 | Question to Denny Watkins
Q: I have a four year old heel horse that won’t stand still in the box. What can I do?
A: Good question Jade. First of all you must remember that your horse is only four years old. Make sure that you are not putting any undo pressure on your young horse both in the box and out. When starting a young horse, make sure not to ask them to blow out of the box. Let them ease out and catch up to the steer. Give them plenty of time to see the steer make the corner and then ease in to position. Score lots of steers and give the young horse more than enough time to relax between runs. Don’t ask your horse to sit right in the corner. Let him start anywhere in the box that he feels comfortable. Often on young horses we rope the Heel O Matic for weeks before we ever go to live cattle. Get the horse patterned in a slow controlled manner first and then gain speed on the controlled machine. Score the HOM out of the boxes and then start introducing live slow cattle.
The key to turning a colt into a finished rope horse is “slow down to hurry up”. The more time you take and let the horse develop on his own the faster you will see results and NOT have a horse that is blown up. By going at his pace, your horse will learn to love his job instead of dreading it.
-Denny Watkins | | | Question to Denny Watkins Q: What can I do to keep my horse from getting short on me?
A: Jade, we often think that it is our horses fault when they scotch us. Especially when they take away a throw that costs us money. The key to keeping your horse from scotching is horsemanship. Practice riding your horse through the corner and especially through the spot where he cheats you. If you can take the though of catching out of the equation and just worry about riding your horse you will see that your shots will develop better and your horse will quit scotching you.
Sometimes I will get my horse into position and swing my rope over the steer three or four swings and never throw my rope. After a few good swings over the steers back I will let my horse ease to a stop. This will relax my horses mind and take it off trying to scotch me or worry about getting a big hit.
Also, when you deliver your rope make sure you are not leaning out over your horse’s neck. Sit in your saddle and squeeze with your legs and this will help you and your horse drive through your delivery. On the Heel O Matic, practice the situations that make your horse cheat you. Instead of throwing your rope and pulling back when he shorts you, deliver your rope and kick him with both legs when he tries to stop. Be prepared because the first couple time your horse will “jump” ahead. Do this many times in a row and you will find that your horse will quit taking the shot away from you and your catch percentage will increase dramatically.
Please keep the questions coming. Jade, if you have any more questions for me please let the guys at Heel O Matic know and they will pass it on.
-Denny Watkins | 
| Question to Clay O’Brien
Cooper
Q: What is the best way to get in time with a steer when
you do not have natural timing? How do you become able to get in time every
time?
A: First you have to be able to “see” the timing. Where
you look either makes it easy to see or hard to see. You should be looking at
the body and the hips for the rise and fall or the up and down of the hips. You
must coordinate your swing so that your tip is down when the hips are up.
Remember when the hips are up the steers feet must be off the ground. Deliver
when the hips are up (the hocks will be back at this time too) so your tip can
go under and through. An easy way to visualize timing is like jumping rope. Make
your bottom strand like the jump rope and instead of the steer getting in time
with your rope, you are just swinging your rope with the jump of the
steer.
Good luck and God Bless,
Clay O’Brien Cooper
|  | Question to David Key
Q: I am a young header and I have two horses that are really good head horses. One of them is an older head horse that is my rodeo and jackpot horse. The other one is only six, but has gotten a little goofy in the box. I try to score as much as I can on both of them. I try to rope as few as possible so the young one will calm down, and I can save my older one. How can I rope less but get better?
A: Byron, Its extremly hard to rope less and continue to improve. Here are a few things I do to maximize every run. You have to make every steer count. Have a plan on what you want to work on before you ride in the box. In the practice pen, try not to let your cattle out to far. The closer to the box you can rope means your horse works less. Your horse can run more cattle under less stress. Another thing you can do is, pretend your going to score every steer. Try letting your chute opener or your heeler open the gate when they’re ready, this way your not giving your horse mixed signals by unconsiously tensing up.
Good Luck,
David Key
| | Question to Clay O'Brien Cooper Q: I have trouble roping a fast steer, that runs up the rope. I'm 68 years old I have a real nice heel horse that runs real nice. So what should I do in catching these steers? Thank You. A: Now that you have identified your weakness, you have to practice this situation. People generally only practice on good cattle. They score or sell the bad ones. Keep a few less desirable cattle in your practice pen, anytime you have the opportunity to practice on the “rope runner “or the “dragger” will only give you more range in your roping ability. If you do not have access to different types of cattle and good top- notch headers, a Heel-O-Matic and a four wheeler can simulate all the scenarios that aren’t offered in or can ruin a small set of cattle.
God Bless,
Clay Cooper | | | |
|
