Reprinted in the IVIS website with the permission of the AAEP Close window to return to IVIS WESTERN PERFORMANCE FORUM

The Horse

Richard H. Galley, DVM

In recent years, team roping has become the fastest growing equestrian sport, and, according to Sports Illustrated, one of the fastest growing among all sports. For this reason, equine practitioners are presented with an increasing number of with specific injuries incurred during team rop- ing. This brief description of team roping introduces the equine practitioner to the basic premise of the sport, explains some of the terminology applied to these equine athletes, and offers some insight into a few of the more common medical problems that frequently occur in these horses. Author’s address: 1601 House Rd., Willow Park, TX 76087. ௠ 1997 AAEP.

1. Introduction around the horn as opposed to being tied onto Team roping began as a event many years ago, the saddle horn. evolving from the everyday work on by cow- From this early beginning, the sport of team boys. If a cow needed to be restrained for treatment roping has become one of great economic importance. or other reasons, on the open range the only method The economic impact of this sport in 1996 was of restraint at the ’s disposal was heading and estimated to be $770 million. The heeling the cow, which required a team approach. Team Roping Championships (USTRC) began in the mid-1980’s with 370 members. In 1996, member- Being of an independent nature, the cowboys soon ship had grown to more than 85,000 classified rop- began wagering among themselves to see which ers. It is unknown exactly how many ropers (both team, composed of a header and heeler, could accom- classified and unclassified) participate in the sport of plish this feat in the shortest time. team roping in a given year, but it has been esti- The early rodeo event of team roping was called mated to be approximately half a million team team tying and involved roping the head or neck of ropers. Although there are many other team roping the animal by one cowboy, the header, followed by organizations throughout the U.S., the USTRC re- roping the rear legs by another cowboy, the heeler. mains the largest and most prestigious, offering over The animal was then jerked down and stretched out. $17 million in purses in 1996 alone. In October of The header ran down the rope from his horse and 1996, nearly $3 million dollars in purses were earned tied another shorter rope around both rear legs, by participants during a single event, the National using a square knot. This was done as a timed Finals of the USTRC. event to determine the winner. Approximately 35 The purse money for the team roping competition to 40 years ago, this event was replaced, in the rodeo is usually generated by the entry fees of the partici- arena, by dally team roping, also a timed event. pants, and this is referred to as a jackpot roping. The term dally refers to the wrapping of the rope A portion of the entry fee is held out by the producer

