Steer roping is one of professional rodeo's oldest events, but it is held only at select rodeos because of its requirement for large arenas. The National Finals Steer Roping takes place each fall at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma.
The most money won in this event was in 1998, to the tune of $99,132 by Guy Allen.
TEAM ROPING
Although considered one timed event, there are two cowboys competing as a team for this buckle. Team roping is rodeo's only true team event. Each cowboy's skills are similar, yet require different techniques. Beginning in 1995, the PRCA opted to recognize team roping headers and heelers with separate world titles, which is why I listed the two separately.
Heading
A team-roping header has to be quick. The 1997 NFR's slowest round-winning team roping time was 5 seconds.
When the steer is released from the arena-facing chute, headers must charge out of the box on horseback, chase down a fast-racing steer and rope him around his protected horns, neck or "half-head", a partial horn-neck catch. He then "dallies" or wraps his rope around his saddle horn. All of this must be accomplished without breaking the barrier. (The header leaves his "box" too soon, not giving the steer enough of a lead, resulting in a broken barrier and a penalty assessment of 10-seconds.) After making his catch, the header rides left, taking the steer in tow.
Heeling
The heeler moves in and ropes both hind legs. Catching only one hind leg results in a 5-second penalty. If the heeler tosses his loop before the header has changed direction of the steer and has the animal moving forward, it's called a "crossfire" and results in disqualification.
The team-roping clock is stopped when the slack has been taken out of both ropes and the contestants are facing each other.
Team Roping history was made by 15-year-old J.D. Yates of Pueblo, Colorado when he became the youngest NFR contestant ever as a heeler for his dad at NFR 1975. Team roper Leo Camarillo won a record sixth NFR average title in 1982 with Tee Woolman as his partner. In Spanish Fork, Utah in 1986, Tee and a different partner, Bobby Harris, made what remains as the fastest run in team roping history -- 3.7 seconds!!
