Everything Horses and Livestock® Magazine Sept 2018 Vol 3 Issue 3

Everything Horses and Livestock Magazine ®

or both horns at the same time? Should I put the bottom strand under the right horn, or the hondo to the back of the head? The answer to all these questions is, YES. As long as the bottom strand goes under the right and the top goes over the left, whose to tell you it's wrong? It's all how you interpret it, just so it makes sense to you and you can execute it every time. As far as I'm concerned, there is no right and wrong, just easier and harder. There certainly are easier and harder ways but, if you can put your rope on backwards every time and spin them in the 4 hole, how can anyone tell you it's wrong? The debate that is my personal favorite is the scoop and trap. Guys will tell you that one or the other is the only way to go. As long as you understand rope mechanics and know what you are wanting out of your loops, you can progress no matter which you choose. Most pros won't admit it, but they use both types of loops to some degree.

Same thing here, there's no way that "one" way can work for everyone. Is the top strand or bottom strand more important? Great question, the bottom strand is the one that catches the steer, but the top hits first and determines where and how much the bottom drags the ground. Although I can't mention names, there were two guys when I was growing up that won just as much as the other at the big jackpots, however, their styles were totally opposite. One guy had a lot of speed on his swing and a slow open delivery. The other had a slow smooth swing and used a ton of power in his delivery. Once again, two different styles, both very effective. Getting help and trying different things will help you settle on YOUR style of heading or heeling. I have people ask me all the time if I would be mad if they went to another person’s clinic. I think we should get as many different opinions as we can to form our own styles. Just make sure you go get help from someone that has a good

coaches’ eye. Sometimes the littlest changes can make a huge difference. I always say the best part about team roping is the amount of educational information that's available. That's also the worst part, there's so much information and different opinions, how do we decode it in a way that makes sense to us as individuals. Just remember, there is no "right" way to rope. If you're at a clinic and someone is telling you that you need to totally revamp everything, time to get a new instructor. No matter how bad we want to, we can't all have the same style, but that doesn't mean we can't have success.

Thanks for your time, PRACTICE HARDER!!

God bless, Chad Mathes

Call to Schedule: 816-820-0560 Email: mathes58@icloud.com www.ChadMathesRoping.com

www.Facebook.com/ ChadMathesRoping

11 Everything Horses and Livestock® | August 2018 | EHALmagazine.com