NOTES

40 1997 ΋ Vol. 43 ΋ AAEP PROCEEDINGS Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the AAEP 1997 Reprinted in the IVIS website with the permission of the AAEP Close window to return to IVIS WESTERN PERFORMANCE HORSE FORUM of the roping event to pay for the arena, the , footing is imperative to prevent injury to the horses the advertising, the trophies, and miscellaneous and ropers. expenses, and the balance of the entry fee is desig- A typical run in dally team roping begins with a nated as purse money to be divided among the steer contained in a chute, with the heading box to winning team ropers. Another form of purse money the left of the chute and the heeling box to the right. is the guaranteed money format. In this situation, When the header calls for the steer or asks that it be the producers guarantee the purse money and prizes, released from the chute, the chute gate is opened and and they gamble that enough teams will pay an the steer is allowed a head start, called the score. entry fee to allow them to show a profit. Purses If the header leaves the heading box before the steer commonly reach tens of thousands of dollars, and crosses the score line, (i.e., the predetermined head additional prizes available include items such as start for the steer), then the team is assessed a , trophy buckles, trucks, and horse trailers. penalty of 10 s. Adherence to the head start is deter- If one were to attempt to single out the primary mined by one of two types of barriers. The old style cause for the tremendously rapid growth in the sport of barrier is a rope barrier placed in front of the of team roping, it would probably be the unique heading horse. The rope barrier is composed of a handicapping type of numbering system of the rop- rope stretched across the heading box in front of the ers. The numbering system, or rating system, is heading horse. This rope is divided into two pieces administered by the USTRC. The system involves and secured by a piece of string that is broken if the assigning a number to each of the team ropers based horse leaves the heading box too quickly. The bar- on factors such as ability, experience, age, and rier is released as the steer crosses the score line, physical handicaps. The roping categories are also and a spring pulls it out of the way of the horse as it assigned a numerical value that cannot be exceeded leaves the heading box. The newer style of barrier by the total of the two ropers entering that roping. uses an electronic eye. If the beam of light passing For example, if the roping was classed as a number in front of the header is broken by the heading horse 11 roping, it could be entered by teams composed of a prior to the steer’s crossing the predetermined score 3 and an 8 roper, or a 5 and 6 roper, or any other line, an alarm sounds and the team is assessed the combination that does not exceed the total of 11. 10-s penalty. The timing of the run begins when the steer crosses its score line. The steers that are used for the team roping event 2. Description of Competition are usually horned cattle, called cattle. The categories of the ropings at most events are the These cattle usually originate in Mexico. The term open roping (any header and heeler can rope to- Corriente is a slang term for bad cattle, and these gether regardless of their collective number), and the cattle were typically underfed and had a tough various numbered ropings, which begin with the constitution when brought up from Mexico. Thus number 11 roping and progress down to the number they had good horns for the size of their body and 5 roping. The low-numbered ropings are for the were hardy enough to withstand the demands of beginner ropers and obviously eliminate the more team roping. Now there is a breed association for capable ropers from that competition. The number- the Corriente breed in the U.S., and many of them ing system does, however, allow the lower-numbered are raised here. Other types of cattle used are roper to rope with the expert ropers in a high- Longhorns or other native horned breeds, but most numbered roping. This approach also allows the of the team ropers prefer cattle of the Mexican amateur roper, women, and children to compete, Corriente variety. Their weights may range from a often successfully, with the men. small steer of 375 lb (ϳ170 kg) to a large steer of 800 Dally team roping is a timed event involving five lb (ϳ362 kg) or larger. basic elements: the header, the heading horse, the After the header asks for the steer and allows the heeler, the heeling horse, and the steer. Many head start from the chute, he or she approaches the consider team roping to be the ultimate sport, as it steer at full speed. The heading horse is trained to requires split-second timing in addition to the ability rate off or to slow up slightly when it approaches the to overcome the many variables created by the three steer to properly position the header for roping the animals involved, especially the steer. The term steer, just behind and slightly to the left of the steer. dally refers to wrapping the rope around the saddle There are three legal head catches in team roping: horn, in a circular manner, as the only means of both horns (i.e., a clean horn catch), a half-head (i.e., attachment to the saddle. This is in contrast to one horn and the nose of the steer), or a neck. All some of the other rodeo events ( and steer other catches are considered illegal, and for these the roping), which allow the roper to tie the rope to the team is given a no time. saddle horn. After the header successfully catches the head of The team roping competitions are held in arenas of the steer and dallies (wraps around in a full circle) various sizes. A small arena might be 100 ϫ 200 ft the rope around the saddle horn, the heading horse (ϳ30 ϫ 60 m), but a larger arena, approaching 200 ϫ drops its hindquarters and slows down somewhat, 400 ft (ϳ60 ϫ 122 m) or larger, is preferable. The setting the steer, which brings the steer’s head surface of the arena is important, because good around to the left. As the steer’s body is turned and

AAEP PROCEEDINGS ΋ Vol. 43 / 1997 41 Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the AAEP 1997 Reprinted in the IVIS website with the permission of the AAEP Close window to return to IVIS WESTERN PERFORMANCE HORSE FORUM

