How to Train a Heel Horse

Back in the Old West, header and heeler horses were an absolute necessity. Cowboys needed to tend to their cattle and administer necessary vaccines, and those highly trained horses allowed ranch workers to rope and immobilize not only calves but larger steers as well. These days, heeler horses are more likely to be found in the local rodeo than on the ranch, but the training methods used to create those equine athletes have remained mostly the same.

Things You'll Need

  • Lasso
  • Roping saddle
  • Hay bale and calf mold
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure your heeler prospect has all the riding basics mastered before beginning his specific training. The horse should be able to walk, trot and lope on a loose rein, and he should stop with a "whoa" voice command. The heeler prospect should also back willingly, since moving in reverse is a big part of the roping horse's job.

    • 2

      Take an old lasso and swing it around the horse, first while on the ground and later when mounted. It is important that the heeler horse not be frightened of the rope. Start by swinging the rope around the horse, placing it on his back and then moving it away. Reassure the horse if he appears to be uneasy, then continue the training. Depending on the horse, this basic rope training can take a couple of days or a couple of weeks.

    • 3

      Swing the lasso around while mounted to get the horse used to the sight of the rope moving past his field of vision. Ride your horse as you normally would, but continue to swing the rope. Move the rope around from side to side as much as possible. Continue to walk, trot and lope around the arena while swinging the rope.

    • 4

      Use a calf mold and a bale of hay to simulate roping steers. These molds are available at many tack shops and Internet retailers specializing in horse supplies. A plastic calf "head" and "legs" are designed to stick in a bale of hay, creating a ready made training platform wherever you need it.

    • 5

      Practice swinging the rope at the "legs" of the calf as you ride your horse around the arena. Approach your ersatz calf from as many different angles as you can to simulate what the horse will face in competition or on the ranch. It helps if you are a very accurate roper, but you can train your heeling horse even if you are less than 100 percent accurate with your throws.

    • 6

      Ask your horse to stop with your "whoa" command after making a successful catch. Then ask the horse to back up until all the slack is removed from the rope. Continue practicing these moves until the horse stops and backs automatically on your command.