The Traits of True Success
It's every roper's aspiration and ultimate goal to make a living roping. For many years I thought that was the greatest life you could ever imagine--being a professional team roper and making a living roping. What I've learned is that sometimes you have to wonder what you wish for. There are two... | read »
Rodeo: Team Roping
from the pages of Rodeo
Lisa Lockhard and Chisum
A couple of years ago, five-time Badlands Circuit champion Lisa
Lockhart decided to spend the summer rodeoing in Canada to season a horse she'd
been training. Not only did he get seasoned, but Chisum, then 8, racked up so
many paychecks that he sent Lockhart straight to the Canadian Finals... | read »
Rodeo: Team Roping
from the pages of Rodeo
Heeling Behind a Neck Catch
Q: Dear Broc, It doesn't happen often, but the other day my header had a neck
catch. I had a lot of trouble being prepared to throw with a handle that isn't
as controlled as a horn catch handle. What do you do when you see a neck catch
in order to give yourself a chance at a fast/high... | read »
Rodeo: Team Roping
from the pages of Rodeo
There's No Substitute for Setting Goals and Sacrifice
I've had a dream of being a roper, roping for a living and trying
to be the best I can be since I was 13 or 14 years old. So I kind of take for
granted the goal setting and sacrifice it takes to be successful roping. That
desire within me from such an early age has always pushed me in that... | read »
Rodeo: Team Roping
from the pages of Rodeo
Dallying Safely with Matt Funk
Q: Dear Matt, I'd like to see an article about how to dally safely. I learned
the hard way about dallying that if you're in trouble let go and save your
thumb. Do you need to change your posture when you dally? What are the physical
things I need to do with my torso when I dally? How many... | read »
Rodeo: Team Roping
from the pages of Rodeo
The New Economics of Roping for a Living
We're in uncharted economic territory right now. Roping has never
been an easy way to make a living. But I think we've taken affordable fuel for
granted for a long time, and now those days are gone. When we first started
rodeoing, the high-end truck was a Chevy two-seater 454 dually that got... | read »
Rodeo: Team Roping
from the pages of Rodeo
Team Roping Times Have Changed
There are still certain events, ropings and rodeos, where
consistency rules. The BFI, Wildfire, USTRC Finals, Salinas and Cheyenne are a
few examples where a really good horse and consistency still wins. But now there
are events like the George Strait and the NFR (Wrangler National Finals... | read »
Rodeo: Team Roping
from the pages of Rodeo
Team Roping Has Evolved into Good Watching
I've been noticing lately how fast everyone is. I know team roping
keeps progressing every year, but there are so many good teams out there this
year that have the ability to make good runs. Team roping's good watching
nowadays. They used to say that it was like watching paint dry. Not... | read »
Rodeo: Team Roping
from the pages of Rodeo
Switching Ends
Q: Dear Matt, I have a young horse that I really like. I'm a heeler, but this
horse is big and fast and I think he would make a head horse one day. I like him
enough that I'm thinking of training him up as a head horse and maybe heading
some, too. I have heard that your horse [PRCA/AQHA Head... | read »
Rodeo: Team Roping
from the pages of Rodeo
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... | read »
Mike Cervi Jr., the son of legendary stock contractor Mike Cervi and husband of two-time World Champion Barrel Racer Sherry Cervi, died in a private plane crash in 2001 at the age of 30. Ever since, his family and friends have annually held a team roping in his honor. He... | read
