Home / Equestrian sports / Team roping
Western and rodeo
Team roping is a rodeo event in which two riders work together to rope a young steer. It grew out of everyday cowboy work on ranches.
| Group | Western and rodeo |
|---|---|
| Also called | dally team roping, heading and heeling |
| Olympic | no |
| Governing body | Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA, USA) |
| Where it is popular | Team roping is most popular in the USA and Canada, and also in Australia and New Zealand. It is run by professional, amateur and school associations alike. |
Each pair has a header and a heeler. The header ropes the steer's horns or neck first and turns it to the left, then the heeler ropes both hind feet. The clock stops when both ropes are tight and the flag judge waves the flag; top teams do it in about 4-8 seconds. Catching only one hind leg adds 5 seconds, and breaking the barrier adds a 10-second penalty.
The American Quarter Horse is the most popular breed, being agile, strong and fast. The header's horse needs extra strength, while the heeler's horse must be especially quick and precise.
Ropers use special ropes (the header's softer and shorter at about 30-32 ft, the heeler's stiffer and longer), roping gloves and a saddle with a rubber-wrapped horn. Horses wear bell boots and brushing boots.
The best pairs compete at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas in December. The biggest event for amateurs is the World Series of Team Roping Finale, also held in Las Vegas in December.
In the USA there are youth, high school and college rodeo associations that teach roping. Ropers get a skill rating from 1 to 10, so a beginner can be paired with an experienced partner.
It is the only rodeo event where men and women compete together and equally in professional competition, including in mixed pairs.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, silverspursrodeo.com, wstroping.com