Any Team Ropers Here?

[Rackonteur]

I’ve been watching a little team roping on TV and I would love it if someone who does it would talk about how it’s done.

I’ve seen rope horses for sale online, some labeled “headers”(?) and others “heelers”(?) and I would be interested in knowing more about them too.

I figure I could Google it but I’d rather hear from real live people who actually do it.

TIA.

[Aces_N_Eights]

I wouldn’t call myself a team roper nor an expert on the subject but I team rope on occasion for fun and I used to ride for a 10x NFR qualifier years ago.

I’m not real sure what you want to know? It is different than branding calves or doctoring cattle outside, not all roping is created equal.

Difference between head and heel horses is just that. For me I prefer a head horse who is quick to catch cattle, rates and is strong enough to take a jerk and tow a steer so he may bigger and have a bigger stride.
Heeling, I prefer a horse a bit smaller and has a shorter stride to match a steer hopping makes it easy to get in time with and a big stop. For me, creating that stop and distance makes for the best heel shot and gets things shut down faster.

A long time ago team roping horses weren’t very broke, they had one job. Now they are realizing the horsemanship, the horses are getting more broke and a lot of cow horse and cutter rejects go to the roping pen.

[Rackonteur]

Thanks, @Aces N Eights . What you posted answered the questions I had – I don’t even know enough to form more questions at this point. I just enjoyed watching the roping on TV enough that I want to watch more, and I wanted to understand a little more before watching any more.

How in the world do y’all get a loop around a steer’s hind foot? It looked so easy on TV but I can see how it would take a lot of skill.

[Aces_N_Eights]

In short, different ropes and swing styles are used for the catches need to be made.
Typically, in a team roping heel shot, rope is shorter and stiffer. Stiffer stands the loop up creating a trap for the legs to jump through. The timing is in swinging and placing the loop/trap. Jerking the slack to catch this is where having a horse who stops hard and fast is important. If you have a horse who leaks its hard to get him caught as the steer can step out of the loop or put more time on the clock. A horse who stops hard helps take the slack out for you and gets the run shut down faster.

[Rackonteur]

Cool. Thanks.