When it comes to heeling position, I think it’s sometimes more a rhythm with your horse and the type of cattle you’re roping than anything else. Plus different rodeos and ropings will require different skills. When team roping, I think your distance is an important part of heeling, and to create that distance you have to anticipate what the steer’s going to do—whether he’s going to run fast or slow, right, left or straight.

If a steers going slower, you need to give yourself a little more space between him and your horse, because its going to take longer for the steer to turn. The slowness of the steer will make the run a little more dead. To keep the rhythm going and hit the corner with a little momentum, you need to stay wider in your position on slower cattle.

If the steers running harder, you dont have to judge the distance as much on the corner, so you can ride a little tighter. When the header ropes the steer, the steers momentum keeps everything moving out in front of you, so you dont have to read the corner as much.

When you need to rope fast on slower cattle, that distance gives you the opportunity not to cover your cattle up. It keeps things out in front of you where you can see them, even though theyre moving really slow.

If the steers heavy or slow turning and youre too close in your position, you dont give yourself the opportunity to see the steer until your header pulls him out in front of you. That takes time, and this is a timed event.

When the steers slower, you have to ride more, and when the steers running harder you need to ride a little less, because of the momentum and speed thats already there. A lot of people rope fast cattle really well, because everything stays out in front of them and they dont have to move their feet as much.

You have to be more precise on your entry and distance on slower cattle, and you have to keep your horse moving more. The momentum of your horse is what makes him want to stop. Hes moving his legs so slowly in the corner that its harder to keep him moving. Hes wanting to stop. The wider position kind of helps you get a run at a slower steer. STW