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 steer’s going slower, you need to give yourself a little more space between him and your horse, because it’s 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 steer’s running harder, you don’t have to judge the distance as much on the corner, so you can ride a little tighter. When the header ropes the steer, the steer’s momentum keeps everything moving out in front of you, so you don’t 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 they’re moving really slow.

If the steer’s heavy or slow turning and you’re too close in your position, you don’t 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 steer’s slower, you have to ride more, and when the steer’s running harder you need to ride a little less, because of the momentum and speed that’s already there. A lot of people rope fast cattle really well, because everything stays out in front of them and they don’t 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. He’s moving his legs so slowly in the corner that it’s harder to keep him moving. He’s wanting to stop. The wider position kind of helps you get a run at a slower steer. STW