Brodie Poppino: Where Skill Meets the Right Tools

Written by Katherine Burke

Growing Up in a Rodeo Family

Veteran steer roper Brodie Poppino grew up in Big Cabin, Oklahoma, in a family where rodeo wasn't just a sport, but family history. His mother, Tanna Poppino, qualified for the National Finals Rodeo twice. His dad had a trailer shop and rodeoed on the side. For Brodie, roping steers seemed less of a choice and more of a calling.

Freshly out of high school, Brodie planned to chase his dreams of making national finals in steer roping - that was until an unexpected hip injury forced him to put his aspirations on hold. He couldn't perform at the level he expected of himself, so he had to slow down.

However, he learned a new form of discipline when stepping away for his recovery. "[Roping] came with a lot of speed bumps in the way. You think you've got something... and then you try to perfect it, and it will humble you." Brodie acknowledged that working with horses was a major part of his newfound growth and mindset shift.

Lessons Learned from Horses

He credits most of his learning to Friendly, a horse he bought from a friend, and later Shaggy, the steer horse who eventually carried Brodie to qualify for the NFSR. "The biggest lesson a horse can teach you is patience," said Brodie while recalling his time riding Shaggy.

Shaggy had initially belonged to Brodie's dad; however, when Brodie expressed his genuine drive to win, his dad handed the horse over to him. Shaggy was a quirky horse, loping around the same bag in the arena and spooking every time. But this taught Brodie how to read him, allowing him to build trust and understanding with Shaggy.

This patience carried Brodie through his career and to one of his favorite rodeo memories, the first time he qualified for NFSR after years of grueling practice. "I called my dad and he said 'I'm proud of you,'" Brodie said between tears. "That [time] stuck out to me... and that's probably one of my favorite memories."

Years later, Brodie is still on the road and in the arena. However, he's also a husband, dad, and teacher. His kids are growing up around horses, and his wife is beginning to pick up roping, helping Brodie get the horses back into shape. Horses are still a crucial and cherished part of his life.

Gear That Holds Up in the Arena

That's part of why Brodie doesn't leave his gear up to chance. He uses equipment designed to last, fit right, and keep the horse comfortable through long days. "My favorite product is the CFRD SMx Cowboy Air Ride deluxe felt saddle pad. I think it is the greatest saddle pad they've ever made... I've never ridden a pad that lasts that long, wears that good, and fits that well."

In addition to the saddle pads, Brodie is also fond of the 2xCool boots and cinches. "The technology is there, which is really cool. And it really does work."

And whenever Brodie needs something specific - even gear that is hard to find - he orders it from Valley Vet. "The prices are good, [the employees] take care of you if you have an issue, they're great people, and the core values at Valley Vet are second to none."

Whether it's getting his horses back in shape or heading on the road for a competition, Brodie keeps a slow and steady pace. He keeps his mentor Randy Burch's signature advice in the back of his mind: "slow down, win first."

Whether for horse, livestock or pet, Valley Vet Supply is your one-stop shop for trusted care. Explore more of our horse category at ValleyVet.com.