New horse not rating
Dear Speed,
I’ve lucked into a speed demon horse this year. I can run to the hip every run at the rodeos and still be a long 4. The horse rates and puts me into good position every time but I’m having trouble getting my rope tight fast around the horns. Cody
Dear Cody,
I would say either your horse is continuing to run after you’ve thrown or you have too big of a loop.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
Figure-eighting front legs
Dear Speed,What causes a person to figure eight a front leg when reaching?Michael
Dear Michael,
There are a number of things, but the most common is using too big of a loop. When reaching you need your loop to fit nicely over the horns and come tight. Reaching with a big loop will give you unpredictable results.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
Handling steers
Dear Speed,My brother, who is my header, has a problem with jerking the steer to the left too hard sometimes. How can I make him understand the importance of setting cattle and the handle?Wade
Dear Wade,
Headers don’t usually understand how hard it is to heel. My advice would be to have your brother heel a little or video him heading and let him watch it.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
Heel horse rating
Dear Speed,I am training a heel horse and he is really cowy and rates. He makes a quick corner but is very ratey afterwards. Do I just keep kicking him up and throwing or should I put the rope down and work on position and strides?I would put the rope down and make sure the horse is making the correct moves. Without the rope you can find out if it’s you or him. If you sit up and ride to position without a problem, that means you are not riding to position when you have a rope in your hand.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
Nervous head horse
Dear Speed,I have a horse that is fine to practice on but when I take him to the rodeos and jackpots he seems to really tense up and not stand in the corner for me. I feel really relaxed and calm when I ride him and have done lots of work with scoring and different things like that. Is there something that might help?Some horses don’t like the loud music and other noise. If it’s because of the music, try putting speakers in your barn to get him used to it. I’ve seen horses like this and it doesn’t matter how much you ride them before hand.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
Ask the Pros..... Tips from Speed Williams. Brought to you by Fast Back Ropes. For more tips from Pros, Clay Tyran, Patrick Smith, Denny Watkins, Ryan Motes and Al Benson, visit "Ask the Pros" at Fast Back Rope website.
Dear Speed,
The Best Heading Dummy?
What is the best ground practice heading dummy?
The Heel-O-Matic Bones, Jake Steer or a bale of hay with a head in it?
All the dummies will give you the opportunity to learn to handle your rope and get your slack. The Bones is very life like, but I don’t know if there’s enough difference in them to pick one over the other. I’ve always preferred a bale of hay with the Mojo horns.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
Dear Speed,
Training Heel Horses
I’m a #5 heeler and have always been taught when you are training a heel horse and cue him to stop he should not take another step. I have seen video where people let their horse step forward after they throw. Why are they doing that?
I like a horse to stop and peddle in the front because it allows more time to get your dally and make a smooth stop. Some people like a horse to stop all at once, but it really depends on how fast you’re going. If you’re running wide open you can’t take a sudden whoa.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
Dear Speed,
What Rope Should I Use?
What kind of rope do you recommend?
My personal preference is the Mach III by Fast Back. Al Benson and I designed that rope and it’s worked well for me.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
Dear Speed,
Heel Horse Rating
I am training a heel horse and he is really cowy and rates. He makes a quick corner but is very ratey afterwards. Do I just keep kicking him up and throwing or should I put the rope down and work on position and strides?
I would put the rope down and make sure the horse is making the correct moves. Without the rope you can find out if it’s you or him. If you sit up and ride to position without a problem, that means you are not riding to position when you have a rope in your hand.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
Dear Speed,
Nervous Head Horse
I have a horse that is fine to practice on but when I take him to the rodeos and jackpots he seems to really tense up and not stand in the corner for me. I feel really relaxed and calm when I ride him and have done lots of work with scoring and different things like that. Is there something that might help?
