Team Roping Techniques

The only team event in rodeo is team roping, and it requires timing and cooperation between two ropers. One person ropes the head of the steer around the horns and head and the other person ropes the back heels. Both ropers and their horses must have flawless timing to win this event. Team ropers begin in the boxes next to the steer chute behind breakaway barriers. As the steer is released, the ropers go to work.

  1. Timing

    • The header, the person roping the head of the steer, follows the released steer closely, and leaves the breakaway box as soon as the steer is released. He must rope the steer's head, neck and one horn or both horns as quickly as possible. He releases his rope aggressively as soon as he has a clear shot of the steer's head. The heeler, the person roping the back heels of the steer, leaves the breakaway box slightly after the header so the header has time to rope the head. The header must rope the head before the heeler ropes the heels. When the steer pulls his head down and to the left with his hips and feet elevated, the heeler must throw the rope to snare both heels or there is a 5 second penalty.

    Horse

    • Horses are trained specifically for heading or heeling. A heading horse will be strong and heavy so it can hold and turn the steer any direction the rider chooses. Headers quickly break out of the box, ride next to the steer and pull the slack tight as he ropes the steer, turning the steer to expose its back legs to the heeler. A heeling horse must be strong, have cow sense and be shorter so the rider has a better attempt at the heels. Heelers rope the back legs as soon as the head is roped and back up the horse to eliminate any slack.

    Grip and Swing

    • Grip your rope as you would a golf club, but in your dominant hand only. Place your fingers loosely around the rope as it rests in your palm. Grip primarily with your thumb and forefinger so that your remaining fingers have little or no contact with the rope. Swing the rope forward with your palm down and lightly roll your wrist so that your palm is up as you bring the rope around and behind you. Then roll your wrist again as the rope completes the circle and returns to the front of you. Keep your elbow elevated behind the swing, and use your wrist to move the rope.

    Release

    • Keep your loop over the steer's head as you sweep the loop around aggressively. Release the rope in the front of you when the steer is within your range and pull tightly. Pull the steer's head down and to the left, so that its back hips and feet lift for the heeler. When heeling, flatten your hand with your palm up as you release the rope. Release the rope just as the steer's back legs come up from the ground and aim for the area where they will hit the ground again. Guide your loop to the ground, but don't push it. Tighten the loop when the back legs land inside it and guide your horse to pull up the slack.