by Shawna Ferguson
While some students are dribbling down the court, or batting in a cage, there are some who prefer slinging string. Slinging string refers to those who like to chase a steer down the pen at 30 miles per hour on the back of a horse while simultaneously twirling the perfect loop over their head.
This is done in hopes of getting their horse as close to the steer without passing him up in order to get this perfect loop over the steer’s horns. This cowboy is referred to as the header. Then their partner performs a similar task at the other end of this same steer, but this guy is trying to deliver a perfect loop capturing both of its heels. This cowboy is referred to as the heeler. Too make matters even more interesting they are trying to do it faster than the next team. Times can be anywhere from 3.3 seconds to 20.0 plus seconds. It all depends on the talent of the
cowboys, their mounts, and the luck of the draw.
The draw is referring to the steer. Some times these rascals will come out of the chute and hit the brakes. Other times they will run like their tails are on fire. A cowboy never knows what he will get and has to be ready for whatever comes his way.
There are many different associations a roper can compete in and there are always the local jackpots. This too depends on the roper’s ability, willingness to travel and expenses. One of the biggest associations is the United States Team Roping Association and its smaller affiliate, the National Team Roping Association (NTRL). These associations are for any gender and any age. There is the National High School Rodeo Association for students in grades 9-12, for both boys and girls. This association is not just for team roping, but most events that you might see in a local rodeo.
Just a few months ago Cody Ferguson competed at his second NTRL. Cody is a sophomore and Honor Student at Malone High School. He placed 3rd in a #11 roping in Live Oak, FL on December 29th and 30th. Ropers have to rope with the same partner and catch all 3 steers to make it to the short go. They can enter each roping up to 4 times but cannot rope with the same partner more than once. Cody, who is a header, roped with Derrick Davis of Hilliard,FL who is a heeler. This is the first time Cody had roped with Derrick and this combination split the winnings of $750. This qualified them both for the NTRL finals that was held in Jacksonville, FL January 30th through February 3rd.
There is a song by Trent Willmon titled The Roping Pen, which refers to the roping pen as a place where life lessons are learned such as sportsmanship and responsibility. The camaraderie and family atmosphere of the roping pen is unique. A roper might have a horse that is recovering from an injury and not have a back up mount. On more than one occasion a fellow competitor has been known to gladly loan their own horse even if they are competing against one another in the same division. It isn’t unheard of for there to be a charity roping for a fellow cowboy who has been injured and the money is raised on his behalf. A common denominator among most roping pens is genuine support, friendship and fellowship. As one of Trent’s most popular songs among ropers goes….. "Most of life’s problems you can probably solve them, down at the roping pen"
This is done in hopes of getting their horse as close to the steer without passing him up in order to get this perfect loop over the steer’s horns. This cowboy is referred to as the header. Then their partner performs a similar task at the other end of this same steer, but this guy is trying to deliver a perfect loop capturing both of its heels. This cowboy is referred to as the heeler. Too make matters even more interesting they are trying to do it faster than the next team. Times can be anywhere from 3.3 seconds to 20.0 plus seconds. It all depends on the talent of the
cowboys, their mounts, and the luck of the draw.
The draw is referring to the steer. Some times these rascals will come out of the chute and hit the brakes. Other times they will run like their tails are on fire. A cowboy never knows what he will get and has to be ready for whatever comes his way.
There are many different associations a roper can compete in and there are always the local jackpots. This too depends on the roper’s ability, willingness to travel and expenses. One of the biggest associations is the United States Team Roping Association and its smaller affiliate, the National Team Roping Association (NTRL). These associations are for any gender and any age. There is the National High School Rodeo Association for students in grades 9-12, for both boys and girls. This association is not just for team roping, but most events that you might see in a local rodeo.
Just a few months ago Cody Ferguson competed at his second NTRL. Cody is a sophomore and Honor Student at Malone High School. He placed 3rd in a #11 roping in Live Oak, FL on December 29th and 30th. Ropers have to rope with the same partner and catch all 3 steers to make it to the short go. They can enter each roping up to 4 times but cannot rope with the same partner more than once. Cody, who is a header, roped with Derrick Davis of Hilliard,FL who is a heeler. This is the first time Cody had roped with Derrick and this combination split the winnings of $750. This qualified them both for the NTRL finals that was held in Jacksonville, FL January 30th through February 3rd.
There is a song by Trent Willmon titled The Roping Pen, which refers to the roping pen as a place where life lessons are learned such as sportsmanship and responsibility. The camaraderie and family atmosphere of the roping pen is unique. A roper might have a horse that is recovering from an injury and not have a back up mount. On more than one occasion a fellow competitor has been known to gladly loan their own horse even if they are competing against one another in the same division. It isn’t unheard of for there to be a charity roping for a fellow cowboy who has been injured and the money is raised on his behalf. A common denominator among most roping pens is genuine support, friendship and fellowship. As one of Trent’s most popular songs among ropers goes….. "Most of life’s problems you can probably solve them, down at the roping pen"
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