|
Team Roping
Team roping, the only
true team event in ProRodeo, requires close cooperation and timing between two
highly skilled ropers -- a header and a heeler -- and their horses. The event
originated on ranches when cowboys needed to treat or brand large steers and
the task proved too difficult for one man.
The key to success? Hard work and endless practice. Team roping partners must
perfect their timing, both as a team and with their respective horses.
Similar to tie-down ropers and steer wrestlers, team ropers start from the
boxes on each side of the chute from which the steer enters the arena. The
steer gets a head start determined by the length of the arena.
One end of a breakaway barrier is attached to the steer and stretched across
the open end of the header's box. When the steer reaches his advantage point,
the barrier is released, and the header takes off in pursuit, with the heeler
trailing slightly further behind. The ropers are assessed a 10-second penalty
if the header breaks the barrier before the steer completes his head start.
Some rodeos use heeler barriers too.
The header ropes first and must make one of three legal catches on the steer --
around both horns, around one horn and the head or around the neck. Any other
catch by the header is considered illegal and the team is disqualified. After
the header makes his catch, he turns the steer to the left and exposes the
steer's hind legs to the heeler. The heeler then attempts to rope both hind
legs. If he catches only one foot, the team is assessed a five-second penalty.
After the cowboys catch the steer, the clock is stopped when there is no slack
in their ropes and their horses face one another.
Another important aspect to the event is the type of horses used by the ropers.
The American quarter horse is the most popular among all timed-event
competitors, particularly team ropers. Heading horses generally are taller and
heavier because they need the power to turn the steer after it is roped.
Heeling horses are quick and agile, enabling them to better follow the steer
and react to it moves.
|
 |
