SuperLooper-August 09

TRAILERING2009 Manufacturers Directory

WEST COAST REGIONAL FINALS

august 09 Cover-04:Cover 7/13/09 4:15 PM Page 1

SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 1

To me, the GT4 is by far the best feeling rope. I have tried other 4-strand ropes without a core and they feel hollow, but the GT4 with the core feels like an extension of my arm. Every swing, I can feel the top strand, the bottom strand, and I know where my tip is at all times. The GT4 has helped make me a better roper.

JADE CORKILL NFR Qualifier2009 George Strait ChampionGeorge Strait Single Year Earnings Record Holder $152,000 (Cash)

Better Luck Next Time.

To All Those Who Dont Rope With a GT4...

GT4Jade8 25x10 5 indd 1 3/30/09 2:39:45 PM

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S08DF_RckyMntC_P:Layout 1 7/7/09 10:56 AM Page 1

eal people, real results.R S08DF_HeelOMat_P:Layout 1 6/30/09 9:39 AM Page 1

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SLM_GistSlv_P:Layout 1 7/6/09 1:32 PM Page 1

USTRC Championship Results78 West Coast Regionals

86 West Texas Championships

92 Iowa Championships

98 North Arkansas Classic

104 North Carolina Championships

110 Red Desert Classic

114 Lasso Del Norte

120 Oklahoma Championships

124 South Dakota Championships

On the Cover: Tami Andersonof Sulphur, Louisiana is thephotographer behind thismonths photo, Pine RidgePens. This great photo earnedAnderson $200 in cash for themonthly photo contest and itwill also be entered in theSuperLooper Cover of the Yearcontest that will end at the closeof the year!

FEATURES

8 Just the Way It Is by Ben Clements

10 USTRC Announcements

12 By the Numbers by John Findlay

16 Gold Plus Report by Shawn Vargas

22 Champions Profile Tuff Hedeman and Cole Echols

24 Top Tips with Rickey Green

26 Horse Health Cribbing Rings By Heather Smith Thomas

30 History of the USTRC Part 3

USTRC Transition-Coming of Ageby Robin Davis

44 Upcoming Event

North Dakota Championships

46 USTRC On Tap

48 Roper US Open Standings

2009 Trailer Manufacturers DirectoryTrailering

34

07 TOC:TOC 7/13/09 5:03 PM Page 7

onto something else. So I am going to get my head out of thesand and continue to improve my skills and keep my eyesopen for original and pioneering ideas.

The conversation also set me to thinking about thispublication. SuperLooper Magazine has a great staff and wework very hard to put together a high-quality magazine. I,along with Ryan Davis, have been the editors for about fiveyears now and we have a system that is very functional andvery efficient. However, as I thumbed through this monthsfinished product, I realized that maybe we were falling intothis trap that Arkie made me aware of. We do great work andhave a lot to offer to our readers, but we are in a comfort zoneand you, as readers know what to expect from this magazine.No one receives the magazine in the mail and wonders whatcrazy thing is going to be in there this month. You know whatis in there and you know what to expect. In part that is good,but on the other hand, it is not.

Again, it is time for some rejuvenation. I have lots of greatideas, and I visited with my sister who is the queen of new,innovative, and off the wall concepts. I also want to hear fromyou. So I ask, what would you like to see in SuperLooperMagazine? What do you like and what do you not like? In otherwords, what needs to stay and what needs to go?

I also want to know about USTRC events. What do you likeabout them and what needs to be different? How can werefresh the event from the announcing to production aspect?What do you want?

Now, I am not saying that things will change overnight, but I do want to continue to be a trendsetter. I want to knowhow I can be better and how I can better serve you. If you have anything you would like to share with me, please feel freeto do so. My email is [email protected]. I know that not allpeople like all things, but I do want to be refreshing and notquite so mundane.

Take a look at your own life and dont let complacency takeover. Step out of your comfort zone every once in a while andtry something new. You wont always like it better, but whoknows, you might just discover something that you didntknow existed. Open your eyes to something possible and letsmake ourselves even better. I am extremely grateful to Arkiefor once again opening my eyes and I hope you will give it atry as well, and that is just the way it is.

AUGUST 2009

JJUUSSTT theWWaayy IT IS

As we get older do we get too comfortable in our lives and what is going on around us? I wasrecently at an event when a very dear friend andmentor, Arkie Kiehne pulled me aside. He said that he hadsome advice and he didnt want me to take it wrong, but tojust take it for what it was. He told me to not let things in mylife become complacent and mundane. He advised me toalways keep things fresh, new and innovative. He also toldme that it was very easy to fall into the trap of beingcomfortable with what we have and do in our lives.

This in no way hurt my feelings, but it did set me tothinking. I have always been a person that likes to be thebest at what I do. I try to get to the top of whatever it is, but Ihave noticed that once I get there I become comfortablewith what works. For example, from the time I was in thefourth grade and I found out what a valedictorian was Idecided that was what I wanted. Now, I was certainly not thesmartest kid in school, but I could hold my own. I workedhard and I learned to play the game and when I graduatedfrom high school I was the Valedictorian. From there, I wentto college and worked hard and studied hard, but I did notwork at it like I had before because I didnt feel like I hadanything to prove. I was already the best. I becamecomplacent and I had a system that worked and therefore, Iwas a straight A student with a 4.0 GPA and I did not have towork at it very hard.

When in college, I began to announce and to work forUSTRC. I love announcing and I wanted to be the best Icould possibly be. I worked very hard and implemented a lotof new and modern ideas into the announcers stand. Iworked very hard to be different and refreshing. Lo andbehold, I climbed the ladder and am not the best teamroping announcer, but I am one of many at the top of thelist. I am not telling you all of this to brag. That is in no waywhat I am trying to do, so please do not take it that way.

As I announced the event this past weekend after Arkietalked to me, I realized that again I was in a comfort zoneand very complacent. Things were not new and freshanymore. I had developed a system and I can announce ateam roping in my sleep. I was no longer being creative,imaginative and rejuvenating. The difference today is thatannouncing is a passion of mine and I am not ready to move

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DEPARTMENTS128 SSG Junior Looper

134 The Other Half by Gracie Mae

136 On the Edge of Common Senseby Baxter Black

138 Riding Herd by Lee Pitts

140 Sports Medicine Stable by Mark Duncan

142 Walt Woodard

148 SuperLooper Events Calendar

152 MarketPlace

201 Advertisers Index

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SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE2340 Menaul NE, Suite 400

Albuquerque, NM 87107

Advertising or Editorial:505/899-1870 fax: 505/792-5678

Produced and published by USTRC

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISINGUSTRC Editor: Ben ClementsAssociate Editor: Ryan Davis

Sales Manager & Event Advertising: John EnglishAdvertising Representatives:

Elizabeth DominickCustomer Service Representative: Jules Price

CIRCULATION & PRODUCTIONArt Director: Marcia Rackstraw

Production Coordinator: Violet Sue AndersonGraphic Designer: Doug Purdy

Administrative Assistant: Kathy Williams

OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHY BYAllens Rodeo Photos

P. O. Box 270428, Flower Mound, TX 750271-800-438-8659 www.allensrodeophotos.com

August 2009 / Vol. 18, No. 8SuperLooper Magazine (ISSN 1069-5508,

USPS No. 009983)is pub lished monthly by Western Sports Publishing, Inc.,

2340 Menaul NE, Suite 400 Albuquerque, NM 87107

Subscription price: 1 yr. - $20. Periodicals Postage Paid at Albuquerque,

New Mexico and additional mailing offices. Copyright 2000 by Super Looper Magazine.

Material may not be used without permissionfrom the publisher. Deadline for editorial and

advertising is the 25th of the month,two months preceding issue date.

Advertising rates on request. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGE TO

SuperLooper Magazine c/o Western Sports Publishing, Inc.,

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Advertising claims are the sole responsibility of the advertiser, not SuperLooper Magazine.

09 Masthead:Masthead 7/14/09 11:38 AM Page 9

10 / AUGUST 2009

MENTSAANNNNOOUUNNCCEEAugust is upon us

and is the month forUSTRC Regional Finals.The Regional Finals areone of the best places toget USTRC FlexEarnings. There will bewell over $1 milliondollars in USTRC FlexEarnings given out ateach Regional Finalsevent. With five of theseawesome events still togo, it is time to makeplans and get to the nextone. The USTRCNational Finals Shoot-Out Fund is currently at$1,050,000, so thatmeans it is time tosecure your spot tocompete at the CinchUSTRC National Finalsof Team Roping.

