A Brief History Team Roping

Team roping is a timed rodeo event in which complete teamwork between two ropers is essential. The object of team roping is for two riders to chase down and rope, a runaway steer in the shortest time possible.

The team of two consists of a header and a heeler. The header first ropes the steer's horns, and then takes a dally by wrapping the loose end of the rope around the saddle horn. He then turns the steer so that the heeler, using precise timing skills, can rope the steer's hind legs, take his dally, and stop the steer, sometimes the header and his horse too. Both partners then face their horses toward the steer and pull the ropes taut to signify the end of the run.

In the heyday of the cattle drives, longhorns, and sprawling multi-thousand acre ranches, it was a week-long job to locate and round up the herds, and working pens were seldom available. As is the case with most rodeo events of today, team roping, or "heading & heeling" was an essential part of daily life on the ranch. The two riders would chase down the steer and "head and heel" it. The steer would then be stretched out on the ground in order to be branded or given medical attention.

Because it was so important to be quick and efficient, the ranch hands would practice this in a confined area during off hours. Ranch hands of the 19th century were fiercely independent, competitive men, and eventually, contests to see who could "head & heel" in the shortest amount of time began popping up on ranches everywhere, in which money, liquor, or both, were wagered. It became important to be the quickest, most accurate roper of all.

As time went by, the contests expanded to include cowboys from all of the ranches in the region, competing against each other for pride, horses, ropes, saddles, and other ranch equipment in addition to money and liquor. You name it, they wagered it. Over time, team roping became a way to relax, have fun, and forget about the daily grind of hard labor in the hot sun. A recreational sport had been born.

By the end of the 19th century, towns predominantly in the west were including team roping as an event at local rodeos and county fairs. Since then, it has been recognized as a legitimate rodeo sport.

Team roping experienced an explosion of popularity in the 1990’s as cowboys and cowgirls of all ages, and ethnicities, became involved with the sport. It is the fastest growing rodeo sport in the U.S., with over 400,000 participants not including professionals who actually make a living doing it. In 1997, heeler, Rich Skelton, and header, Speed Williams earned $112,243.00 and $114,700.00 respectively, breaking the heading and heeling earnings record. Since that time, they have won seven consecutive world titles to tie all-time greats, Jake Barnes and Clay O'brien Cooper's record and have set, (and then broken), several year-long earnings' records.

This sport is not for dabblers or “weekend cowboys.” There is an art to handling a rope, a horse, and a steer, simultaneously. The inherent danger involved in “heading & heeling” requires skill. Top-notch ropers experience broken legs, arms, and fingers, as well as bruised bodies and dented pride.

The horse must be thoroughly trained as well and is an integral part of the team. It must know to focus on the steer and react instinctively once it's roped. Without proper training, the horse could “sour,” resulting in erratic and unpredictable behavior.

Team roping is a complex sport that can be difficult to learn. It is also challenging, rewarding, and just good, plain fun. You meet many nice people (and some that aren't so nice), and it's enjoyable to compete with, and against, good friends.

Team roping has come a long way from the pastures of the 19th century American West to become the highly organized, rapidly growing sport that it is today.

©2004, Jake Bernsen

 

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