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More
than any other event in professional rodeo, tie down roping has
roots dating back to the Old West.
When a calf was sick or injured,
it had to be caught and immobilized quickly for treatment. Ranch
hands prided themselves on how fast they could rope and tie calves,
and soon they began informal contests.
Being quick and accurate with a
lasso aren’t the only requirements in tie down roping. A
successful roper also must be an experienced horseman and a fast
sprinter.
After giving the calf a predesignated head start, the horse and
rider give chase. As the cowboy throws his loop, the horse comes
to a stop.
After catching the calf, the cowboy
dismounts, runs to the calf, throws it to the ground by hand (called
“flanking”), and ties any three legs together using
a “pigging string” he has carried in his teeth throughout
the run. While the contestant is accomplishing all this, the horse
must keep slack out of the rope, but not pull it tight enough
to drag the calf. If the calf is not standing when the roper reaches
it, the cowboy must allow the calf to stand and then flank it
before making the tie. When the roper has completed his tie, he
throws his hands in the air as a signal to the flag judge. He
then remounts his horse and rides toward the calf, making the
rope slack. The calf must remain tied for six seconds after the
rope is slack or the cowboy will receive a “no time.” |
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