Dont hesitate and getyour business in orderso you wont be left outof the biggest and bestteam roping event in theworld. It is the place tobe if you are a teamroper and you certainlywant to have as manyShoot-Out opportunitiesas possible. The eventwill take place inOklahoma City,Oklahoma October 24-November 1, 2009 andwill be nine days full ofeverything team roping.

With that said, it iscrucial for you to get tothe next USTRCRegional Finals eventand load up on USTRCFlex Earnings. Rope upand we will see you atthe next USTRC event.The Cinch USTRCNational Finals is justaround the corner, sodont hesitate, load thehorses and the kids andget to the next roping.

USTRC

New Mexico Horse Owners Be Aware!For years Coggins testing has not been required when moving horses around

inside the state of New Mexico. All you needed were hauling papers (brandinspections). However, times have changed and the New Mexico LivestockBoard has just sent out a statement explaining new rules concerning Cogginstesting on all transported horses inside the state.

The New Mexico Livestock Board asks horse owners to comply quickly withthis new law to avoid fines or problems. They claim they will be going to varioushorse events to enforce this. If you have questions, contact your veterinarian.

Cinch National Finals of Team Roping Vendors!There are still some great vendor opportunities available at this years

Cinch National Finals of Team Roping at the Oklahoma State Fairgroundsin Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, October 28 November 2, 2009. Thousandsof ropers will be on hand during the nine-day event. If you have anyproducts or something that would appeal to team ropers, you need to bethere. For more information on the event, please contact John Findlay at505-899-1870 X 120 or email [email protected].

September Issue ofSuperLooper Magazine!

Watch next months issue of SuperLooper and the inside exclusive,story with one of todays hottest ropers, Derrick Begay! This is a featurestory that will allow a glimpse of why Begay is one of the best headersin the country, and how his family values, background and thoughtsabout team roping has taken his career to new heights. Dont miss thisfeature!

The USTRC National Finals of Team Roping will take place in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from October 24-November 1, 2009

Saturday October 24, 2009Open Preliminary #15 Preliminary#15 Shoot-Out

Sunday October 25, 2009#13 PreliminaryRoper Outerwear US Open

Monday October 26, 2009#13 Shoot-Out#12 Preliminary

Tuesday October 27, 2009#12 Shoot-Out#12 Gold Plus

Wednesday October 28, 2009Junior Looper Preliminary Competition Century Championships#10 Gold Plus4 Ropin Ranch Horse Preview

Thursday October 29, 2009Cruel Girl Championship#11 Preliminary4 Ropin Ranch Horse Sale

Friday October 30, 2009#11 Shoot-Out#10 Preliminary

Saturday October 31, 2009 (Halloween)Junior Looper Preliminary Competition#10 Shoot OutJunior Looper Shoot-Out#9 Preliminary (capped at a #5)

Sunday November 1, 2009(Daylight Savings time ends)

#9 Shoot-Out (capped at a #5)#8 Shoot-Out (capped at a #4)

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12 / AUGUST 2009

for the numbers that are reported herecame from the rules that determine howour National Finals Challenge ropings arerun. For those of you that may beunfamiliar with the Challenge roping,heres how it works: Challenge ropings areheld all day long in the Barn 6 arena on theOklahoma State Fairgrounds almost everyday of the National Finals. Any team thatwants to can participate. Just ride up tothe announcers stand and get your moneyout. The entry fee is $30, $40 or $50 perteam, the teams choice. The setup is thesame for every team including the box sizeand score length. Before the Challengestarts, Challenge officials set a par timefor every team combination. That is a

cumulative time that each teamcombination is expected to be able tocatch four steers in. For example, the partime for a #12 team could be set at 42seconds, the par time for a #9 team couldbe 54 seconds and so on. To win theChallenge, a team must come in under thepar time. If they miss any of the foursteers allotted or their cumulative time isover the par time, they lose their entry fee.If they win, the team receives five timestheir entry fee. Its a pretty straight-forwardconcept and provides a lot of fun andsome good practice time for teams at theFinals. For all these years, our officialshave come up with these par timesintrinsically. Theyve been putting ropingson long enough to have a great feel forwhat that par time should be based on theteam combination, the steers and thearena size, conditions and box and scorelengths. Not having the ingrained abilitiesof these roping authorities, I had to siftthrough my digital roping numberssandbox to come up with my estimation ofwhat all the different team combinationspar time is.

Heres how I did it and the result is the2008 Season Catch Ratios and AverageTimes by Team Combination and RopingsTypes Table. I gathered up the first roundtime of every single team that participatedin a USTRC sanctioned or affiliate ropingduring the 2008 season. There was a total

USTRC

BY JOHN FINDLAYby theNNUUMMBBEERRSS

Catch Ratios and Average Times

RopingType

Team Combination

>15 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8

AllRopings

No of Round1 Runs

3,128 10,329 7,323 21,944 31,914 38,396 56,280 48,340 39,834

Catch Ratio 77.8% 69.0% 65.2% 63.6% 60.0% 55.5% 50.4% 46.2% 40.1%

Avg Time 9.40 9.84 10.25 10.58 11.05 11.58 12.09 12.78 13.47

AffiliateRopings

No of Round1 Runs

937 4,397 3,973 11,665 13,216 18,104 30,176 26,683 20,742

Catch Ratio 76.9% 68.5% 64.5% 63.4% 58.4% 55.5% 50.5% 45.5% 39.8%

Avg Time 8.90 9.39 9.96 10.38 10.78 11.44 11.92 12.64 13.28

SanctionedRopings

No of Round1 Runs

1,717 4,540 2,699 8,092 15,035 16,601 21,707 18,264 17,741

Catch Ratio 77.3% 69.9% 66.0% 63.0% 60.3% 55.0% 49.7% 46.3% 40.2%

Avg Time 9.53 10.12 10.56 10.79 11.25 11.71 12.29 12.96 13.67

Nat & RegRopings

No of Round1 Runs

474 1,392 651 2,187 3,663 3,691 4,397 3,193 1,351

Catch Ratio 77.2% 67.3% 66.4% 67.3% 64.6% 58.0% 53.1% 51.3% 43.0%

Avg Time 9.89 9.37 10.67 10.84 11.16 11.71 12.25 12.89 13.88

Avg RoperEntry Fee

>$100 9.43 10.01 10.45 10.83 11.27 11.88 12.23 12.95 13.50

of 257,488 runs that I included. Whew! Icant say I didnt have enough informationto measure by. I used only the first roundinstead of all four rounds because (a)many teams dont rope four steers in a row,so limiting my figures to just the firstround gave me a lot more numbers towork with and (b) utilizing just the firstround gave me interesting additionalinformation, particularly regarding catchratios. Besides, its easy enough to multiplythese first round times by four (or five forthe 5-steer #15 and Open) and you will geta pretty accurate average time for four (orfive) rounds . . . i.e., a par time.

The column heading in the Tablereads Team Combination. For thepurposes of this Table, I didnt care whatdivision a team was in, all I cared aboutwas the combination, the headersnumber plus the heelers number. Anumber 11 team could have been in a#11 roping, it could have been in a #13roping, it could have been an incentiveteam in a #12 roping, I didnt care. I justrecorded its time in the first round ofwhatever the roping was. The results ofeach team combination are under eachof the nine headings. The first column,>15, is a summary of all the teamcombinations greater than 15, i.e. 16through 20, all the team combinationsthat can only compete in an Openroping. Then each successive columndecreases from >15 to 15 on down to 8,where I stopped. If there is enoughinterest, some day I may do a column onteam combinations less than 8. But Icould tell after a quick glance, thosetimes were all over the map, so for thesepurposes I didnt include combinationsbelow 8.

I started this project at first thinking Iwould only look at the numbers from allof the sanctioned and affiliate ropings puttogether and that would be it.But afterthat task was completed, I wondered ifthere would be any significant differencesin catch ratios and average times betweenall the different roping types. So I took alook. The result is a series of four threerow roping type sets: all ropings,affiliate ropings, sanctioned ropings, andNational and Regional Finals ropings. Iwill define those sets and the last threerows of the Table in a minute. First letsdefine the three rows within each set:Number of Round 1 Runs, Catch Ratioand Average Time.

Number of round 1 runs is just what itsays it is the total number of runs that

were used to determine the catch ratio andaverage time in each category. Under the#13 column, for instance, you will see thatin All Ropings there was a total of 21,944first round runs in 2008. Catch Ratio is alsopretty self-evident. It is simply apercentage of the teams that caught theirfirst steer in the particular roping typecategory. Of all the 21,944 #13 teams thatran in a 2008 season sanctioned or affiliateroping, 63.6% of them got an official time,as opposed to a no time, on their firstround steer. The Average Time figure wascomputed by first subtracting out all of theno times, then dividing the sum of all theremaining qualified times by the count ofqualified times. The average time then isthe average time of those that caught theirfirst steer.

