal Convoy teammate. She’ll be breakaway roping alongside fellow Northerner Shelby (Boisjoli) Meged.

Get unlimited access to roping.com's comprehensive tie-down, breakaway, and team roping video library and learn from World Champions Caleb Smidt and Shad Mayfield as well as top trainers Logan Harkey and Justin Maass. Rope with legendary breakaway ropers like Lari Dee Guy, Hope Thompson, and 2024 NFBR World Champion Kelsie Domer. Plus, binge hundreds of hours of live and archived ropings including the Cinch Timed Event Championship, The Patriot Events, and more.

Connect with Your Hosts: The Breakaway Roping Journal

Follow on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

• Breakaway Futurity 101 with Cheyanne McCartney
• Mastering Rodeo Mental Performance with Donene Taylor
• Meet Josie Conner's Horse of the Year "Dutch"
• Madison Outhier’s Horse Accident an Recovery on The Breakdown Podcast
• Shelby Boisjoli-Meged’s Cheyenne Frontier Days WIN on The Breakdown Podcast
• Maddy Deerman’s Bringing the Summer Heat on The Breakdown Podcast
• Cowboy Christmas Recap on The Breakdown Podcast with Taylor Munsell, TiAda Gray and Josie Connor

Josie Conner is $100,000 richer thanks to a 1.89-second run that clinched the win at The American Rodeo on Saturday, April 12, 2025, marking her sixth trip to the prestigious event.

The victory came as Conner’s second win of the day, following a 1.99-second run in the Round of 10 with 2024 Horse of the Year Stylish Drifter, known as “Dutch.” That run broke the 2-second mark for the first time on Saturday.

“This rodeo is incredible and one I’ve always tried to win,” said Conner, 21. “I’ve been coming since I was 15 in 2019. This is an amazing payday and an amazing rodeo.”

Get unlimited access to roping.com's comprehensive tie-down, breakaway, and team roping video library and learn from World Champions Caleb Smidt and Shad Mayfield as well as top trainers Logan Harkey and Justin Maass. Rope with legendary breakaway ropers like Lari Dee Guy, Hope Thompson, and 2024 NFBR World Champion Kelsie Domer. Plus, binge hundreds of hours of live and archived ropings including the Cinch Timed Event Championship, The Patriot Events, and more.

Connect with Your Hosts: The Breakaway Roping Journal

Follow on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

• Breakaway Futurity 101 with Cheyanne McCartney
• Mastering Rodeo Mental Performance with Donene Taylor
• Meet Josie Conner's Horse of the Year "Dutch"
• Madison Outhier’s Horse Accident an Recovery on The Breakdown Podcast
• Shelby Boisjoli-Meged’s Cheyenne Frontier Days WIN on The Breakdown Podcast
• Maddy Deerman’s Bringing the Summer Heat on The Breakdown Podcast
• Cowboy Christmas Recap on The Breakdown Podcast with Taylor Munsell, TiAda Gray and Josie Connor

Taylor Munsell came onto The Breakdown Podcast to discuss her 2025 RodeoHouston win, earning $70,125 and rocketing her to No. 1 in the World Standings.

“Realizing I’d won was a lot to take in,” Munsell, 28, said. “That’s the biggest amount of money I’ve won in one run. Now, I’m leading the World, and I plan to stay there.”

Get unlimited access to roping.com's comprehensive tie-down, breakaway, and team roping video library and learn from World Champions Caleb Smidt and Shad Mayfield as well as top trainers Logan Harkey and Justin Maass. Rope with legendary breakaway ropers like Lari Dee Guy, Hope Thompson, and 2024 NFBR World Champion Kelsie Domer. Plus, binge hundreds of hours of live and archived ropings including the Cinch Timed Event Championship, The Patriot Events, and more.

Connect with Your Hosts: The Breakaway Roping Journal

Follow on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

• Breakaway Futurity 101 with Cheyanne McCartney
• Mastering Rodeo Mental Performance with Donene Taylor
• Meet Josie Conner's Horse of the Year "Dutch"
• Madison Outhier’s Horse Accident an Recovery on The Breakdown Podcast
• Shelby Boisjoli-Meged’s Cheyenne Frontier Days WIN on The Breakdown Podcast
• Maddy Deerman’s Bringing the Summer Heat on The Breakdown Podcast
• Cowboy Christmas Recap on The Breakdown Podcast with Taylor Munsell, TiAda Gray and Josie Connor

Catch up on the winter rodeo action in the newest episode of The Breakdown. Hear from Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Champion Josie Conner just moments after her big win and San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Champion Aspen Miller.

Get unlimited access to roping.com's comprehensive tie-down, breakaway, and team roping video library and learn from World Champions Caleb Smidt and Shad Mayfield as well as top trainers Logan Harkey and Justin Maass. Rope with legendary breakaway ropers like Lari Dee Guy, Hope Thompson, and 2024 NFBR World Champion Kelsie Domer. Plus, binge hundreds of hours of live and archived ropings including the Cinch Timed Event Championship, The Patriot Events, and more.

Connect with Your Hosts: The Breakaway Roping Journal

Follow on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

• Breakaway Futurity 101 with Cheyanne McCartney
• Mastering Rodeo Mental Performance with Donene Taylor
• Meet Josie Conner's Horse of the Year "Dutch"
• Madison Outhier’s Horse Accident an Recovery on The Breakdown Podcast
• Shelby Boisjoli-Meged’s Cheyenne Frontier Days WIN on The Breakdown Podcast
• Maddy Deerman’s Bringing the Summer Heat on The Breakdown Podcast
• Cowboy Christmas Recap on The Breakdown Podcast with Taylor Munsell, TiAda Gray and Josie Connor