THE HISTORY OF RODEO: History of Calf Roping?

» horseman_53 - History of Calf Roping?

At todays rodeos, the calf roper is seen to dismount from the rider's right hand side or "off side" of the horse. I would assume this is to cut the distance to the rope, to shorten the time factor to get to the calf and perhaps to lessen the likelihood of the rope slapping the horse face when it snaps tight as the calf hits the end of the lariat? Does anybody know when this practice of dismounting from the right side started? The last time I watched roping, they still dismounted from the left or near side of the horse?

-- posted by horseman_53