O.K, now lets clarify what each ropingtype means. All ropings is simply that:every sanctioned and affiliate roping in

2008. Affiliate Ropings are non-sanctioned USTRC ropings where thecontractor uses the TRIAD handicappingsystem and provides USTRC with results.The earnings accrued at affiliate ropingscan be used by ropers to acquire Shoot-Out positions. Sanctioned ropings areapproved USTRC ropings that complycompletely with USTRC rules includingformats, prizes, payout, etc. and includesthe National and Regional Finals. Nat &Reg Ropings is limited solely to the sevenRegional Finals and the National Finals. Illget to the last category, Average RoperEntry Fee later.

Now that you understand themeanings of each roping type categoryand how catch ratio and average time isdefined, the Table might make a littlemore sense. You now have a par time toshoot for in almost every teamcombination. Keep in mind that this


Chart 1

2008 Season Catch Ratio by Team Combination and Roping Type

77.8

%

69.0

%

65.2

%

63.6

%

60.0

%

55.5

%

50.4

%

46.2

%

40.1

%

76.9

%

68.5

%

64.5

%

63.4

%

58.4

%

55.5

%

50.5

%

45.5

%

39.8

%

77.3

%

69.9

%

66.0

%

63.0

%

60.3

%

55.0

%

49.7

%

46.3

%

40.2

%

77.2

%

67.3

%

66.4

%

67.3

%

64.6

%

58.0

%

53.1

%

51.3

%

43.0

%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0%

Team Combination

Percen

t

All Ropings

Affiliate Ropings

Sanctioned Ropings

Nat & Reg Ropings

Linear (All Ropings)

All Ropings 77.8% 69.0% 65.2% 63.6% 60.0% 55.5% 50.4% 46.2% 40.1%

Affiliate Ropings 76.9% 68.5% 64.5% 63.4% 58.4% 55.5% 50.5% 45.5% 39.8%

Sanctioned Ropings 77.3% 69.9% 66.0% 63.0% 60.3% 55.0% 49.7% 46.3% 40.2%

Nat & Reg Ropings 77.2% 67.3% 66.4% 67.3% 64.6% 58.0% 53.1% 51.3% 43.0%

>15 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8

Chart 2

2008 Season Average Times by Team Combination and Roping Type

9.4

0 9.8

4 10.2

5

10.5

8 11.0

5 11.5

8 12.0

9

12.7

8

13.4

7

8.9

0

9.3

9

9.9

6 10.3

8 10.7

8

11.4

4 11.9

2

12.6

4

13.2

8

9.5

3 10.1

2 10.5

6

10.7

9 11.2

5 11.7

1 12.2

9

12.9

6

13.6

7

9.8

9

9.3

7

10.6

7

10.8

4

11.1

6 11.7

1 12.2

5

12.8

9

13.8

8

8.00

9.00

10.00

11.00

12.00

13.00

14.00

15.00

Team Combination

Averag

e T

ime

All Ropings

Affiliate Ropings

Sanctioned Ropings

Nat & Reg Ropings

Linear (All Ropings)

All Ropings 9.40 9.84 10.25 10.58 11.05 11.58 12.09 12.78 13.47

Affiliate Ropings 8.90 9.39 9.96 10.38 10.78 11.44 11.92 12.64 13.28

Sanctioned Ropings 9.53 10.12 10.56 10.79 11.25 11.71 12.29 12.96 13.67

Nat & Reg Ropings 9.89 9.37 10.67 10.84 11.16 11.71 12.25 12.89 13.88

>15 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8

12-14 By the Numbers:Layout 1 7/13/09 2:45 PM Page 13

14 / AUGUST 2009

average time, is just thatthe averageof every first round run in each particularroping type category. It is not the timethat won the roping. Heres the way Idlook at it. The average time posted inthis Table is your ceiling. You want tocatch all four of your steers in LESS thanthis time to have a chance at a check. Sowhen youre in the practice pen, andyoure a #11 team, since the Table saysthe average time for all ropings is 11.58as a #11 team combination, thats thetime you always want to be under. Whatcan you do with the catch ratio? We allknow we have to catch four in-a-row towin! Heres how Id use the catch ratio. Atany given roping, you will know howmany teams you are up against beforeyou start. Multiply the catch ratio timesthe number of teams three times. Thatwill tell you how many teams,approximately, are going to be leftstanding after three rounds. In otherwords, how many teams are going to beeligible for the short round. Heres anexample: youre at a 200 team #11 roping.Multiply 200 times 55.5%. Thats 111, thenumber of teams left after the firstround. Multiply 111 times 55.5%. Thats61.6, rounded up to 62, the number ofteams left after two rounds. Multiply 62times 55.5%, thats 34. The number ofteams left before the short round. Youknow that only 20 teams are going tomake the short round, so your time hasto beat 14 of those remaining teams. If itwas a 100 team roping, after doing themultiplication, there should only bearound 17 teams remaining at the end ofthree rounds (100x55.5%=55.5;55.5x55.5%=30.8; 30.8x55.5%=17). Sogoing in, you know that if you just catchthree, you will probably make the shortround. Thats the kind of thing you canuse catch ratios for.

Now some of you may be wonderinghow all this stuff helps with determininghow TRIAD is doing? After all, that is whythis whole thing got started. I choseaverage times and catch ratios becausethey are probably the best indicators of ateams overall ability. With that thought inmind, lets look at the Charts. I thinkChart 2 (2008 Season Average Times byTeam Combination and Roping Type)illustrates how effective TRIAD is atnumbering ropers correctly. Notice thesymmetry of Chart 2 as it takes theaverage times of each team combinationfrom the Table and plots them as bars onthis Chart. As the team combination

numbers decrease, not only do the theaverage times increase, the amount ofincrease from team combination numberto team combination number is at almostthe same ratio for each number change.Thats why I included a linear trend linefor All Ropings, the blue bars. Instatistics, a trend line is a modelingtechnique using linear regressionanalysis. I wont bore you with itsmathematical formula but suffice to saythat if the average time increased by theexact same amount for each decrease inthe team combination number, thestraight line would just clip the top ofeach and every blue bar on the chart.Now, as you can see, the blue bars dontquite match the trend line exactly but,boy, they come awful close. Look at the#13, #12, #11 and #10. The tops of thosefour bars do intersect right along the line.This is what tells me TRIAD is getting itright. If TRIAD was off, if ourclassifications numbers were not accurate,you would see a much greater variation inwhere the bars hit the line. You might evensee an instance or two where the slope inthe line is interrupted because an averagetime going down the line by teamcombination is actually less rather thanmore than the team combination numberpreceding it. But that is obviously not thecase. The same holds true for the catchratio Chart 1 (2008 Season Catch Ratio byTeam Combination and Roping Type),although not quite as symmetrical. Thereis a definite dip below the trend line withthe #15, #14 and the #8 teamcombinations. But I wouldnt attributethose dips to a flaw in TRIAD. In the caseof the #8, I would say thats a function ofthe lesser ability of a beginning roper tocatch. In the case of the #14 and #15,remember first, there is no #14 divisionat sanctioned events. So a #14 team isroping in a #15 division or in the Open.Regarding the #15s, even though there is a#15 Division, there are still a lot of #15teams that rope in the Open Division,particularly in the smaller ropings wherethere are not a lot of Open teams. Myguess is that teams roping in a divisionhigher than their status tend to press.Even though the #15 offers a seconds offhandicap, teams still might have atendency to press. And the more youpress, the more likely you are to miss.Thats my theory anyway. But these catchratio dips in no way detract from theefficacy of TRIAD. Ladies and gentlemenof the team roping community, overall

TRIAD is doing just fine, thank-you. I amnot going to kid you and say the system isperfect. Time and time again, we havereiterated it is not now nor ever going tobe. There will always be mis-numberedropers. But I think what these charts show,particularly Chart 2, the number of mis-numbered ropers has to be a smallminority or there would be greaterfluctuations in the uniformity of these charts.

