Focus on the Big Picture Using Peripheral Vision

One of the questions people ask a lot is, "What are you looking at on the steer, and where are you looking during different points in a run?" A lot of ropers want to know where I'm looking when I'm running down the arena-whether it's the steer's legs or horns. Then they want to know where I'm focusing with my eyes when I make the turn and when I'm delivering my loop. The different guys who rope really well have some different answers to these questions. Not everybody goes at it the same way, but each person finds a focal point that helps him.

I've experimented with where I look and what I focus on during a run. I don't really even think about it anymore. What I usually do as the steer leaves the chute is watch his head. That helps me read his direction and where he's thinking about running.

I usually watch the head loop go on. I get a lot of read on the development of the run as I'm going down the arena. I'm paying attention to the head horse, the header, the loop being thrown by my header, his slack and dallying. That all gives me information on what the steer's going to do. From making lots of runs over time, you pick up the ability to see little things. A lot of it comes from your peripheral vision, which allows you to take in the big picture. Even though my eyes are focused on the head of the steer, as my header's making his catch and going to the horn, I'm reading all those little things peripherally and factoring them into the equation.