Pushing the Barrier by Speed Williams – July 2010

The Handle

Handling steers is one of the most important factors that allow headers to be successful. There are two common scenarios that prevent good handles. One is where the head horse drops his left shoulder and ducks, going left really hard. This causes the steer to jerk away from the heeler and his back end to be wild making him difficult to heel. The other scenario is when the head horse doesn’t respond to the bridle, or is weak, and doesn’t have control of the steer’s head. Here the steer seems to drift down the arena and the heeler ends up inside and has to throw over the steer’s hip where the right front leg is blocking entry of the heel loop.

There are many headers who reach and have acquired good range with their rope but still don’t realize how important it is to protect the heeler and keep the steer’s feet together. The header’s job is to get it on as fast as you can and to give their heeler the best throw possible.

Most jackpot headers who set up their runs and have a lot of steers caught behind them are very disciplined. They understand the importance of taking care of their heeler and setting up the run where the heeler can finish fast. There are a lot of headers who complain that their heelers can’t catch. If you consistently have heelers who can’t catch behind you, take a good look at you and your horse to see what’s causing it, especially if they’re catching for other headers. Read more

Fast Back Focus with Matt Funk

Head Horse Position

What is the best place to position your head horse for catching if you’re not reaching?

To make a good consistent “catching” run I suggest you have your horse’s nose even with the steer’s hip for the front to back distance. For the width you should keep enough distance between your horse and the steer that a horse could pass through.

Fast Back Focus with Al Benson

Rope variety necessary for success

As a roper, determining the lay (softness or stiffness) of rope you need may seem like an ever-changing mystery. In fact, many ropers don’t realize they should keep several lays of their favorite rope available in their bag. Different circumstances and conditions require a different lay or softness.

Headers will use a softer rope when running to the hip to catch, while a slightly stiffer rope will be used when reaching, to assure the loop stays open while in the air. Roping cattle with short, small horns also requires a softer lay so that the loop comes tight quickly.

The number one lay we sell in heel ropes is a Medium. There are many ropers who prefer to rope with a Medium Soft, as Fast Back ropes have a lot of body, which makes the loop stay open better. Heeling with this softer lay helps prevent slipping or losing legs on cattle that are hard to rope.

Some of our pros will use up to three different lays, depending on the time of year and the weather. The weather can make a significant difference in the way your ropes feel. The rope you normally use and like can change with hot, cold, dry or moist weather.

It’s always a good idea to keep an assortment of lays for these various conditions. Ropers usually have their favorite rope in their favorite lay, but invariably will be faced with conditions that will require a slight variation.

Winners Circle

August