But now lets turn to the disparitiesbetween the roping types. If you will lookat Chart 2, you can see that affiliateropings, the red bars, have a loweraverage time for each team combinationthan any other roping type except in the#15 where Nat & Reg Ropings had aslightly lower average time (9.37 to 9.39).I think there is a fairly reasonableexplanation for this. First of all, affiliateropings run the gamut from small localproductions to large, special, distincttype ropings like the Reno RodeoInvitational, which is a singular #11roping. While not the case with the PDL,most of these affiliate ropings are goingto have lower entry fees than sanctionedropings and they are likely to allow moreentries than sanctioned ropings. The lessmoney youve put up the more likelyyoure going to go for broke. Headersmake that throw right after they leave thechute while heelers throw right at thecorner. To substantiate this claim, look atthe bottom of the Table, Avg Roper EntryFee. For every combination, in ropingswith an entry fee of $100 or less, theaverage time is less than ropings withentry fees greater than $100. And in amultiple entry event, if youve enteredfour, five or six times or more, you knowyouve got some more chances coming soyoure apt to, again, go for broke. As aresult, youre going to see faster times.

Looking at the catch ratio Chart 1, themost interesting aspect I found was theroping type with the best catch ratio in allbut the #15 and >15 . . . National andRegional Finals. With all that moneyand/or Shoot-Out spots on the line, ropersare making extra sure they catch. Theaverage times at Nat & Reg Ropings arealso on the long side but that still indicatesto me the caliber of roper that enters.

Theres some more interesting stuff toglean from these Charts and Tables but Iwill let you browse around and see whatinterests you. Hopefully you can gain alittle insight that just might help how youapproach your roping. Happy browsing. n

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16 / AUGUST 2009

USTRC

GGOOLLDDPPLLUUSS

by Shawn Vargas

IHello Team Ropers,

hope youre having a great summerand getting to rope plenty. For

USTRC summer means were onthe downhill side of the 2009 season,waist deep into the Regional Finals andwading through final plans for theCinch National Finals of Team Roping.Its perhaps our busiest and mostfavorite time of the year. Aside from theRegional events, the USTRC eventschedule is chock full of greatsanctioned and affiliate ropings.Producers from all across the countryare working hard to give ropers theopportunity to qualify for the CinchNFTR, which is only a few monthsaway. Needless to say, theres a lot atstake for producers and ropers alike aswe head into the final stretch and thespotlight becomes ever so bright on theimportance of Shoot-Out positions andthe Flex Earnings program.

The Flex Earnings program allowsyou the flexibility to manage your Shoot-Out positions as best suits your needs.Every Shoot-Out position awarded in

2009 now comes with Flex Earnings of$6,000 per National Shoot-Out ($3,000per roper) and $2,000 per RegionalShoot-Out ($1,000 per roper). You mayapply your Flex Earnings in incrementsof $100 where you see fit, either at theRegional Finals or at the National Finals,

and Flex Earnings may be combinedwith your partners to qualify for anyRegional or National Shoot-Out. Its yourchoice! The same goes for Gold Plusmembers using their half memberShoot-Out, which is equal to $3,000 inFlex Earnings. That means you may use

continued on page 18

The first USTRC Regional Finals event of the year, the West Coast Regional Finals played out in PasoRobles, California. The team of Pam Kennedy and Jason Boegle roped four head in 36.02 secondsto win the roping and take home $3,532 in cash, trophy Martin saddles and a Gold Plus NationalShoot-Out worth $6,000 in USTRC Flex Earnings.

Two Oklahoma ropers, Brad and Devon Thrash roped four head in 35.03 seconds to win the Gold Plus roping at the IowaChampionships. Their accomplishments earned them $3,790 in cash, trophy Gist buckles and a Gold Plus National Shoot-Outworth $6,000 in USTRC Flex Earnings.

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18 / AUGUST 2009

your member Flex Earnings to qualifyfor any Regional Finals Shoot-Out orNational Finals Shoot-Out, whichincludes the prestigious Gold PlusShoot-Outs. Again, USTRC is leaving itup to you to manage your Flex Earningsaccount. Please manage it wisely inorder to take advantage of yourqualification to the very lucrative GoldPlus Shoot-Outs. I owe many thanks toall of you who have pre-entered theRegional Finals thus far. My goal is tomake the pre-entry process as seamlessas possible for you and so far this seasonits been the best ever. Thank you forhaving your entries so well organizedand ID #s in order.

The West Coast Regional Finals washeld June 25 thru 28 in Paso Robles,California. Pam Kennedy of Templeton,CA and Jason Boegle of Fernley, NVroped four steers in 36.02 seconds towin the Average of the Gold Plusdivision. The duo claimed customMartin saddles, National Finals Shoot-

USTRC

GGOOLLDDPPLLUUSS

c o n t i n u e d

continued on page 20

The team of Matt Imel and Monty Jacob earned the Gold Plushonors at the West Texas Championships. They posted a four headtotal of 38.85 seconds to collect a pair of trophy Martin saddles,$3,418 in cash and Gold Plus National Shoot-Out worth $6,000 inUSTRC Flex Earnings.

The father and son team of Brad and Devon Thrash collected a second Gold Plus victorywithin a month. This time they did it in their home state at the Oklahoma Championships.The duo roped four steers in 34.42 and earned checks worth $3,728, as well as trophy Gistbuckles and a Gold Plus National Shoot-Out worth $6,000 in USTRC Flex Earnings.

The team of Don Hockett and Larry Steele came form Wyoming to claimthe victory of the Gold Plus roping at the South Dakota Championships.They caught four steers in 32.96 seconds to claim $2,182 in cash, trophyGist buckles and a Gold Plus National Shoot-Out worth $6,000 in USTRCFlex Earnings.


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20 / AUGUST 2009

USTRC

GGOOLLDDPPLLUUSS

c o n t i n u e d

Outs worth $6,000 in Flex Earnings andchecks worth $3,532 for their effort. TheIncentive title of the Gold Plus ropingwent to the California team of ManuelJorge and Danny Fleming. They ropedtheir three steers in 41.93 seconds toclaim checks worth $2,270 along withGist buckles and National Finals Shoot-Outs worth $6,000 in Flex Earnings.Congratulations to all of you!

Pam Kennedy was also the high pointGold Plus member of the event. She wona total of $6,721 for her effort along withthe first of only seven limited-editionCrme de la Crme Gist Gold Buckles.Congratulations Pam!

I hope youre all loaded up on Shoot-Outs for the Cinch NFTR where onceagain, more than a million dollars willbe added to the payout. See all of theNFTR details in this issue ofSuperLooper Magazine or log ontoUSTRCs website at www.ustrc.com.Only two months remain of the 2009seasongood luck to all of you andremember you must catch to win!

Adios,Shawn Vargas

Ohio header, Scott Lehman teamed up with heeler, Ron Renzi of Virginia to win the Gold Plusroping at the North Carolina Championships. Their time of 50.27 on four head earned them $1,168in cash, a pair of trophy Gist buckles and a Gold Plus National Shoot-Out worth $6,000 in USTRCFlex Earnings.

New Mexico roper Del Hooker teamed up with TonySteele of Nevada to win the Gold Plus roping at Lasso DelNorte, held in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Their time of 36.05seconds on four head earned them $3,220 in cash, trophyGist buckles and a Gold Plus National Shoot-Out worth$6,000 in USTRC Flex Earnings.

Rock Springs, Wyoming was home to the Red DesertClassic where the team of Gary Cooper and BobCaldwell teamed up for a great showing and the winin the Gold Plus roping. Their four head total of 35.07seconds won them $2,394 in cash, trophy Gist bucklesand a Gold Plus National Shoot-Out worth $6,000 inUSTRC Flex Earnings.

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USTRC

championsPPRROOFFIILLEE

Fairgrounds inOklahoma City. Itwas a good place tobe but the pressurewas insurmountable and to hold andmaintain that lead would take deepfocus and concentration.

The pair was looking at putting$89,500 in their pockets. They were alsolooking at Martin Trophy Championshipsaddles, Gist Championship buckles,Tony Lama Full Quill Ostrich boots andWestern Horseman collectors prints. Itwas a phenomenal prizeline. BothHedeman and Echols knew aboutpressure. Both men had run thegauntlet before.

Thirty teams came back for the shortgo round in the #15 Shoot-Out and as themusic resounded off the coliseum wallseach team made preparations to rope. Alot was on the line. Two professional

And Then There Was Oneby Melinda Clements

T

22 / AUGUST 2009

here is just something to be saidabout someone who steps out oftheir comfort zone to explore and

try new things. Each new endeavorpresents a whole new set of challengesand guidelines. To accept the challengeand rise to the occasion is fairlyindicative of the fortitude anddetermination of the competitor.

Tuff Hedeman is that kind of athlete.His heeling partner, Cole Echols is thatkind of athlete as well. Both ropershave laid down all of their inhibitions,their limitations, their fears and theirconstraints to do something different.Both men confronted the challenge andmolded it to fit.

