The Brawley Chamber of Commerce 2014 - 2015 Business Directory & 57th Annual Brawley Cattle Call Program Page 51

Brawley Chamber of Commerce

Brawley Cattle Call

Team Roping

Team roping, the only true team event in ProRodeo, requires close cooperation and timing

between two highly skilled ropers - a header and a heeler- their horses. The event originated on ranches
when cowboys needed to treat or brand large steers and the task proved too di cult for one man.

The key to success is hard work and endless practice. Team roping partners must perfect their

timing, both as a team and with their respective horses. Similar to tie-down ropers and steer wrestlers, team
ropers start from the boxes on each side of the chute from which the steer enters the arena. The steer gets a
head start determined by the length of the arena.

One end of breakaway barrier is attached to the steer and stretched across the open end of the

header's box. When the steer reaches his advantage point, the barrier is released, and the header takes o in
pursuit, with the heeler trailing slightly further behind. The ropers are assessed a 10-second penalty if the
header breaks the barrier before the steer completes his head start. Some rodeos use heeler barriers too.

The header ropes rst and must make one of three legal catches on the steer- around both horns,

around one horn and the head or around the neck. Any other catch by the header is considered illegal and
the team is disquali ed. After the header makes his catch, he turns the steer to the left and exposes the
steer's hind legs to the heeler. The heeler then attempts to rope both hind legs. If he catches only one foot,
the team is assessed a ve-second penalty. After the cowboys catch the steer, the clock is stopped when
there is no slack in their ropes and their horses face one another.

Another important aspect of the event is the type of horses used by the ropers. The American

quarter horse is the most popular among all timed-event competitors, particularly team ropers. Heading
horses generally are taller and heavier because they need the power to turn the steer after it is roped.
Heeling horses are quick and agile, enabling them to better follow the steer and react to its moves.