Hey, Y’all today we are going to be talking all about Tie-down Roping! This is just going to be a short article to introduce you to this amazing sport and give you the inside ropes of this phenomenal roping event. We will have many follow-ups and continued education-style articles all about every aspect of roping!
Tie-down roping or calf roping is a sport of speed, precision, and skill, for both the horse and the rider.
The horse and rider will start in a box with a breakaway barrier, the calf will receive a head start, and after the head start is over it’s all hooves and ropes flying as the horse and roper chase after the calf to rope it. But, that isn’t where the event ends! The roper, after dallying, will dismount the horse and run up to the calf to toss and tie it using a pigging string that the roper carries between their teeth. The horse is trained in such a technical and soft manner that the horse, based on the roper’s body language and positioning will respond by backing up slowly or stopping to hold the rope tight.
This event takes teamwork, skill, precision, strength, and a whole lot of training. It is almost mind-blowing how talented both ropers and their horses have to be to pull off this event.
What is tie-down roping and how is it different than other versions of roping
Tie-down roping or calf roping as some people call it is a traditional rodeo event. It gets its roots from the old western days of antiquity and still has modern farming ties to this day. Ranch hands and cowboys would rope and tie up calves if they were sick, injured, needed attention, or for many other reasons. Tie-down roping was tactful because it provided a way for the cowboys and ranch hands to detain the calf and assist them if need be, without great risk to either the calf or the ranch hand.
Tie-down roping differs from other styles of roping. The other roping events in rodeo are:
- Steer roping
- Team roping
- Breakaway roping
Basics of tie-down roping
In this section, we are going to discuss the basics of tie-down roping and what you need to know in order to get started!
As with anything you set out to learn or further your education is, there is never a point where you cannot keep learning, and there is never a point where you are more than likely not going to be frustrated.
Roping, in any style, is a highly technical skill that can take a long time to master. Some of our best tips include: Finding a great mentor or trainer, obtaining the right equipment from the start to make your job a lot easier, and practice…practice…practice!
Makala, our head barrel racing a roping trainer here at Rafter 3 recommends that you actually practice more on the ground at first than on a horse, but to make sure that your dummy is set up as if you were on horseback.
A practical list of what you will need to purchase and what you will need to learn:
Education:
- The rope, parts of the rope, how to swing the rope, body and arm/ elbow/ wrist positioning.
- Dallying
- Tying
- Horsemanship and riding skills
Need to buy:
- Ropes
- Gloves
- Good boots
- Roping dummy
Check out tying with Trevor Brazile HERE
If you already compete in tie-down roping and compete either AQHA or rodeo, here is an interesting article from The Quarter Horse Journal explaining the similarities and differences of AQHA and rodeo tie-down roping.
Want to learn more about tie-down roping? Stay tuned for our Tie-down roping book series!
Related questions
How do I learn more about roping, riding, and rodeo? Check out our article Rodeo 101: Become A Rodeo Expert, it covers all of the basics of rodeo.
I love roping and natural horsemanship, is natural horsemanship used in roping? Yes, there are many horse trainers who use natural horsemanship. If you want to learn more about natural horsemanship, please read this article: How Natural Horsemanship is Revolutionizing the Equine World
Want to learn how to plan the best show season? Learn valuable tips of travel, planning, and your show season by a certified Equine Travel Agent! Check out the article here: A Travel Agents Guide For An Equestrian: The Complete Guide To A Stress-Free Show Season
Want to get started in tie-down roping?
Thank you for tuning in with us today, we hope that this article has been helpful and insightful and inspired a love for roping in your hearts!
If you want to get started tie-down roping or any rodeo equestrian events, you are in the right place.
You will find a plethora of information about barrel racing, roping, riding, horse care, equine science, and etc. western horsemanship training! Stay updated and join the Rafter 3 Horse Development family by signing up for our mailing list!
