Testimonials
We love our Heel O Matic…we named him P.A.T!!(for practice and training) He gets used by our family, our extended family and lots of our friends from kids to grown-ups! PAT is awesome!!”
Mandy Schofield
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HEEL-O-MATIC vs. HOT HEELS
Dear Heel-O-Matic,
I am a #9 roper from Flambeau, South Dakota. I was a Hot Heels owner for many years until a friend brought a Heel-O-Matic to my arena to try. The very next day, I put my Hot Heels up for sale on Craigslist and bought a Heel-O-Matic.
A lot of people ask me what I have found to be the differences between the two machines. I thought I would share some of my thoughts with you:
1. LENGTH: One of the biggest differences between the two products is overall length of the machines. A Hot Heels is 3 times longer than a Heel-O-Matic, so it’s pretty easy to figure that it takes 3 times longer to make a corner while heeling. This gives Heel-O-Matic a huge advantage if you want to rope in indoor arenas that are not extra wide. When you put a Hot Heels into this environment, you will run it into the wall (and everything else). Also, I think being able to take a tighter, faster turn lets you recreate more challenging, authentic steer run patterns.
2. HITCH: The Hot Heels is towed with a rope. The Heel-O-Matic connects to the 4-wheeler with a metal hitch. This means when you slow the 4-wheeler down with a Heel-O-Matic, the machine immediately slows as well. Not so with the Hot Heels. This has a huge effect on being able to control the run. If you want to practice drills where the steer breaks fast, then slows way down, or slows at some point during the run, you’re going to have a tough time with the Hot Heels.
3. HEAD: The head on the Hot Heels bobs up and down, which some people may think is a good thing. In my experience, when the head comes up on the Hot Heels, you often rope a whole head when you actually would have roped it slick around the horns if it did not move. Also, if you watch an actual steer run, you’ll see that the nose and horns don’t bobble up and down, unless you’re dealing with a steer that’s really lame. I also prefer the action and reliability of the Heel-O-Matic quick-release horns.
4. LEGS: Leg motion is a huge deal for heelers. Again, watch an actual steer run. You’ll see their hips move in an almost circular, hopping motion, especially after they’re turned. In my opinion the patented Heel-O-Matic leg motion is much more accurate and similar to a live steer, as opposed to the Hot Heels “back and then up” leg motion. Another comparison is the shape of the legs. The Hot Heels drops straight to the ground from the hock, while the Heel-O-Matic flares out below the hock. This is important for two reasons: 1. Wider legs at the bottom challenge you to be more accurate with your rope placement. 2. With the hocks being the narrowest point on the back legs, that’s where your rope is going to tighten. That is why Heel-O-Matic placed the dally bar right between the hocks. You tighten your rope right on the dally bar, so these machines can seriously take a hard hit.
5. WHEEL VS. SLED: One of the most visible differences between the two machines is the large wheel on the front of the Hot Heels. The Heel-O-Matic has two smaller wheels for maneuvering, but nearly all the machine’s weight is carried on the “skis.” I think this makes the Heel-O-Matic pull smoother on a rough surface. It also doesn’t compact your arena down as bad. When the tire on that Hot Heels hits ruts, it can really make the machine bounce unrealistically.
6. REALISTIC: The Heel-O-Matic looks more like a real steer. The height, dimensions and movement are more accurate.
7. PORTABILITY: A Heel-O-Matic will haul easily in the back of a truck or a horse trailer. You just about need a semi flatbed to haul a Hot Heels. Portability is a big factor for me. I take mine with me to schools and put it in a divider in my trailer.
Sincerely,
Casey Wilson
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We just love our Heel-O-Matic. We use it on all of our colts. Rio was a special case. He got hurt when he was younger, so was in his 5th year before we could rope on him. I had roped the Heel O Matic just a couple of times on him and was gone one day. A friend of my daughters came up and wanted to try it and he thought Rio was a broke rope horse, he picked it up that fast. We nominated him to the Cow Country Quarter Horse Assoc, so his colts can be in the Futurities. My daughters boyfriend, Kenny had 2 or 3 weeks to get him ready to compete in the 5 yr old futurity! He won 3rd place….I just wanted you to know what Heel O Matic has done for us.
Tammy Ward
RLB Git Er Dun Bueno (Rio)
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Dear Heelomatic,
In May, I went to the Northern States Invitational Team Roping in Billings, Mt and won the All-Girl Roping heeling for Deanna Steele. I only practiced heeling live cattle one time prior to the roping, but heeled the Heelomatic almost every day for three weeks. It helped me with my position, timing, and getting my bottom strand on the ground. Thanks to Chip, Boyd, and everyone else at Heelomatic for helping to make my heeling more successful.
ReAnn Crane
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Thank you so much. You would be amazed at the conversations our experience with the Heel O Matic has sparked with other married couples trying to figure out how to stay connected. We don’t have all the answers, but it will be 39 years in August. HOM is a factor in our fun!”
Chuck Schroeder
Executive Director
National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
Oklahoma City, OK
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Dear Heel-O-Matic,
I sincerely appreciated the opportunity to compete at your challenge at the National Little Britches Finals last July. I was fortunate to place second and receive a $500.00 scholarship.
I feel I must share my story with you. After spending the week practicing heeling on your Heel-O-Matic, (I am the header in the team roping arena) my partner and I placed 2nd during the challenge.
After returning home the next weekend, I was trying out my new saddle on my doggin’ horse when my team roping horse got excited and severed his tendon. We rushed him to our vet, Sam Hendrix, who did an amazing job on this serious injury.
Devastated without my great heading horse, I began trying to train my own horses and borrowing horses from different people. Time was going by fast and it was time for the first Little Britches rodeo in Utah. I borrowed a horse from my friend Kolbey Hughes. That night they had a jackpot roping and Kolbey and I decided to switch places and for the first time, I was the heeler. First time out I caught both heels, second time out I caught both heels, third time I legged. I ended the night in second place as a heeler.
I am confident that the experience I had practicing on the Heel-O-Matic at the National Little Britches Finals Rodeo was all I needed to become a confident heeler with a better understanding as the header.
Thanks again for all that experience,
Parker J Cummings
2009 World Champion
Little Britches Finals Steer Wrestler
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Dear Heel-O-Matic,
Our family has had so much fun roping your machines. We first bought our
boys a SuperGoat to play with which they loved. During the summer of 2007
our neighbor purchased a Heel-O-Matic and invited us to rope it. It
became a regular practice ritual for the boys to go over and spend hours roping
the Heel-O-Matic.
Recently Blaze and Brody entered their first Junior rodeo in Pine Bluffs,
Wyoming. With Brody heading and Blaze heeling, they won their division and
their very first team roping buckles.
We never had to worry about the boys’ safety as they learned to rope. Your
training system gave them a great foundation to build on and the confidence to
win.
Thank you for great practice machines,
The Cress Family
Hillsdale, WY
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