BIOGRAPHY

Patrick Smith began his legendary rodeo career in 1998, when he was in high school. Up until then, he didn’t know anything about horses or team roping. It was that summer in ‘98, when Smith rode horses for three-time world champion Allen Bach, that a lucky introduction PRCA Hall of Fame Roper Tee Woolman changed his life.

Five years later, Patrick joined the PRCA and qualified for the 2003 NFR, winning the overall average with partner Matt Tyler. He was also awarded the 2003 PRCA Team Roping Heeling Rookie of the Year. In 2005, Smith won the 2005 Team Roping World Championship at the NFR with partner Clay Tryan. In 2007, Patrick began roping with Trevor Brazile. Winning the NFR average in 2008, their partnership continued to thrive and brought them the 2010 Team Roping World Championship.

A 12-time NFR qualifier and two-time NFR overall champion, Smith has amassed $2,011,259 in career earnings. When he’s not roping, he enjoys playing golf and spending time with his wife, Christi, daughters, Kylie and Kenzee, and son, Elijah.

One Rope, 10 Rounds

Patrick Smith took 25 new Thunderbird heel ropes to the 2022 WNFR in Las Vegas. Along with partner Tanner Tominson, he was crowned reserve champion and overall average winner - using the same exact rope over 10 days.

That’s right. The other 24 ropes never saw the light of day.

In past trips to the finals, Smith had broken in lots of different ropes to accommodate for different weather situations. But in December, in his 13th appearance at the Super Bowl of rodeo, he took a different - some might say unique - approach.

“I made up my mind that I was going with the first rope that felt good out of the bag,” he says.

The Thunderbird heel rope is Smith’s weapon of choice. He and Lone Star Ropemaker Guy Alford worked out every detail to create it, going “back and forth” on how the core should be twisted.

Perfect Match

The sentimental team to watch during next month’s team roping at the National Final Rodeo in Las Vegas has to be Tanner Tomlinson and Patrick Smith. The duo - both members of the Lone Star Ropes pro team - have found remarkable success in 2022. Tanner finished the season as the #5 header in the world; Patrick was the #6 heeler.

The media loves the relationship between the seasoned veteran and Tomlinson who was a toddler when Smith was crowned PRCA Rookie of the Year in 2003. He fondly remembers following Smith’s career. In 2007, Patrick began roping with Brazile, winning the NFR average in 2008. Their partnership continued to thrive and brought them the 2010 Team Roping World Championship.

“I’ve looked up to Patrick my whole life,” Tomlinson says. “It feels like yesterday I was watching him and Trevor on television.”

PATRICK SMITH'S INVESTMENT PAYS OFF

Patrick Smith was nearly 25 years younger than PRCA Hall of Famer Tee Woolman when they first roped together. The team was a mix of youthful zeal and experience - Smith was new to the sport, and Woolman was a seasoned veteran with four NFR aggregate titles, an NFSR aggregate crown and more than $2 million in winnings.

PATRICK SMITH

It was 1998 when Patrick Smith’s legendary career began. Smith rode horses for three-time world champion Allen Bach and was introduced to Tee Woolman.