Setting up the shot is basically setting up the timing of your horse’s stop in relation to the delivery of your loop. When it comes to all of the great ropers over the years who’ve had a signature horse of their career, it’s the timing between the way the horse stops and the way the roper delivers the loop that makes the combination work and allows them to win consistently over and over and over. It started years ago with Leo (Camarillo) and Stick. In more recent times, it’s been Kory Koontz and Iceman, Rich (Skelton) and Roany, Allen Bach and Dunny. It was something that was unique to the horse I rode for 12 years, too—Ike. He had a stop that fit my delivery perfectly.

Some of the things that set up the perfect stop for your delivery are a horse’s stride, how he feels in your hand, and the way he naturally picks up the timing of your throw without trying to cheat you out of it.

I’ve ridden a lot of nice horses that I was able to win good on. But their timing and the way they stopped didn’t perfectly fit my delivery. That element being just a little bit off leads to errors and misdeliveries. It’s just enough to cost you in opportune times.

I like to open my loop up and set the bottom of the loop down in my delivery. It works best for me to ride a horse that slides quite a bit. When a horse slides, he’s stopping but still moving forward. It gives you time to set the loop down smoothly, in the process of that slide.

As far as the timing element goes, I want my horse to start sliding when I start my delivery. Right as I set my loop on the ground is when he stops sliding. That allows me to set my loop down smoothly every time.

For a horse to learn that and adapt to what I want, I have to be able to lift him up in the front end, and squeeze him with my feet as I’m delivering the loop. His front end has to take about two steps while his hind end is sliding. Then a lot of times I stop him with my hand at the end of my delivery.

What I’ve found is that the really good stoppers have to be supple in the bridle, be able to lift their shoulders and withers and lift up in the front end, and keep the front end moving. They have to be supple and broke to do it. Doing it right is really the easiest way to do it. It’s the proper move, and that’s why the great horses can do it over and over for years. It’s the best way to take the jerk with the least amount of wear and tear. The good ones do it the right way to take care of themselves.