PAGE 12 ROPERS SPORTS NEWS APRIL 2024 Congratulations Team Fast Back! MATT FUNK HERMISTON, OR - $135,000 ROPE USED: MACH 4 DAYLAN & BRENDON FROST SHOWLOW, AZ - $222,000 ROPE USED: CURE JOEL FUCHS SANTA ROSA, NM - $190,000 ROPE USED: COBALT KIRBY HILL PARIS, TX - $303,000 ROPE USED: CENTERFIRE2 JENNINGS RODEO PHOTOGRAPHY #QualityToTheCore fastbackropes.com ACTRA Memberships Available At Roping Shafter, CA 30791 Orange St. (Corner of 43 & Orange) #7 Hdcp. Draw.............3 for $30 #5.5 Pick or Draw ........3 for $30 Go Six Times • 1/3 Cattle • ACTRA Numbers Info: Paul Mullins (818) 314-0635 Sign Up 5pm, Rope 6pm WEDNESDAY NIGHTS, APRIL 3, 10, 17, 24 ideas on teaching the fundamentals of heeling. One of the unique things about the Speed Trainer is it can be used in so many ways and positions. Sometimes I put my son on the Speed Trainer and move the dummy right under its neck with the butt as close to the Speed Trainer as I can get it. I then tell him to set a “gate” with his loop and have it stand up without going under the legs. Then, I’ll ask him to rope in the same position but have the bottom strand of his loop come through under the legs. Then, I’ll tell him I want the right leg roped and only a trap in front of the left leg. You’re probably wondering why I would ask for three different loops on one cow. I want him to understand what his hand does and how to place the rope under the cow and have complete control of his top and bottom strand. If you’ve ever watched my son heel, he has the ability to engage his horse with his left hand and throw his rope at the same time. This can only be done if you’re close to the cow and we practice this shot on the Speed Trainer. Why did I teach him to heel this way when he was young? Because I think it’s much more complex and complicated to be able to stop your horse and throw your rope at the same time. This is my opinion and not all pro heelers teach this and that’s okay. But when Gabe was 10 or 11, I wanted him to have as much time as possible to get his dally. Being able to heel the steer close allows more time for the dally. Using the Speed Trainer, we work on heeling the steer from all different positions. I set the dummy off to the right like when a heeler gets trapped inside where he has to practice climbing over his horse, leaning to the right and trying to set his rope in front of the legs with the steer three or four feet to the right. As a heeler, you’re not always going to get your ideal position. What enables great ropers to win so much is being able to create shots when they do not get their ideal position. I’m not a fan of roping the heading dummy or sawhorse on the ground. Did I learn that way? Yes. But the math and angles learned help create bad habits on the ground because you use your feet and body to throw. Your left hand is usually not doing the correct things. Heeling is like playing golf. Lots of people try to use just one club, or one heel shot from one position. That’s the way they want to heel. However, that’s setting yourself up for failure and frustration. It’s very difficult to get into the correct position every time because of variables with your headers and steers. I believe you have to learn to heel all Breaking It Down with Speed Williams Why I Teach Heeling On The Speed Trainer I doubt there’s a more complex subject that’s been debated among the top ropers in the world than heeling. There are so many different opinions and approaches to heeling steers. Throughout my career I’ve had a lot of conversations with my partners, and other gold buckle heelers, and found there are many different See SPEED WILLIAMS On Page 13 Speed Trainer in action visit speedroping.com. For ordering information call: SPEED WILLIAMS 8-Time Consecutive World Champion • Private lessons • Rope live steers • All runs are filmed and studied • Isolate and target problem areas • Learn to ride and control your horse better • Understand your weakness and how to move forward • Learn how to use your legs and be balanced riding across the line helping you to rope faster For more information, or to book private lessons visit speedroping.com. Email: justaroper@gmail.com Follow or message on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ speedwilliamsroping 3 x 3” new April 2024
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