Wrap and un wrap...

[red]

Have had my EH for about 2 weeks, and have dragged the 55 gallon barrel around, as Buck suggested...gotten in both eyes, bumped the rope all over...and I know I could wrap it and un wrap it, at the walk and jog...so my goal for the summer is do it at that slow steady lope...both ways...that is where it will fall apart...but I appreciated what Buck had to say about getting ready for the rodear, and if you could do this excercise well, and consitantly, you would be a better hand, control of speed, control of horse, control of rope...what a concept!!!! He says you gotta place the wrap, and it can not overlap...so today, after I got off work, I walked it out myself...took me a minute to rope the barrel..I still got my breakaway hondo...so I did that...and it is hard enough just me walkin it, to keep the wraps straight...this outta be a fun excercise...has anyone else tried it yet?

love, red.

[JRW]

Red,
I got really excited by that article too. To me it was like the low tech version of the garrocha poles. I want my barrel to have a little water in the bottom though.


Yrs,
JRW

[Weebonilass]

I fingally got my EC yesterday and opened it up to that article. I think it will require some work for me, but I'm anxious to try. Just got to find me a rope first :)

[red]

Call Shannon, at Kansas Saddlery...tell her you saw the Buck article...I think she subscribes to the EH...and tell her you wanna try your hand at it..get yourself a little break-away hondo..Shannon has those, too...(those are the things that are on the end of a rope, the little round/oval deal that the rope threads thru...and ask her if she will make sure that it is all set up to go, from the time you open the box..that girl is a good egg, and she will love to help you...and so will anyone that answers the phone, or your email..) you want a softy softy little rope. And it is fun, at first feels strange, and hard and awkward in your hands, but as you work with it the rope becomes like a friend..you will be able to tell which way it likes to lay, which way it likes to coil..as you begin to know your body, and build your strength, it is way much fun...they all are a little unique...you try it, and we will touch bases all summer and see how we do...do you know how to build a loop? This is gonna be fun...I like that water in the barrel idea, JRW...will fill mine up tomorry...ok not full, but some wadda in da bottom of it...
Brilliant idea.

love,
red

[J.W.]

Yep, as Red sez, Shannon and Tuffy at Kansas Saddlery can probably fix you up. www.kansassaddlery.com . I would recommend a 5/16ths XXX soft nylon, 45 or 50 feet long, with a breakaway honda. Another good place for rope is Big Bend Saddlery, www.bigbendsaddlery.com .

Joe Wolter's ranch roping video is a real good place to start for instruction as well.............about 50 bucks, I think, you can find them a number of places, including the EH store, and direct from Joe.

Take your time, have fun and be safe. JW

[lmullen]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Try an XXsoft 5/16th inch first. Any stiffer rope and it may be too hard to start with. 50 foot may be too long to start, but you won't have to trade to longer, later. 30-35' is O.K. Rope buckets, posts, a sawhorse is real good to mess with. Don't be tempted to rope your dog. Never try to catch anyone around the head. Feet are O.K. Don't dally. Never leave your rope on your horse unattended. Drop it on the ground or carry it. Probably have a break-away honda when you start messing around with your horse. Lots and lots to do with your horse and a rope. .
Try us at HPS.

The only difference between a rope and a gun, a gun goes off and a rope goes on.

[red]

What is "HPS" for 200, please....lol. So we can try ya at HPS...

That is great advice, WeeLass...when you get your rope, just practice...do you have anyone that can help you? Sometimes, a great roper will just drop you a hint, and when you try it, it just opens doors...for me, I just practice trying to hit my trailer hitch...the mail box, the well pump..smoothness, consistant swing.. just goofing off, is so telling of how your rope is...a billion years ago, durning breaks at work, people used to go out and smoke...I never smoked, but, I take my rope, and just practice my swing.. I am really looking forwards to this barrel excercise...let us know how you do. WBLass.

[RockinCircleC]

Hitching Post Supply aka http://www.hitchingpostsupply.com/

Great stuff!

[FrancaV]

I'm going to have to revisit this topic when I get back to the U.S. I'd like to join inthe roping fun, too! I've tried building a loop and tossing the rope at stuff a few times with a friend's rope and guidance, but since I don't have a rope of my own I have no way to practice. Come July I hope to remedy this situation.;)

[Weebonilass]

Thanks for all the great advice. This place is full of such great people! I'll be working on getting my own rope and a video to help me get started. I do have Mark Schwarm, who hosted the Joe Wolter clinic just over an hour a way that I can ask for advice.

[red]

Here is the deal. Learn to rope, from someone who OWNS it. Someone who does it right...learn to dally properly... how to hold your rope, where you want the tail of the rope, the advantages of different shots...get good at one or two of em, and you are ahead of most everybody who walks upright...you will learn so many little nuances that will save your life, when things get western... know when and how to get out of the way, if you never learn it wrong, you are so far ahead..already, because you do not have to unlearn..at the end of the day, it is about respect. For yourself (know when you are in too deep for your skill level, and know when you need to step up, too..delicate balance) Learn to read people...learn this art, so much in horsemanship is unspoken. It is Respect for your horse..Help him learn, by building a great foundation. So's he has a safe place to come back too. Respect for the cattle. This is not a highlight in their lives. But most importantly, have fun, as Two Cents used to say, and "know when you are well off"...one of my favorite RH quotes..Some of my best hours, I have spent just watching from the back of my horse...soaking on my limited edadation...surrounded by folks who think a sweet little houlihan is just the ticket...wondering if I would ever get it right...there is NOTHING like a pair of smiling eyes, underneath that flat hat, tipped chin down, noddin approval. And so it begins, for Franca, and WeeLass...Celebrate the try in yourself, as well as in your horse.

[red]

that was supposed to read my "limited "edakation"...I know you knew that..

love, red

[FrancaV]

Celebrate the try in yourself, as well as in your horse.Always .... :) Nice post, red.

[Weebonilass]

Wow, Red....

My first response was a big gulp, then a deep breath and then a smile. I'm in the midwest, not sure how many "real" cowboys there are around here, but Mark Schwarm was selected for a two month internship with Ray Hunt the beginning of this year, so I feel pretty good about him.

Besides trying to figure out how to keep from roping myself, it'll be finding more hidden buttons on my not so little horse. He's had some major issues from his past and I'm not sure how far this will go. Some of his issues we've laid to rest never to see them again, some resurface that require a little more work and some five years later, we are still working on.

From the ground, he has all the confidence in the world about me whistling lead ropes about him, but from the saddle... well, that's another story. Originally, my thought was just some desensitzation with a rope from the saddle, but this list has inspired me to stretch even further. Thank you :)