Learning to rope part 2

Janet Barkwith

Janet Barkwith, Contributor, Pincher Creek Voice

Houlahan; backhand; backhand with houlahan release; put your elbow here, your hand there, get that rope doing a figure eight round the legs – oh, mercy! Who'd have thought throwing a loop of rope around a cow would be so complex?

Here I was, back at the Horseshoe Pavilion, trying to pick up what I could about ranch roping from the experts, who – like all experts – make it look so easy that you think it's going to take 5 minutes to learn, ten minutes of practice, and you, too, will be an expert. How wrong can you be? - but it sure is fun trying!

With the Pavilion being divided into those trying for competitive rodeo-style roping, and those learning ranch roping, it all seemed very much less confusing than the first session a few weeks ago, when there were an unexpectedly large number of folks, and general chaos seemed to reign (though it was still a lot of fun that day) There were fewer tyro ranch ropers, whose numbers included me: rodeo, though I love to watch, holds no interest for me as far as being a competitor goes. But the kids seemed to be having a ball. Several times I looked over and they were laughing and chattering, and even roping each other.

This time I definitely felt a bit less like an inexpert knitter with 50ft of rope in my hands, and just a tiny bit more like a roper, and after the latest session I had learned not to flick the loop as it flew around my head, but to be more measured and even with my swing. My loops were more open and even, and not quite so wobbly as they had been. I even managed to do a few (just a few ...) decent catches on the head of the roping dummy. A tiny word of praise from an instructor made me feel absurdly pleased. Must remember to keep my left hand still, though: that's the one with the coils and reins in it. If I had been riding, my poor little horse would have been seriously yanked in the mouth several times – oops ... Just as well we're still unmounted just yet. How wise of the organisers to arrange it this way. And while on the subject of coils – you have to remember to let go of the coils, too, and let them run, to allow the loop to actually reach its target. Such a lot to remember: I'm hoping it will be like riding a bike – hard to begin with, but then it all falls into place. And was I concentrating so hard I had stuck my tongue
out?

Of course, getting the loop around the head or heels of the animal is just the beginning – which is good enough for me right at this moment! But then you have to remember not to be so pleased with yourself for having gotten the thing around the appropriate part of the cow,
but you have to tighten up that loop and hold the beast! But first things first. Practice, practice, practice was the mantra of the day. Get out there before your chores and throw a few loops. After your chores throw a few more. Rope your husband, your wife, your kids, your dogs ;
take your rope on shopping expeditions ... well, perhaps I slightly exaggerate, but you get the idea!

So – should you be walking along Main Street and a mad woman appears swinging a rope, take heart! It's only me, and I'm almost certain to miss – but I'm learning fast!

Thanks again to Janet Whatmough and her crew of volunteers for putting on this series. What a grand idea it has been so far.