Fig. 1. Header has dallied the rope around the saddle horn and sets the steer as the heeler begins to turn into position to rope the rear legs. Note the position of the right foreleg and the left hock of the heading horse. progresses to the left, the heading horse also is When the heeling rope is tight, the heading horse turned to the left and is moved out in front of the is cued to spin to the right, while maintaining a tight steer to allow the header to pull it across the arena at rope, to face the steer. When the facing is complete approximately a 90° angle to the original direction of and the heading horse is facing the steer, the head- travel (Fig. 1), maintaining a constant speed, and ing rope should be tight and in a straight line from thus allowing the heeler to get into position to rope the saddle horn of the header to the head of the steer. the rear limbs of the steer. The heeling rope should be tight in a straight line During the portion of the run that the header has from the hind feet of the steer to the saddle horn of roped and set the steer, the heeler has maintained the heeler. At this time the flag man drops the flag, his or her position just to the right and slightly signaling the end of the run, and the time is recorded behind the steer as they have progressed down the (Fig. 3). arena. As the header sets and turns the steer, the Although there are many elements that make up a heeler turns left with the steer and positions himself run in the team roping, the run can all be accom- or herself just behind and slightly to the left of the plished in a matter of seconds. The event requires steer as it is taken across the arena. As the heeling thousands of hours of practice to get the timing down horse follows the steer in this position, maintaining and to minimize the danger to all of the participants. a constant speed equal to that of the header and A very good run may take only 6 or 7 s. There have steer, the heeler properly times the swing of the rope even been runs recorded in the range of 3.7–3.8 s by and then releases the heel rope, placing the loop the World Champion caliber team ropers. under the steer. When the steer’s rear limbs enter the loop, the loop is tightened. As the slack leaves 3. Horses Used and Training the heel loop, as the rope tightens around the steers The horses used in the team roping event are usually hind legs, and as the dally is made on the saddle American Quarter Horses. This breed is preferred horn, the heeling horse is signaled to drop its hind- by the ropers because of their exceptional athletic quarters and come to an abrupt stop (Fig. 2). After ability, quick acceleration over short distances, and the heeler has completed the catch of the rear legs, their good minds and calm disposition. Geldings the heading horse progresses away from the heeler are almost always preferred, but occasionally a mare with the steer still in tow, tightening the heeling and rarely a stallion are used in the event. It is not rope. The heeler attempts to rope both rear legs of unusual to see a Paint horse used in team roping, but the steer, but if only one leg is caught, then the team often this is just a crop-out Quarter Horse. Other is assessed a 5-s penalty. breeds, such as the Thoroughbred, are very rarely

42 1997 ΋ Vol. 43 ΋ AAEP PROCEEDINGS Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the AAEP 1997 Reprinted in the IVIS website with the permission of the AAEP Close window to return to IVIS WESTERN PERFORMANCE HORSE FORUM

Fig. 2. Heeling horse comes to a stop as the heeler gets the slack and dallies the rope around the saddle horn. Note the position of both hocks.

Fig. 3. Heading horse faces, as the ropes of both the header and the heeler are tight, to signal the end of a successful run. Note the position of the heading horse’s left hock.

