| We can create a lot of communication
problems with our horse because we aren't in control of our motor mechanics (motor
mechanics is the coordination of your hands and feed working together).
When a lot of heelers are ready to rope a steer, they lean over a
little to get a good look at their steer, quit kicking and slow the rope down just before
they throw, they lean over a little more for a final look and pull up on their horse's
head as they throw. Then they dally and the horse takes a hard hit. The roper
goes out and makes the exact same run time after time. He is sending his horse
plenty of cues. The horse learns that when his rider leans over, slows the rope
down, quits kicking or pulls up on his head, he has to get ready for a hard jerk.
The next thing you know, the rider is complaining, "This
lame-brained, cheatin' horse. He keeps shutting me off and taking my throw away from
me."
You don't want to tell your horse you are going to throw until
the last possible instant. There are five cues that you need to learn to control:
1. Sit up, don't lean over.
I realize that while a heeler shouldn't lean over (because he could fall
off or his horse will learn to shut him off), some need to lean over a little when they
deliver so they can follow through. |
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2. Keep even speed on your rope. Keep your rope at an even
speed, in time with the steer's hop, right up to your release. Speeding up or
slowing your rope down will not only cue your horse that something is about to happen, you
can get out of time with the steer.
3. Keep even pressure on your legs. Relax your legs. Be
very aware of what you are doing with your legs and keep even pressure on them.
4. Don't shift your
weight.
Keep yourself balanced in your saddle. Awkward movements can
cause your horse to have to compensate in ways that are awkward or unnatural for him and
can result in a bad habit.
5. Keep even pressure on
the bit. If you pull up on your horse's head you can cause
him to brace up on the front end instead of relaxing so he's able to pedal forward and
slide to a stop.
If you do all of these things, your horse will have no idea when you are going to throw
it. He can't purposefully take a shot away that he doesn't know you're going to
make.
I used to have trouble with horses cheating me all the time.
I used to think,
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"This stupid sucker is only giving me two or
three good shots." Now I can get on my good horses and go to a rodeo or a
jackpot roping on them because they never take a shot away from me. It wasn't that I
fixed the horse - I fixed me.
I've been roping professionally for 20 years. There is an
ocean-full of knowledge and information out there on mechanics, horsemanship and the
mental aspect of roping. I learn more and more every day. That's what's so fun
- I've done this all my life and I'm still learning so much - how to score better or ride
better or whatever.
Clay O' Brien Cooper and I were talking the other day about how
we would probably never master roping. There's just no such thing as the
"perfect" run - you could always have rode your horse differently, thrown a
better leep or something. It's kind of like golf - nothing is ever perfect.
That's why it's so intriguing and that's what keeps us coming back. It's also why I
encourage every roper to really educate himself about roping - about the techniques,
riding his horse, handling his cattle, the equipment he uses and so on.
There's just too much information out there to let it go
to waste if you're serious about your roping whether it's in the form of a book, a vet, a
horse trainer, an older cowboy, a video or an experienced roper - use it! |