Hedeman and Echols were the highcall back team going into the short goround of the #15 Shoot-Out at theUSTRC National Finals of Team Ropingheld last October at the Oklahoma State

bullriders led the charge with a time of31.17 and a lead of almost two seconds.As the short go round unfolded it wouldbe a waiting game so see exactly whatwould transpire.

When the second high team backfailed to make a qualified run bothEchols and Hedeman took a deepbreath. And Then There Was One tookon a whole new meaning especiallysince the spot was held by twoChampion bullriders. It was one for thehistory books.

Echols felt some pressure as herode into the heelers box. I had onemore steer to rope, just one more steerand that just kept running through my mind.

#152008 USTRC National Champions

Tuff Hedeman Cole Echols

22-23 Champ Profile: CHAMP PROFILE 7/6/09 3:20 PM Page 22

I was confident in that I had theabsolutely best heeler I could possiblyhave, Hedeman voiced. I really dontrope that well but I had an awesomehorse and a great heeler. That is all Icould ask for to make it the bestpossible shot at a win. The pairneeded a time of 9.69 on their shortround steer to take the win.

When the final flag dropped on theshort go round of the #15 Shoot-OutTuff Hedeman and Cole Echols hadposted a time of 8.52 to take the win.The two bullriders had just set aprecedent for team ropers and thecrowd in the Oklahoma StateFairgrounds Arena let everyone knowhow special the win truly was.

It was a lot of money and a lot ofprestige especially, as Hedemanpointed out, he had pushed Echols intocoming. Echols had totally balked atcoming to the National Finals of TeamRoping in the first place.

I kind of shamed him into comingto the Finals, Hedeman explained. Wewere at a bullriding in Bozier City and Itold him I was going to enter us. Hedidnt want to come but Im sure he isglad now that we came to rope.


I am glad I came, Echols said. Itwas a lot of pressure and it is a lot ofmoney. I didnt think we needed torope. Im excited about being the highcall back team in the short go round andto win the #15 Shoot-Out is trulyexciting. Echols won a NationalChampionship at the NFTR in 2002 withArkansas header Randy Hearnsberger soit wasnt exactly uncharted territory.Regardless, the pressure wasntsomething to take lightly.

Hedeman pointed out he had beencoming to the USTRC National Finals fora long time. I come and rope with myboys, Hedeman said. Ive been comingto the Finals for a long time but have justnever done any good. We plan to be hereat the Finals all week. With this win inthe #15 Shoot-Out it will set us up so thatanything else from here on out will begravy. It definitely feels good.

The #15 Shoot-Out was a ropingabout champions whether in the ropingarena or the bullriding arena. At theUSTRC National Finals of Team RopingAnd Then There Was One and it isbullriders, Tuff Hedeman and ColeEchols, the #15 Shoot-Out Championsstand above the rest. n

Tuff Hedeman andCole Echols at theUSTRC 2008 NationalFinals in Oklahoma City.

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24 / AUGUST 2009

Rickey Greenwith

Horse Health

traveled much with your horse, you need to be observant sobefore a problem arises you can solve it. Do things like let bothhorses, if you have two, drink at once in the same bucket.Sometimes if one horse drinks the other will be enticed todrink. Also, if there is a water trough, let them drink there. Iknow its not good to water out of a public water trough, but ifthats where my horse will drink, Ill let him.

Purina is one of my sponsors, and Ive used Purina feedssince I was a kid. My dad fed Purina, and I have always fed it. Ihad a veterinarian tell me Equine Senior is a perfect feed. Itdissolves easily and a horse can get everything he needs fromit. You can even feed it by itself and not have to feed hay. Imtelling you this because I think I learned something about myblue horse when he had colic recently. What we did was feedhim just Equine Senior for three days, about four or five timesa day in small amounts, like a few handfuls. We soaked it inwater to make a soupy mush that would put water back in hissystem to help loosen the impaction. Now, Im not telling youhow to treat a colicing horse, but I found out a couple of thingsthat I think will help my horse. One thing is, if my horse wontdrink, I can put some Equine Senior in a bucket maybe twoinches deep, then put five inches of water on top of it and myhorse will drink the water to get to the grain.

The next thing is your hay has to go through 72 of smallintestine, then it comes to the area where it is digested. So,when I travel Im going to wet down my hay every time. Ibelieve this extra moisture will greatly enhance my horsesability to move his hay through his system. I think its veryimportant that if your horse is not drinking well on the road,dont feed too much hay and make sure you really wet it downso when he eats it will help to rehydrate him.

I know this in not a roping tip, but if you dont have aroping horse you cant rope.

Your Friend,

Rickey GreenGal. 1:9 & 10

wo weeks ago, my wife and daughter drove our horses down to south Texas to the Wrangler Junior High State

Rodeo Finals where my daughter competed for one week. The first day, they arrived around noon and it was hot

and humid. The water had a lot of chlorine in it, so my blue horsewould hardly drink anything. This horse is twelve and has beenaround the world, so he should drink. But his usual practice is tonot drink until the second day. What I usually do is not feed himany hay until he drinks. But, if I ride him for about an hour he will drink when I step off him. Then Ill feed him a little hay thesecond day.

My wife and daughter havent hauled this horse much. Theyjust started running poles and barrels on him and they left oldad to train another rope horse for himself. Anyway, they got tothe arena and rode the blue horse, and he did drink a little bit,but not a lot. They squirted him off and fed him his usual amountof hay and grain. The next morning old blue was lying down inthe stall and didnt want to get up. He was impacted, which iscommon for dehydrated horses.

The reason for telling this story is to stress that, if we dont pay attention,just a little mistake like this can cost a lot. I dont know what this horse is worth,but I know my daughter can head, heel, and run poles and barrels on him. And if he died, there would be a lot of tears shed.

What I usually do when I travel is totake some water from home, enough forabout a day and a half. Then when I stopto water, Ill offer my horses a drink of thelocal water, and if they refuse Ill bringout the home water. Most of my horseswill take a drink if I put a product calledHorse Quencher in the water, and oncethey start drinking they usually keepdrinking on the trip. If you havent

24 Rickey Green:Project1 7/6/09 1:25 PM Page 24

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26 / AUGUST 2009

Cribbing is an undesirablehabit/addiction that some horsesdevelop when confined. Horseowners generally try to halt the habit, anda number of methods can be used,including cribbing straps and collarswhich only stop the activity while thecollar is being worn. For a morepermanent solution some owners resortto surgery, which involves cutting thenerves at the tops of the neck musclesused for positioning the head forcribbing. Surgery is expensive, however,and only successful about half the time.

A less invasive and less expensivemethod is the installation of small metalrings between the horses incisors. Thehorse strikes the ring against the objecthes trying to grab with his teeth, and this causes painan instant deterrentthat changes his mind about wanting tocrib. Some veterinarians install theserings for clients who have tried othermethods (and failed) to halt their horsescribbing. One method is to drill a hole inthe bone above the gum and install asmall brass ring through the hole,holding the ring in place between thecentral incisors. Another method is touse hog rings, installed in the gum tissuebetween the teeth.

Chris Ray, DVM, MS, DACVS (EquineSports Medicine and Surgery,

Weatherford, Texas) uses hog ringsbetween the teeth, inserted through thegum tissue to hold them in place. This is aprocedure hes done for five years now, onabout 50 horses. He recommends thisprocedure when a client has already triedcribbing collars and is not satisfied withthem, or has maybe tried the surgery andit didnt work; the horse went back tocribbing. When it works, the surgerymakes it impossible for the horse to tuckhis head to suck air when he grabs a solidsurface with his top front teeth. But insome instances the nerves grow backtogether and the horse starts cribbingagain. The rings between the teeth workwell because it is pain related; the horsegets an instant discouragement when hetries to grab anything with his teeth.

The rings are simple hog nose rings,made of very stiff, hard wire about 2millimeters thick and about an inch or soin diameter. They are open before youinstall them, and basically just squeezedtogether to create a complete circle. Theyare sharp on both ends so they can beeasily put through the tissue (either thenose of a hog, or the gum of a horse)when squeezing them together.

We use a special pair of pliers thatcome with the rings, to install them, saysRay. We embed the ring in the gum above the teeth, though some people

put slightly larger rings through the boneabove the gums, he says. Putting a ringthrough the gum is faster; you dont haveto drill a hole through the bone, and itcan be done without anesthetizing thehorse. You use local anesthetic where thering will push through.

The length of time the rings stay inplace depends mainly on the horse. Somestay in for only a day or two while othersmay stay in for the life of the horse; someof the rings he hes put in have not comeout yet, and the owners want to leavethem in, since the horse is not cribbing.

