Catherine Clayton only started getting serious about breakaway roping in college, but now the 24-year-old from Stephenville, Texas, has the ProRodeo ranks in her sights and WCRA majors on her calendar.
Up next for Clayton is Rodeo Carolina, where the champion will be taking home $15,000 and a coveted position on the WCRA’s Free Riders team for the 2025 Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo.
With about two weeks to go to WCRA Rodeo Carolina, The Breakaway Roping Journal caught up with Clayton to hear about her rodeo history, horse and how she’s steadily climbing with WCRA.
BRJ: Since you’re from Stephenville, we’re guessing you’ve been around rodeo for a long time?
CC: “Yes, I was lucky to be surrounded by many talented and accomplished ropers growing up, especially women. I actually didn’t start roping until I was about 12 or 13, so I was a little older, but I got to learn from them, and that was a big benefit of living here.”
“I started with barrels and poles, but I was actually a diehard goat tier through my youth and into college. When COVID hit, I was rodeoing for Cochise College in the Grand Canyon Region, but they canceled all of our spring and fall seasons. When I came back home, there weren’t many opportunities for goat tying, so I started focusing on breakaway roping. At the same time, breakaway was getting really popular, and I had just bought a good horse, so everything kind of lined up.”
So, you love goat tying, but what do you enjoy about breakaway?
When I got my good horse, Skeeter, I realized how important horsemanship and the horse itself are in breakaway roping. I always had nice horses, but Skeeter was different. Riding a talented horse like him made me really appreciate the role of the horse and the power they bring to the event.
Tell us more about Skeeter. Where did you get him, and what are his strengths?
I bought Skeeter when he was three years old. He’s actually reining-bred, sired by Whizkey N Diamonds, and he’s incredibly special. When he was five, we placed third at the 2021 College Finals. He has a huge personality—he loves to be the center of attention, but he’s amazing at his job. I’ll compare every horse I have after him to him, and none of them will ever come close.
He scores really well and stays in my hand. He’s fast from the pin to the calf, and his stop—he’s got one of those classic reiner stops—is a big advantage. He’s quick, responsive, and he just makes everything easier. He was tracking calves out of the box when I bought him, but I finished him out.
What was the process like to finish him out?
Not long after I bought him, in 2019, he fractured both of his coffin bones. It was actually a blessing in disguise, because I might’ve pushed him too hard, too fast. His injury forced me to slow down, and that gave him the time to really develop into the horse he is today.
We’re not entirely sure how the injury happened. I had been hauling him around a lot, and when he came up lame, my vet thought that the stress from the travel might have caused a laminitic episode, weakening his bones just enough for a small incident to cause the fracture. He was off for six months, but he’s good now.
Shifting gears, I noticed your name on the Rodeo Carolina leaderboard for WCRA. Are you planning on competing there this year?
Yes, I plan to be there. I’ve been to several of the WCRA Majors. I’ve competed at WRWC a couple of times, went to Corpus Christi, and also competed at the Cowtown Christmas and Stampede at the E.
I love nominating smaller events and still earning points. It’s great for young horses. You can build your confidence at smaller events and then rope against the best at the bigger events.
Are you amateur rodeoing right now, or have you bought your pro card?
I’m currently amateur rodeoing, but I’m planning to buy my permit at the start of the new season and may go for my rookie card this summer.
