Roping Division
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ROPING DIVISION Women’s Professional Rodeo Association 431 S. Cascade Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Phone (719) 447-4726 • Fax (719) 447-4631 www.wpra.com Roping Division Roping Division The Roping Division features the best approved and co-approved events, are kept just ing second in the heading average. ness.” female ropers in the WPRA competing in team like they are in the barrel racing division. At “Winning back to back titles is part of who So is roping for competition. Once back roping (header and heeler), tie-down roping the end of the year, the WPRA hosts a World you are, because when you compete, you strive in the States, Hobbs was back on the road, and breakaway roping. World titles are award- Finals featuring top competitors from each of to win and work harder and harder to make it competing at the World Series Team Roping at ed in each division as well as in the all-around the roping events that gives each competitor happen,” Hobbs said. “It’s nice to say that it the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. category in which a competitor competes in one last chance to win enough money to cap- wasn’t just once. Doing it twice just backed The event took place in conjunction with the more than one event winning more money than ture a world title. it up.” Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and it was a the rest of the field. This section features the 2009 World Hobbs credited a lot of things en route to showcase of some fantastic ropers. Sporting a small but loyal membership Champions as well as listings of past cham- her world titles. Her team, consisting of great “It’s a big event, with each roping paying (that is currently growing in numbers and pions not only in the roping events but in the horses and outstanding roping hands, were out over $1 million,” she said. “My partner and events), the women of the Roping Division roughstock events of bareback riding and bull big reasons behind her titles. By working with I walked away with $23,000.” have the opportunity to compete at events all riding, when that was offered through the champs like Tibba Smith, Se’vette Early and It comes down to not only roping well but over the United States in search of a world title. WPRA. Lari Dee Guy, Hobbs has surrounded herself also roping with confidence. Four world titles Standings, based on money won at the with winners. in two years helps with the latter, but so does “All of us that team up are all very seri- having quality horses. Back in November in ous about what we do,” Hobbs said. “We all Tulsa, Hobbs was confident in the mounts she Hobbs repeats as WPRA All-Around and have confidence in ourselves and in each other. used in the various roping categories. We don’t get to practice together as much, but “Those horses have to stay on top of Tie-Down Roping World Champion we’ve roped together so much that we know things through all four rounds, and they were by Ted Harbin what we’re going to get. all solid,” she said. “They all worked great. I “You don’t have to worry about your felt like I was riding the best horses there. There It took Jackie Hobbs about a month to won both titles a year ago, too. “It shows you partners, because you know they’re going to was no mistake made by my horses, for sure.” reflect on her run at the WPRA World Finals can handle your rope in every event.” practice as hard, if not harder, than you.” Besides her big payday in tie-down rop- and her all-around and tie-down roping world During the finals in Tulsa, Hobbs handled Hobbs works with Guy when they’re not ing, Hobbs left with various checks from the championships. things plenty well, competing in all four roping rodeoing. They put on clinics, teaching rop- other three roping disciplines: $1,256 from But she had an awful lot going on through disciplines and pulling money from each event. ing and horsemanship skills to those aching to breakaway, $1,273 from heeling and $2,004 in the end of November and first of December. It In fact, she earned more than $8,000 over her learn. In fact, they put on a clinic in Australia heading. just comes with the territory of being an excel- weeklong stay in northeast Oklahoma, just shortly after the finals, allowing intercontinen- “You have to have fun, because if you lent roper and fantastic horsewoman. And when down the road from where she competed in tal flights to help her memory recall. don’t, you’re not going to enjoy it much,” she put her mind to her accomplishments, she high school rodeo. “We do these clinics all year round,” Hobbs said. “It’s always been a blast, just to reflected upon an awfully strong season. Her biggest take came in tie-down roping, Hobbs said. “We went to Australia to do three rodeo and to rope. You get to hang around the “When you put both the titles together, it where she won two go-rounds and placed in the roping clinics. It was a blast, and they want us people you like. shows you spend a lot of time on it all to make other two, winning the average and $3,529. She back. “But at the same time, this is what I do for it all fit,” said Hobbs of Abilene, Texas, who also won rounds in heading and heeling, finish- “We try to do at least 10 schools a year. a living, and I have to be serious about what We’ve been to Hawaii, Sweden and now I’m doing.” Australia. It’s an important aspect of our busi- 2009 World Champion Team Roper (Header) by Ted Harbin crown and is the toast of the Lone Star State, There were three targets in Se’Vette where she won the circuit title. Early’s sites for the 2009 season. “It’s really exciting,” said Early, who Now there are three memorable bulls- competes regularly with Texas stalwarts Tibba eyes and a Texas-sized grin for the girl from Smith, Lari Dee Guy and Jackie Hobbs. “I was Flat who directly hit on each of her goals this a little overwhelmed at first. Now I’m just season. First and foremost, Early won the looking forward to having the title throughout WPRA’s heading world championship, cul- the year and rope like a world champion for minating a strong year with a solid finish at another year.” the World Finals in mid-November in Tulsa, Early carried a slim lead into the finale, Jackie Hobbs successfully defended her all-around title after winning money in all roping disciplines, Okla. then won $1,164 over the four rounds to including team roping, at the WPRA World Finals in Tulsa, Okla. WPRA photo by James Phifer She also won the rookie-of-the-year secure her first world title. Ever so humble, Roping Division “The truth of it is I really couldn’t have it’s that if you have faith, it will all turn made it this far without Classic Ropes, who around.” have really helped me out a lot,” she said. “But There’s a lot to that. Besides her Christian this is something I love. I’m a very competi- faith, she also has to have faith in herself. But tive person, and I like to win. I like the feeling with her support team, she finds faith easily. of being a winner. “When you compete, it’s all mental – “But I also like overcoming the obstacles, keeping focus and believing in myself,” Early because you don’t overcome them all. If this said. world championship has taught me anything, Spoken like a true champion … a world champion. 2009 World Se’Vette Early rides her 21-year old gray gelding, Richard en route to being crowned the 2009 WPRA Champion Team Roper (Heeler) World Champion Team Roping Header. WPRA photo by James Phifer. by Ted Harbin on top of your game. They’re tough competi- When Kasey Etbauer backs into the heeling tion.” she credited her heeler, Smith, for allowing importantly, win championships. box, she has a lifetime of experiences and an So is Etbauer. Like Smith, Hobbs and Guy, her to sit atop the world. “The pieces came together at the finals,” overwhelming support system riding with her. she has roped all her life. She’s also had the “Tibba Smith is the hero,” Early said. she said. “This is probably one of the most She realizes that plans change. She knows opportunity to be well-mounted. Most of the “She’s the one to stop the clock every time.” consistent roping years I’ve had. I roped my drawing a good steer doesn’t mean the animal season, she’s ridden Glady, a spectacular choco- And while her partnerships have catapult- best, and I was really consistent. I was catch- won’t veer off or sprint to the other end of the late palomino mare. Like the bronc-busting ed her to the championship, there’s something ing in the same spot, giving the same type arena. She knows what it takes to handle each Etbauer brothers – including Kasey’s husband, to be said for Early’s roping. Cowgirls don’t of run for my partners. My horse was really situation as it arises.