Some horses don’t like the loud music and other noise. If it’s because of the music, try putting speakers in your barn to get him used to it. I’ve seen horses like this and it doesn’t matter how much you ride them before hand.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
Dear Speed,
New Horse Not Rating
I’ve lucked into a speed demon horse this year. I can run to the hip every run at the rodeos and still be a long 4. The horse rates and puts me into good position every time but I’m having trouble getting my rope tight fast around the horns.
Cody
Dear Cody,
I would say either your horse is continuing to run after you’ve thrown or you have too big of a loop.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
Dear Speed,
Figure-Eighting Front Legs
What causes a person to figure eight a front leg when reaching?
Michael
Dear Michael,
There are a number of things, but the most common is using too big of a loop. When reaching you need your loop to fit nicely over the horns and come tight. Reaching with a big loop will give you unpredictable results.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
Dear Speed,
Handling steers
My brother, who is my header, has a problem with jerking the steer to the left too hard sometimes. How can I make him understand the importance of setting cattle and the handle?
Wade
Dear Wade,
Headers don’t usually understand how hard it is to heel. My advice would be to have your brother heel a little or video him heading and let him watch it.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
The Best Heading Dummy?What is the best ground practice heading dummy?
The Heel-O-Matic Bones, Jake Steer or a bale of hay with a head in it?
All the dummies will give you the opportunity to learn to handle your rope and get your slack. The Bones is very life like, but I don’t know if there’s enough difference in them to pick one over the other. I’ve always preferred a bale of hay with the Mojo horns.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
Dear Speed,
Training Heel HorsesI’m a #5 heeler and have always been taught when you are training a heel horse and cue him to stop he should not take another step. I have seen video where people let their horse step forward after they throw. Why are they doing that?
I like a horse to stop and peddle in the front because it allows more time to get your dally and make a smooth stop. Some people like a horse to stop all at once, but it really depends on how fast you’re going. If you’re running wide open you can’t take a sudden whoa.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
Dear Speed,
What Rope Should I Use?What kind of rope do you recommend?
My personal preference is the Mach III by Fast Back. Al Benson and I designed that rope and it’s worked well for me.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
Dear Speed,
Heel Horse RatingI am training a heel horse and he is really cowy and rates. He makes a quick corner but is very ratey afterwards. Do I just keep kicking him up and throwing or should I put the rope down and work on position and strides?
I would put the rope down and make sure the horse is making the correct moves. Without the rope you can find out if it’s you or him. If you sit up and ride to position without a problem, that means you are not riding to position when you have a rope in your hand.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
Dear Speed,
Nervous Head HorseI have a horse that is fine to practice on but when I take him to the rodeos and jackpots he seems to really tense up and not stand in the corner for me. I feel really relaxed and calm when I ride him and have done lots of work with scoring and different things like that. Is there something that might help?
Some horses don’t like the loud music and other noise. If it’s because of the music, try putting speakers in your barn to get him used to it. I’ve seen horses like this and it doesn’t matter how much you ride them before hand.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
Dear Speed,
New Horse Not RatingI’ve lucked into a speed demon horse this year. I can run to the hip every run at the rodeos and still be a long 4. The horse rates and puts me into good position every time but I’m having trouble getting my rope tight fast around the horns.
Cody
Dear Cody,
I would say either your horse is continuing to run after you’ve thrown or you have too big of a loop.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
Dear Speed,
Figure-Eighting Front LegsWhat causes a person to figure eight a front leg when reaching?
Michael
Dear Michael,
There are a number of things, but the most common is using too big of a loop. When reaching you need your loop to fit nicely over the horns and come tight. Reaching with a big loop will give you unpredictable results.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
Dear Speed,
Handling steersMy brother, who is my header, has a problem with jerking the steer to the left too hard sometimes. How can I make him understand the importance of setting cattle and the handle?
Wade
Dear Wade,
Headers don’t usually understand how hard it is to heel. My advice would be to have your brother heel a little or video him heading and let him watch it.
Speed Williams
8-Time Consecutive World Champion Team Roper
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