AAEP PROCEEDINGS ΋ Vol. 43 / 1997 43 Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the AAEP 1997 Reprinted in the IVIS website with the permission of the AAEP Close window to return to IVIS WESTERN PERFORMANCE HORSE FORUM chosen for use as team roping horse. It takes many The clinical exam of these individuals may often months and even years to properly train a good team show pain on palpation of the caudal lumbar area, roping horse, whether a heading horse or heeling the area of the croup, and over the point of both hips. horse. Often a horse is trained in a home arena or This pain will often be accompanied with the com- the smaller local arenas for 2 to 3 years prior to be- plaint that the horse is sore in the kidneys. If the ing used at the larger competitions. The tremen- larger joints of the hindlimbs are involved, the dous growth of the sport of team roping coupled obvious areas of effusion will, of course, aid in the with the large purse money available have made a diagnosis, but if only the distal tarsal joints are good team roping horse a very valuable commodity. involved, then effusion is usually absent. As the For this reason, even the slightest medical problem examination progresses to the medial aspect of the will usually receive the attention of the equine distal tarsi, the horse may often show a reluctance to practitioner. have the area palpated, as if it is anticipating pain associated with the palpation. Often a beginning 4. Common Problems bony proliferation of the anteromedial aspect of the With a better understanding of the duties of the distal tarsus can be appreciated on examination. team roping horse, it is apparent that it experiences Obtaining the highest quality radiographs pos- many of the same problems that any of the other sible is very important because some of these lesions western performance horses experience. Osteoar- are difficult to see on radiographs of minimal or thritis of the distal joints of the hocks is very average quality. In addition to obtaining excellent common, as it is in the horse, horse, quality radiographs, it is often necessary to view the and horse. In addition, the heading radiographs under magnification to appreciate the horse commonly injures the suspensory ligament, small beginning lesions of the distal tarsal joints. especially of the right forelimb. The hocks and the Many times, blocking these joints produces little right fore suspensory ligament are placed under improvement in behavior because pain is anticipated tremendous pressure as the heading horse sets the by the horse during the run, even though the area steer. As the heading horse sets the steer, the right has been successfully blocked. Dread of pain, in my forelimb is placed anteriorly and laterally to brace opinion, is the most common reason for a display of against both forward motion and the weight of the intractable behavior by a horse in the roping box. steer, thus placing a great deal of strain on the These horses often respond well to intra-articular suspensory apparatus of the right forelimb (Fig. 1). therapy when they realize that the pain has been In addition, the distal tarsal joints are suddenly lessened or stopped. loaded as a result of a slowing from full-speed motion The heeling horse often presents with a similar with the weight of the rider, weight of the horse, and history, such as behavioral problems in the heeling by the weight of the steer. These forces applied to box, not making the corner properly as the steer is the loaded distal tarsal joints are rotational (Fig. 1) set and turned, reluctance to position itself properly and occur as the horse sets the steer, gets under the rope, and out in front of the steer, and as the horse in relation to the steer, or emitting a nickering or pulls the weight of the steer forward across the grunting sound and bouncing out of the stop at the arena. Following a successful catch by the heeler, completion of the run while maximal tension is on the heading horse must face, or spin around to the the ropes. Often these horses, both the heading right while the hocks are loaded as described, and do horse and heeling horse, are unwilling to drop their so with the addition of a backward motion to main- heads and relax following a run and tend to prance tain the tightness of the rope. out of the arena. Again, it is important to remem- When attempting to diagnose an orthopedic prob- ber that the horse is often not yet showing signs of lem or problems in the team roping horse, as in all lameness in the early stages of these problems, western performance horses, one must remember making the diagnosis more difficult. Usually the that often, in the early stages of the problem, the horse is exhibiting a training problem rather than a horse may not be lame. The complaint from the soundness problem during the early stages. owner or trainer is often of increasing behavioral, or Another common injury of the team roping horse, training problems, rather than lameness problems. especially the heading horse, is a strain or tearing of This underscores the importance of having knowl- the suspensory ligament of the right forelimb. As edge of the events in which these equine athletes described above, these injuries apparently occur participate. when the horse places the right forelimb anterolater- In the case of a heading horse, the history may ally to brace as it sets the steer (Fig. 1). Probably include a reluctance to go into the heading box, a the additional forces of the forward motion, weight of change in the horse’s attitude in the box (or how he the rider, and weight of the steer contribute to the scores the steer), a change in the way the horse rates, occurrence of this injury. Often the injury to the sets, and handles the steer, or a reluctance to face at suspensory ligament occurs in the middle to upper the end of a run. All of these complaints, as well as portion of the structure. Thickening of the liga- others, usually are present if the heading horse is ment may or may not be present, but pain on developing lesions of the distal tarsal joints. palpation of the suspensory ligament when palpated

44 1997 ΋ Vol. 43 ΋ AAEP PROCEEDINGS Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the AAEP 1997 Reprinted in the IVIS website with the permission of the AAEP Close window to return to IVIS WESTERN PERFORMANCE HORSE FORUM with the leg in the flexed position is a consistent required to develop the split-second timing neces- finding. sary to win at the upper levels of competition. At Ultrasonography may be necessary to determine the 1996 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association the extent of damage to the structure, but usually , the average age of the head- clinical examination is all that is needed to establish ing horses used by the top 15 headers in the world a diagnosis. In contrast to the problems seen in the was slightly over 16 years of age. Proper diagnosis distal tarsal joints, a lameness of varying degrees and management of medical problems of the team often accompanies injury of this structure. Injury roping horse allow the horse to be used competitively of this structure can become a chronic problem in the for many years. heading horse because of the probability of reinjury. Obviously, team roping horses are also susceptible to all of the same injury problems that any of the Further Information equine athletes experience. Most of these injuries, 1. United States Team Roping Championships, P.O. Box 7651, however, produce a lameness of varying degrees, as Albuquerque, NM 87194. Phone: 505-899-1870. well as effusion and pain on flexion, or pain on 2. Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, 101 Pro Rodeo Dr., palpation of the affected area, making diagnosis of Colorado Springs, CO 80919. Phone: 719-593-8840. 3. Association, P.O. Box 200, Amarillo, these problems fairly straightforward. TX 79104. Phone: 806-376-4811. Many of the professional team ropers do not even 4. SuperLooper Magazine, 2331 Rio Grande NW, Albuquerque, use a horse competitively until the horse is 9 or 10 NM 87104. Phone: 505-243-9515. years old. The team ropers believe that years of 5. Dally Times, 1120 Blue Mound Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76131. practice and experience on the part of the horse are Phone: 817-232-9682.

AAEP PROCEEDINGS ΋ Vol. 43 / 1997 45 Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the AAEP 1997