Team Roping is the classic American sport that
has its roots in the talents of the western working cowboy. Working the
range doctoring and gathering cattle required roping and riding skills.
Competitions soon became a part of "ranch rodeo". The sport has evolved
into an exciting timed event enjoyed by thousands of team roping
enthusiasts and spectators each year. Team Roping has two contestants,
a "header" and a "heeler" who compete together for a time score and
shared prize money. After the usual head start, the ropers commence
their chase. First, the header must rope the steer around the head or
horns before turning it. The heeler then moves in to rope the hind
legs. Once caught, the rope is "dallied" quickly around the saddle
horn. This skilled requirement of the event is often the cause of hand
injuries and sometimes lost fingers. Once the steer is secured time is
recorded when both horses are facing each other with no slack in the
rope. Time penalties are imposed for breaking the barrier and for
roping only one of the hind legs.
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