Ransom Canyon knows how to get its rodeo on.

Netflix‘s new Western drama, based on the book series by Jodi Thomas, not only put actor Jack Schumacher (who plays Yancy Grey) through some serious cowboy training ahead of its big rodeo episode, but it welcomed real life rodeo star and bareback rider Tilden Hooper to set to make the installment feel even more authentic.

Ransom Canyon‘s fourth episode shows Yancy offering two dangerous men from his past $20,000 to settle their score. They accept the deal, but there’s just one problem: Yancy doesn’t have the money. He has to win it at the rodeo!

The cowboy reveals he “used to dabble” in rodeo, and after an epic training montage, Episode 5 shows Yancy’s big day. After Yancy arrives at the rodeo he’s told he’s “after Hooper” and the announcer introduces Tilden Hooper as “the man to beat.” Before Hooper shows his stuff, Yancy tells him he looks ready, to which he smoothly replies, “Watch me, brother, I’m always ready.”

Despite Hooper’s champion-level skills — which absolutely make this Ransom Canyon episode — Yancy Grey defies the odds, surprises everyone, and emerges victorious as the storyline demands. Before Hooper heads out, he even commends Yancy on a “hell of a ride.” What a guy!

For those wondering if Hooper was simply a character in Ransom Canyon‘s world or a real-life rider making an iconic cameo, we’re here to assure you it’s the latter. So who is Tilden Hooper? And what’s his experience with rodeo outside of Ransom Canyon? Read on for everything you need to know about Hooper, including quotes from his scene partner Schumacher.

Who Is Tilden Hooper On Ransom Canyon? Meet The Real Life Rodeo Star Who Was Also On Yellowstone

Tilden Hooper is a 37-year-old professional rodeo rider born in Shreveport, Louisiana, who’s currently ranked 23rd in the world for bareback riding. His Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association bio includes everything curious Ransom Canyon fans likely want to know!

In 2024, Hooper placed 21st in worldwide standings and reportedly earned $96,143 throughout the year. His listed professional achievements and career highlights — dating back to 2007 — are plentiful. Most recently, he won 2025’s Heart O’Texas Fair & Rodeo in Waco, Texas, and in 2018 he finished third in the world standings. Back in 2020, Hooper also appeared in Season 3, Episode 10 of Taylor Sheridan’s hit Western drama Yellowstone as a bareback rider.

Curious about Hooper’s personal life? Hooper is currently listed as 5’10 and 170 lbs and calls Carthage, Texas his hometown. His also bio notes that his father, Terry, was also a circuit bareback rider. Hooper started riding in bareback competitions when he was 15 years old, then “studied at Panola Junior College before turning to rodeo full-time in 2008, when he competed in 113 PRCA rodeos.”

To prepare to face off with Hooper in Ransom Canyon‘s rodeo episode, Hooper’s scene partner Schumacher told Decider about his months of cowboy training. “For a few hours in the morning, we would ride, we would work on roping… Horseback riding, I was very proud of myself. Because I had zero experience and I think that I’m one of the better riders on the cast. But roping, for the life of me, I could not figure out. I couldn’t even figure out how to hold it right. It just didn’t compute,” Schumacher laughed. “And then I had a lot of bull riding training as well, which is exhausting. Even doing it on a seesaw dummy, it crushes you like for the next few days. It’s hard to walk because of the amount of stress that you have to do, to hold onto it with your legs is crazy.”

Despite the difficulty of bull riding, Schumacher said that bareback horse riders like Hooper face an even greater challenge. “The bronc riders are crazy. I was talking to some of the bull riders and they’re all like, ‘No, man, bronc riders are the real psychos,’” Schumacher said when reflecting on Hooper in action. “When you’re riding a bull, you can kind of find the wave. That’s what they told me. But when you’re bronc riding, you’re just getting smashed. And when you see it live, it’s insane.”

Outside of rodeo arenas, Hooper’s bio also reveals that he enjoys wakeboarding and watching Will Ferrell movies. (His favorite is Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.) If you want to stay up-to-date with Hooper’s personal life and career after Ransom Canyon, you can follow him on Instagram at @mrho0per.

For those still curious about the professional bareback rider, there’s lots more Hooper news to read and watch online. When the guest star leaves Ransom Canyon he also tells Yancy, “See ya down the road,” so perhaps the rodeo star could reappear in the series if it’s picked up for more seasons down the line.

Ransom Canyon Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.