Michael Cooper didn’t come up through the traditional cutting horse pipeline—but his rise to becoming an National Cutting Horse Association $6 million rider is a testament to grit, faith and an unrelenting work ethic. Raised in the hills of southern Missouri with limited resources and no formal mentorship, Cooper built his career from the ground up, learning through experience, observation and an unwavering commitment to improving as a horseman.
In this episode of The Ride, Cooper joins host Emily Carey to reflect on the unconventional path that shaped his career—from his first ride on a cutting horse as a teenager to developing into one of the sport’s top trainers. He shares how early hardships instilled the toughness required to succeed, and why those challenges ultimately became the foundation of his program.
Cooper also dives into the philosophy that defines his horsemanship today, emphasizing the importance of adapting to each individual horse and approaching training like a teacher guiding students. He discusses the mental side of competition, lessons learned from key horses throughout his career, and the mindset that carried him to major wins, including his recent success at the 2026 NCHA Super Stakes.