With the rings through the gumtissue, they stay in fairly well in olderhorses. The rings may not stay in as wellin young horses because their teeth arentas long and the space between the teeth is different.

Before he recommends installingrings, he makes sure the owner iscomfortable with the idea of having therings put in.

As long as they dont feel bad aboutme just sedating the horse and usingtopical anesthetic on the gum (holdingsome cotton and a little anestheticagainst the gum for a moment beforeinserting the ring), this works fine. Itsvery fast, just a squeeze of the pliers toput the ring through the gum, explains Ray.

Once you establish that hole, itdoesnt hurt the horse much. Its not quite like piercing your ears, but if thering does fall out, you can put anotherone in through the same hole. This issomething the owner needs to checkevery day, to make sure the rings are stillin. If a horse loses one, its much easier onthe horse to put it right back in. Theres acallous around the hole. If we can use thesame hole to put another ring in, we will,he says.

If you arent checking the teeth daily,however, and are not aware that a ringhas pulled out and is missing, the holewill heal up and youd have to create anew one when installing a new ring. Some horses still try to crib or bite onthings with the rings in, and may bend orspread the rings and they come apart andcome out.

We usually put in three ringsone inthe middle (between the central incisors)and one on each side (between the cornertooth and the lateral incisor). The ones on

Cribbing Ringsby Heather Smith Thomas

HORSEHEALTH

26-27 Horse Health:Layout 1 7/10/09 4:36 PM Page 26

the sides generally stay in better. Manyhorses will wallow out the middle one butcant get the side rings out, and those willstill inhibit the cribbing. It all depends onthe individual horse. If you can keep thelateral ones in, the chances for inhibitingcribbing are good.

He hasnt had a horse continue to cribas long as the rings are in, but somehorses are difficult to keep the rings in. Ifa horse gets the rings out 2 or 3 times,then you might want to try putting a ringthrough the bone (between the centralincisors). It might stay in better, he says.

Ive never taken out a ring. Theyeither come out eventually on their own,or people just leave them in because theyare working to halt the cribbing. Buthorse owners do need to monitor thehorse and check the teeth every day or so.Ive never had a horse swallow one, andnever had one have a problem with aring. Ive never had a horse get a ringcaught on anything, and never had onerip a ring out. Putting the ring in is theworst part, then everything else is easyjust watching the horse to make sure itstays in, he says.

When a ring comes out, its usuallybecause the horse bends it and the ringopens up (no longer a complete circle)and falls out. The horse may be still trying to crib, or playing with the ring,and it bends.

Using pain/self punishment to haltcribbing may seem like a harsh deterrent,but the owner usually weighs this against

the damage done to the horse by cribbing.They wear their teeth out, and some

horses may colic due to cribbing. In thelong run they do more harm tothemselves (and the facilities) than thatinstant of pain if they try to crib.

This deterrent is much cheaper thansurgery (which may cost $1,500 to $2,500,depending on where its done).

To put in hog rings I charge the costof the sedation, plus $100, says Ray.

Theres no recovery time needed; thehole in the gum is not very sore and healsquickly. Horses dont go off feed at all.

Theres not much pain involved,regarding procedures done on the teeth.Even if you pull a horses tooth, hes rightback to eating again afterward. The littlebit of pain to put in a ring is instant andtemporary, he says.

The rings dont hang very much below the teeth so you cant see themunless you lift the lip to look at the teeth.The rings dont rub sores on the lip, andare very innocuous.

This method for halting cribbingseems to work very well in most cases,but the procedure is controversial. TheAAEP (American Association of EquinePractitioners) does not support the use ofhog rings for this purpose, since it has thepotential to cause pain and possibledamage to the gums and incisors. Theseare all factors that a horse owner shouldtake into consideration when looking atoptions to try to halt cribbing. n


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30 / AUGUST 2009

By Melinda Clements

There is a new star on the horizon.If you look carefully there is a glowand if team roping is your sport ofchoice this new star will take you bystorm and will certainly be a positiveaddition to the sport you so dearly love.

Rope the Ozarks is going to make an impact in ways no one could haveimagined. It started out as a smallbackyard roping production company

in 2000 when Kevin Hall and a group ofhis team roping buddies began puttingon ropings. Wanting to branch out andgrow, they expanded some in 2004 andbegan the process of taking it on theroad. They wanted to identify and growwith the USTRC. They became a part ofthe USTRC Affiliate program and withthat affiliation they began to develop aprofessionalism in team ropingproduction like no one could imagine.

Purchasing TOMA Sports fromPresident and owner Tom Abshire, Ropethe Ozarks suddenly had exclusive rightsto all of the Tulsa, Oklahoma arearopings as well as encompassingMissouri and parts of NorthernArkansas, successfully hosting teamropings in three states.

We are right in the Midwest where a large concentration of team ropershappens to be, said Kevin Hall. Wehave a lot of ropers in this area and sowe want to provide them with anopportunity to go to a good, fair andwell-produced team roping event. Weare going to capitalize on the fact thatthere are a lot of ropers in this area andwe certainly want to make our ropers a priority. We want to provide for themthe best ropings they can possible find anywhere.

Rope the Ozarks is a roper-drivengroup of individuals who focus on givingteam ropers everything they need tohave, not only a great time, but tosuccessfully compete in some greatteam roping productions. Not only is thegroup ropers themselves, they are agroup of businessmen with theknowledge and business savvy to make

Rope the Ozarks a roaring success.Rope the Ozarks is a self-sufficient

independent organization that offers thewhole deal, Hall explained excitedly.We have the cattle, we have theflaggers, the announcers the wholeproduction company. We really takepride in being able to offer the wholedeal. We own the cattle, we do thetrucking, and we can offer whatever youneed to have a successful roping.

The cattle come from Ozark ValleyRanch in Mountain Grove, Missouri and everyone in the group lives withintwo hours of each other. A group ofabout fifteen people actually put on the ropings with the original groupconsisting of about six or sevenindividuals.

Our goal is to be the biggestproduction company in the USTRC,said Hall. We are a young group, all ofus under the age of forty and as roperswe know what ropers want and expect.We are completely self-driven and self-sufficient.

Rope the Ozarks currently producesthe Northern Arkansas Classic. Theevent is one they took over in 2008 fromlong-time USTRC producers RonnieCarter and Larry Meek. This year thegroup moved the event to Bentonville,Arkansas to give it a refreshed look andfeel. With the purchase of TOMA Sportsfrom Tom Abshire they obtained therights to ropings in the Tulsa, Oklahomaarea. The Oil Capital Stampede will beheld in Tulsa December 4-6, 2009. Therewill also be other ropings in Februaryand March that have been previouslyproduced by TOMA Sports. All of these

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30-31 Insider:26 Insider 7/10/09 2:59 PM Page 30


events will now fall under the umbrellaof Rope the Ozarks.

We purchased those rights, Hallelaborated. It was a good move for usand we are excited about theopportunity to expand our businesseven more. We work closely with theUSTRC and think it was a positive movefor them as well.

Hall pointed out he wants to reachout to all ropers, women included. Weplan to offer event opportunities to thewomen ropers as well, he said. Wewant Rope the Ozarks to be synonymouswith team roping at its very best andaligning ourselves with the USTRC willhelps us reach that goal.

If you havent heard about Rope theOzarks by now you can rest assured youwill and you will want to rope at one oftheir ropings. This new group of ropersand businessmen have banded togetherand combined their interests and theirtalents to make team roping the best itcan be. Coupled with the USTRC, teamropers in the Midwest can be assuredthey will find a phenomenal production.Rope the Ozarks believes good cattle,good crew, and a roper-friendlyatmosphere are the key ingredients toproducing successful team ropingevents. They take great pride in theirproductions and consider their events tobe very roper friendly.

There is a glow in the Midwest, abeacon of sorts and it hangs over theOzarks; Oklahoma, Missouri andNorthern Arkansas. It beckons with anappeal that spells class, finesse and flair.A new star beams across the horizon butwith it comes an excitement about teamroping that has been a long timecoming; an asset to say the very least.Watch carefully; new things are brewingand they are focused on team ropers.Rope the Ozarks is a productioncompany with a flair for excitement andenthusiasm. Rope the Ozarks is a newlight hoping to shine brightly on ropersthroughout the Midwest. n

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30-31 Insider:26 Insider 7/10/09 2:59 PM Page 31

32 / AUGUST 2009

PART 3:

USTRC TransitionThe Coming of Age

Throughout the twenty-year historyof the USTRC, the organizationalstructure and direction hasundergone significant changes. In theearly years, the USTRC operated in avast expanse of the unknown. Howmany team ropers are there? How manyevents are too many..not enough?How can classifications be moreeffectively managed? etc. etc. As theearly years ticked by, the answers tothese questions and many more becamemore in focus. The USTRC was enteringinto an age of maturity, and along withthat maturation, it needed to transitionfrom an upstart organizationexperiencing skyrocketing growth tothat of a well-oiled machine, focused onmeeting the needs of its membership.These were the transition years of theUSTRC, and required a shift in not onlyoperational practices, but one of thephilosophical nature as well.

