Jeffrey Hayes is making a name for himself in the tie-down roping at only 14 years old, adding a Hooey Jr. Patriot 15 and Under Jackpot Championship to his resume with an aggregate of 32 seconds on three head.
In all, the Wharton, Texas, cowboy is taking home $2,267.
“I love this setup,” Hayes said of The Patriot. “You gotta see the shoulder and go get ‘em. Do what you can.”
Hayes was 11.96, 12.28 and 7.76 seconds throughout the two go-rounds and short go, posting the fastest run of the competition from the sixth callback.
“My second run, I hung my hooey on the calf’s declaw,” Hayes said. “So that made me come back stronger in the third run, knowing I had some time to make up.”
In his corner throughout was father Jeffrey Sr., who’s been Hayes’ mentor since he started tie-down roping five years ago.
“My last run, my dad told me to see shoulder to start and, ‘Go eat ‘er up,’” Hayes recalled. “So that’s what I did. I was expecting that time when I finished—I love the pressure and competition.”
His partner in crime is 9-year-old mare “Lizzo,” who Hayes has been riding since he began his tie-down journey. According to Hayes, Lizzo’s strengths include breaking strong to the pin and staying in his hand for quick adjustments.
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