Today is all about stepping way outside my comfort zone. That's right, I traded in my reining saddle for a rope, dusted off my cowgirl boots, and took my very first team roping lesson with none other than AQHA Professional Horseman and World Champion Bryce Briggs. And let me tell you, what a ride!
This adventure started after a reining lesson when we got to chatting about roping. That's when Kirstie (the real MVP behind the scenes) jumped in and said, "You know what? I'm going to set you up with a roping lesson." Fast-forward, and here we are, ropes in hand, horses saddled, ready to learn from one of the best in the biz.
Meet the Roping Crew
We had an amazing lineup of horses for this lesson. I rode PS Toy, aka Mobster, a double-registered gelding by HF Mobster who was Reserve World Champion at the Paint World in heading. Bryce rode CW Bet He's Allin, a cow horse extraordinaire who recently won all-around champion at the Sun Circuit. We also had Mojo in the mix, a horse that's done it all, from futurity wins to family trail rides.
Whether it's reining, ranch work, or cattle roping, these horses are the definition of versatility, just what you'd expect from top-tier AQHA athletes.
Roping 101: From the Ground Up
Now, I'll be the first to admit, I came into this with next to no roping experience. I mean, I knew there was a heading horse and a heeling horse, and that's about it. So Bryce took us all the way back to the basics, starting on the ground with a roping dummy and walking us through every part of the rope: coils, tail, spoke, tip, and even the honda.
One thing I didn't realize is how much of a judged sport cattle roping can be. Much like reining, judged roping events start with a score of 70, and riders are scored on four maneuvers, like the box, run, rate, and corner. The precision and skill involved blew me away.
Building the Loop and Learning the Swing
Bryce set us up with beginner-friendly youth ropes, which are a little lighter and shorter, perfect for learning. We worked on building the correct loop size, holding the coils in our left hand, and swinging with our right. It turns out roping isn't just about brute strength or speed, it's about timing, technique, and using both hands in sync.
Your left hand controls your horse and manages the rope, while your right sets the swing. The most important part? The tip. It acts like a laser pointer, where your tip goes, your loop follows. Bryce drilled that into us with every swing. Aim your tip at the horns, control your top and bottom strands, and most importantly, keep that swing smooth.
From Dummy to Steer: Fast-Tracking Progress
We practiced placing the rope on the dummy without even throwing, just to build muscle memory. Once we got comfortable, we moved on to actual throws, trying to catch both horns with a clean, solid loop. And let me tell you, when I finally caught one? Pure adrenaline.
Bryce had a great way of breaking everything down, from arm positioning to how to let go of your rope and grab slack with your left hand. I never thought about how important it is to let the rope do the work. You're not throwing a fastball; you're delivering the loop to the cow, letting it settle in just right.
What Makes a Great Rope Horse?
One of the coolest parts of the day was learning what separates a great rope horse from your typical ranch or reining mount. In AQHA roping competitions and futurities like the American Rope Futurity, the focus is on both judged precision and timed runs. A horse has to be calm in the box, responsive, and efficient. It's that perfect blend of speed and correctness that sets them apart.
Final Thoughts
I left that day with a new respect for cattle roping and all the amazing horses and trainers who make it look effortless. Huge shoutout to Bryce Briggs for his patience and wisdom, and to my whole crew for pushing me to try something new. Whether you're a seasoned roper or a total rookie like me, there's something incredibly rewarding about learning a new skill with a good horse under you.
0 comments