As the USTRC began to transition towhat is now the current state of theorganization, it proved ironic that manyof the rhetorical sell lines that theUSTRC initially hung its hat on were indirect contrast to the new direction theUSTRC needed to take. In an earlierarticle in this series, this was mentioned,but its significance during the transitionof the USTRC cannot be overstated.

During the mid to late 1990s, theplaying field began to come into focus.The USTRC had a feel for the number ofropers throughout the country, wherethey lived, how much they roped, andperhaps most importantly, how muchthey were willing and able to spend toparticipate in the sport. This last itemproved an important part of the puzzlein the transitional development as it

quickly became obvious that ropersacross the country varied widely in theirpersonal financial commitment to teamroping. Ropers in the Southeast, forexample simply would not accept ahigh entry fee format, while those inthe southwest part of the country couldnot get enough of them. It was not somuch the individual economic status ofteam ropers in different areas, as it was apersonal preference based on years ofpast event experiences.

Of course, the other factor thatplayed a major role during thetransitional years was the understandingof the sheer numbers of team ropers inthe different areas of the country. TheUSTRC had to construct events that fitthe roper density in each area. It wasclear that a one size fits all approachwould not be effective, and yet at thesame time, it was necessary for theUSTRC to be viewed as homogenousthroughout the country.

These and a number of other issuescame to be solved by how the USTRCaltered the format for its eventsthroughout the country. While it wasimportant to establish uniformity withregards to the look and feel of its eventsas much as physically possible, therewere a wide variety of format optionsestablished by the USTRC. Its fair to saythat the tinkering of USTRC formatsduring the mid to late 1990s, thoughoften confusing to ropers during thisperiod, was an essential part of thetransitioning of the sport into themodern age.

One of the problems addressed byformat tinkering during this period wasthat of the limited entry dilemma. TheUSTRC, since its inception had made it aconscious effort to sell the concept oflimited entry into the core thinking ofevery roper. While this was a criticalcomponent during the establishment ofthe USTRC, it proved a hindrance as

time moved forward. By the mid to late90s the USTRC had a fairly solidunderstanding of the number, locationand entry habits of ropers, yet it wasbound by its own one roper/one entrymantra that it had spent nearly a decadedriving home. However, byaltering/tinkering with the format at itsevents, the USTRC was seemingly ableto continue to adhere to its establishedphilosophies while expanding theopportunities of ropers to enter itsevents.

One of the easiest ways was to simplyadd more divisions. While the earlyUSTRC events offered just five divisions,it would soon offer seven. Even moresignificant was the introduction of theIncentive within each division, whichessentially doubled the number ofopportunities for ropers to enter USTRCevents..all while still abiding by thelimited entry philosophy.

Of course this still did not fullyaddress the issue of maximizing theentry potential of ropers in some partsof the country. In areas of low roperdensity, the problem was simple. It wasthat of too few ropers. In thosecircumstances the only solution was toallow multiple entries in adivision.hence the introduction of theinfamous USTRC, Format 1, format 2,format 3, Format 4, and even a fewspecialized formats specifically alteredfor certain areas of the country.

No question about it, the formattinkering of the transitional period was akey element in transforming the USTRCand in fact the entire sport of teamroping into a new era. Still, this was notthe only significant point oftransformation. Perhaps the greatestundertaking of all by the USTRC duringthe transition period was that of takingon the complete overall of theclassification system.

If there was one thing that was clear

32-33 USTRC History:Layout 1 7/13/09 3:36 PM Page 32


throughout the history of the USTRC, itwas a continual concern byroperseven distrust in somecasesregarding the procedure andpractices of the USTRC in thedetermination of roper classifications.Though it was well understood at thebeginning that someone literally satdown and began assigningclassificationsan undertaking that wasfully embraced and applauded byropersit didnt take long for them tobegin to find fault in the process.Though, more often getting it right thanwrong, the USTRC continually battledropers who felt as though they did notwin because they were over-classified, oranother team won because they wereunder-classified. Naturally, with therealways being a greater population ofropers not collecting winnings that theother.it provided fertile ground forgrowing discontent.

The USTRC tried a number ofstrategies to squelch this discontent overthe years, but nothing really seemedvery effective. The feeling by ropers wasthat despite the processes that were inplace to make ropers feel as though itwas beyond reproach, someone, orperhaps a handful of some-ones wereultimately making the final calls onclassifications and therefore making it agrossly flawed system. While thisconclusion may not have been accurate,ropers understanding of how theprocess was actually carried out wasfairly accurate.

The solution was obvious, yet theundertaking enormous. The USTRC hadto implement a complete overhaul ofthe process whereby the determinationof a ropers classification relied more onupon empirical, performance and datathan it did by subjective observation.

In 2005, after more than a year ofplanning and preparing the

infrastructure for the change, the USTRCimplemented the TRIAD system forclassifying ropers. It was a system fordetermining classifications which cameat an enormous expense to the USTRCwith no guarantee of roper acceptance.Its fair to say it was an investment thatpaid off. Though the issue ofclassifications will never be one thatrests among ropers for the reasons listedpreviously, since the implementation ofthe TRIAD classification system, a newcalm has fallen over the subject withropers accepting the reality that theUSTRC has systematically anddramatically improved the accuracy ofthe process.

It seems the implementation of theTRIAD system signaled the end of thetransition years for the USTRC, and thearrival to the modern age of teamroping. Still it would not be a completeanalysis of the period withoutmentioning a significant philosophicalshift during this period.

During the early USTRC years ofphenomenal growth, ropers were ropers.No one knew or really cared how theycame to be team ropersthey justsomehow were, and they came to rope.However as the USTRC began tounderstand the roping population as awhole, it also began to understand thatfor the sport to survive into the future itneeded to focus on developing a newgeneration of ropers. Though this seemsan obvious effort by the USTRC to

anyone involved in the sport today, itwas not necessarily always the case.

Along with the USTRCs shift inphilosophy to aggressively nurture thenext generation of ropers, it alsorenewed its commitment to providingand encouraging of a family friendlysporting culture. Years of suchphilosophy are now more evident thanever. Not only is it commonplace to findentire families competing at USTRCevents, the success of the philosophycan be seen regularly. At any givenUSTRC event you will find roperscompeting and winning in the Opendivision that were only a few years agojust breaking out in the most novicedivisions. Already U.S. and WorldChampion team ropers can be identifiedas those who years earlier competed onmany a Sunday afternoon withsunburned faces, oversized hats andtheir dads worn out rope to capture acoveted USTRC Dummy Ropingtitle..and more are yet to come.

The transition years were importantones for the USTRC and haveestablished the foundation for themodern era. The investment by theUSTRC in its infrastructure as well asits visionary philosophicalcommitment to the future is what haskept the organization strongthroughout the years and keeps itthriving during the most economicallychallenging times in the last sixtyyears. A long-term commitment to thesport and to ropers has kept it strongand will insure the sanctity of the sportwell into the future. n

32-33 USTRC History:Layout 1 7/13/09 3:37 PM Page 33

34 / AUGUST 2009

The Spark!In most businesses that start up

today there are typically a couple issuesthat stir the entrepreneurial sprit andcause the leap to self employment.Sometimes you can be perfectly happywith your current situation and at thetop of your game only to have someonesay, It cant be done. These words offera challenge Americans find almostimpossible to resist.

Thats basically what happened toRandy Bloomer about ten years ago.Already a successful trailer dealer, Randywent to his manufacturer of choice withthe concept of a truly top-of-the-linetrailer only to hear the magic words,It cant be done. By the time he leftthe parking lot the wheels werealready turning and theconcept for BloomerTrailers was born.

Non-Standard StandardsKnowing his customers better than

anyone, Randy knew that manyconsumers were willing to pay more forthe best and, having been a dealer, heknew dealers were tired of quality andwarranty issues arising. He also knewthat trailers really come down to manydifferent components combinedtogether on a quality structure to create

a high quality, reliable unit. So, when thefirst plans started making their way toblueprints, the decision was made tostart from the bottom up.

