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Team
roping, the only true team event in professional rodeo, requires
close cooperation between two cowboys and their horses.
Equally important are the talents
of the header and the heeler. Most team ropers specialize, although
some work alternately, as a header or a heeler.
As in all timed events, the steer
is given a head start
based on the size of the arena. The header waits behind a barrier,
which is released after the steer has taken the proper head start.
If the header breaks the barrier, the team is assessed a 10-second
penalty. The heeler follows after the header has started his pursuit.
The header is the first to rope.
He must catch the steer around the horns, around one horn and
the head, or around the neck. His roping job completed, the header
dallies the rope around his saddle horn and rides to the left,
turning the steer away from the heeler.
As the header rides away, the heeler
ropes the steer’s hind feet. Catching only one foot results
in a five-second penalty. The clock is stopped when no slack is
in the rope and the ropers are facing each other.
Horses are trained separately for
their specialties, heading or heeling. Heading horses usually
are taller and heavier than heeling horses because they must turn
the steer after the header has made his catch. Heeling horses
are quick and agile because they must be able to keep up with
the steer’s every move. The horse of choice for either specialty
is the American Quarter Horse.
Team roping originated on ranches
when a large steer had to be caught and treated or branded and
still is common on ranches today. |
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