Whether roping for sport and fun or as part of a job on a ranch, a well trained heeling horse is an important tool for the cowboy. Training heeling horses requires a good deal of patience and time.
Things You'll Need
- Saddle
- Rope
- Bridle and bit
- Roping dummy
- Cattle
Instructions
Make certain that your horse is well broke to ride before beginning any roping training, according to Virginia Lautaret, head trainer for Lautaret Training Stables, producers of horses for all rodeo disciplines. He should be able to work at all gaits and should neck rein easily. It is also important that your horse understand leg cues.
Do your groundwork. At first, swing your rope around the horse while he is securely tied to a post or hitching rail. Leaving the horse tied, throw your loop at his front and hind feet so that he becomes accustomed to the feel of the rope on his legs and will remain calm when the rope touches him. Swing the rope near his head as well for the same purpose; you want the horse to be very comfortable with the sound and feel of the rope around him.
Move to the round pen or arena, keeping the horse on a long longe line to control his movements. Begin the process of swinging the rope near the horse and roping his feet once again. Control how far away he moves using the lunge line. Continue this process for several days to maximize the horse's comfort with the rope.
Begin tracking cattle around your arena. Using your feet and hands, position your horse just off the left hip of a steer or calf and follow at all speeds. Your exact positioning is a matter of personal preference but the horse should be close enough to allow the rider to reach down to rope the hind feet and to be able to dally as needed. Dallying is wrapping the rope around your saddle horn, which should be wrapped with rubber strips for grip; dallying allows you to stop the motion of the steer or calf, signaling for time in competition or allowing you to brand or doctor an animal in need.
Swing the rope while riding the horse. Many horses are startled to begin with so keep him moving at a walk or trot while swinging initially. Swing beside the horse and over his head. Repeat this process as needed until the horse is very comfortable with the rope.
Rope the hind legs of the practice dummy before attempting to rope a live animal. Some horses are unsure of the rope passing by their head to reach a steer so use the dummy to slowly break them to the throw. Repeat as needed until the horse is no longer showing signs of anxiety. It is also a good idea to make the motion of pulling the slack from the loop and dallying at this point.
Track the live steers, swinging the rope. Some horses will take to this process quickly and you can begin to take throws at the steers right away; other horses may need several days of tracking and swinging before attempting a throw.
Throw your loop at the steer, ask your horse to stop, and dally to your saddle horn. It is best to try this the first time with a slow steer that is just walking or trotting. The weight of the steer hitting the saddle may disconcert the horse initially but repetition of the task should allow him to become used to the feel of the weight. Gradually progress to faster steers.
Work the horse in the roping box, a necessity if you plan to compete as all competitive runs begin in a roping box. Spend a great deal of time to ensure the horse is comfortable in the box by breaking slowly to track steers in the beginning, gradually progressing to a stronger and faster break.