Thus, every Bloomer trailer is builton Dexter torsion axles combined withKodiak electric over hydraulic discbrakes. They also come standard withAlcoa aluminum rims for strength andmaximum heat dissipation, along withMichelin tires. All of this lays the

The USTRC and Bloomer Trailer Manufacturinghave recently joined forces to become one of thenewest sponsorship partners in the sport of teamroping. Both the USTRC and Bloomer Trailers arefront runners in their industries and the partnershipis a perfect fit and great for team ropers.

Like the USTRC, Bloomer Trailer Manufacturing

has a rich history in diligence, quality anddetermination. It is these factors that have helped theBloomer name become synonymous with the highestquality living quarters horse trailers in the world.Their humble beginnings have led them down a roadof consistent success with innovations that continueto set them ahead of the competition.

Bloomer Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Todays Leader

34-41 Trailering:Layout 1 7/13/09 11:35 AM Page 34


foundation for the all-aluminum chassisto rest on. As the build continuesupward you find all tubular constructionthroughout the entire trailer and allelectrical connections soldered, notsimply twisted with a lock nut.

When it comes to the horsecompartment Bloomer likes to say, Webuild our trailers around the horses,meaning they are designed formaximum comfort and safety of theanimals. This is obvious when you seewalls and roofs that are fully lined andinsulated. These standard features alongwith their exclusive drop windows insidethe swinging feed doors will surely giveyou easy access to your valuable cargo.If you have any doubt how confidentBloomer is that their trailers will standthe test of time, you need look nofurther than the industry-leading, 10-year structural warranty.

Luxury of Home, On The Road

If you have ever been inside theliving quarters of a Bloomer trailer youknow they are second to none. If youhavent been inside one you really needto see these with your own eyes.Working with the leading conversioncompanies in the business these unitscan easily be as nice as or nicer thanyour house. They boast everything fromsuede walls and leather couches tostamped copper sinks and ceilings.Every knob, button and handle matchesthe theme you decide on for your newhome away from home.

All About BloomerLocated in Salado, Texas, Bloomer

Trailers was founded in 1998 by RandyBloomer who over sees the day-to-day

operations of the business. Theycurrently build 175 trailers a year withapproximately 55 full time employees.Randy tells us he is committed tobuilding the highest quality traileravailable on the market but, before youask him to match a competitors price,hell ask them to match his quality.

Having been on the dealer side of thebusiness for many years Randy has afirst-hand understanding of what adealer needs from the manufacturerthey represent. So you can count onnothing less than complete factorysupport from the marketing all the waythrough the final sale when you carrythe Bloomer line. n

For more information on becoming aBloomer dealer you can contact themdirectly at 800-390-6377 or visit themonline at www.bloomertrailers.com

Take a look at some of the awesome features on todays Bloomer Trailers

Recessed Step Above Ladder PowderCoated Black With Intergrated

Haypod And Generator Platform

Custom Side Tack withSaddle Butlers

External TV with Stained Glass Door

Intergrated Haypod, Added Insulation, withGenerator Platform5x10 Slide Out Porch Available on Todays Bloomer Trailer


36 / AUGUST 2009

Flat tires are the leading cause ofdisablements involving horsetrailers. USRider is involved in aresearch project with Dr. TomasGimenez to test the benefit (if any) ofusing air vs. nitrogen to inflate towvehicle and horse trailer tires. Anelectronic air-pressure monitoringsystem is being used to assist with theresearch. During the research, Dr.Gimenez and USRider have notedsignificant safety benefits resulting fromusing this system.

At USRider, we are all about safetywhen it comes to trailering horses. Andafter five years of doing what no othercompany has ever done providingemergency roadside to our members we strongly believe installing an air-pressure monitoring system is one of themost proactive steps one can take toprevent a blowout, said Mark Cole,managing member for USRider.

While blowouts occur without

warning, they typically result from theunder-inflation of tires, which causesexcessive heat buildup. This is especiallyevident during the summer drivingseason when roads are hot. Under-inflated tires run hotter than tires thatare properly inflated. The use of amonitoring system can significantlylower the incidence of a blowout. Somecommonly used systems includePressurePro, SmarTire and Tire Sentry.

From the standpoint of preventing abreakdown due to tire failure whiletrailering horses, this is one of the bestproducts we have seen in a long time.The system works by constantlymonitoring pressure through wirelesstransmitters located on each valve stem.A drop or increase in pressure of 10percent or more will sound an alarm inthe cab. This gives the driver theopportunity to take appropriate actionbefore the tire goes completely flat orblows out, said Cole.

Right now, many people are drivingdual-wheeled vehicles with a flat insiderear tire. While the inside tire may lookinflated, its actually being supported bythe outside tire, which is doing all of thework and can overheat and fail. Thissituation is easily detected by one ofthese systems, said Dr. Gimenez.

USRider Urges Horse Ownersto Use Air Pressure Monitor

Electronic Device Helps Prevent Dangerous Blowouts

For horse trailers, horse ownersshould follow the inflationrecommendation listed on the sidewallof the tire. For tow vehicles, it isrecommended to follow the inflationguidelines for that vehicle pleaseconsult your owners manual or see theinflation placard on the vehicle.

It is recommended that horseowners check the tire pressure of alltires at least monthly, making sure tocheck the air pressure on spare tires.Additionally, it is recommended thattire pressure be checked when the tiresare cold (before traveling).

USRider reminds also recommendsthat only tires specifically designed andrated for trailers be used never useautomobile tires on a horse trailer.

Numerous air-pressure monitoringsystems are available. We recommendsystems that monitor air pressureconstantly (when the vehicle is parkedand not in use) and do not requiredismounting of tires to install, saidCole. Additionally, USRider recommendsmonitoring spare tires. n

For additional safety tips, visit theEquine Travel Safety Area on theUSRider website at www.usrider.org.

USRider provides roadsideassistance and towing services alongwith other travel-related benefits to itsmembers through the Equestrian MotorPlan. It includes standard features suchas flat-tire repair, battery assistance andlock-out services, plus towing up to 100miles and roadside repairs for towvehicles and trailers with horses,emergency stabling, veterinary referralsand more. For more information aboutthe USRider Equestrian Motor Plan,visit www.usrider.org online or call 1-800-844-1409.



TRAILER SAFETYlthough many of us are in themiddle of the team roping seasonand our rigs are rolling along

pretty well, there is never a bad time todo a thorough inspection of our trailersfor signs of wear and tear. Catching apotential problem early can save a lot ofheadaches and stress, literally, down theroad. Replacing a worn tire, checkingand repacking wheel bearings or even asimple bulb replacement can save youfrom making roadside repairs, in themiddle of the night on the side of alonely highway.

Here is a list of possible problems tocheck prior to hitting the road again.

UndercarriageThe hardest area to do a

routine check is the undercarriage, but itis one of the most important areas. Lackof maintenance in this area oftencontributes to major roadside problemsand even accidents.

s Under the front of the trailer, check allof the hitch bracing to ensure they arewelded or bolted solidly in place.

s The entire undercarriage frameshould be checked for cracks offatigue, as well as broken welds orloose bolts.

s Fenders should be bolted solidly inplace and be in good condition.

s The axle springs should be solidlyattached to anchor and pivot pointsand the leaves of the spring should liein alignment on top of each other.

HitchThe tow vehicle connects to

the trailer through the hitch andwhether you have a bumper pull orgooseneck trailer, this is a critical areathat requires attention when doing aroutine check.

s Check the overall hitch mechanismfor wear, loose bolts and cracked orbroken welds.

s The cap and jaws should be free fromrust pockets, deep scores or cracks.

s Check hinge pins and fasteners forsigns of loosening or excessive wear.

s If the nosepiece is bolted onto thetongue, make sure bolts are tight

s Ensure both safety chains are securedand long enough to crisscross andattach to the towing vehicle.

Wheels, Tires and Brakes

This is where the rubber meets theroad and a crucial area that often fails.Proper tire inflation, worn tires, cracked,bent or broken wheels and the trailerbrakes are some of the importantfeatures that need routinely checked toensure you and your horses safety whiletraveling.

s Wheels should be unbent and tires ingood condition.

s Check tire pressure and look for signsof excessive tire wear.

s Have all trailer brakes inspected andreplaced as needed.

s Check for wheel bearing wear andrepack the bearings.

s Check electric brakes as well as thebreak-away brakes

Overall ExteriorAlthough the exterior of the

trailer does not often fall under the mostimportant area for safety issues, youshould check for signs of damage andrepair the areas to ensure you do nothave problems down the road.

s Check for loose, missing or brokenscrews, bolts and rivets over the entireexterior of the trailer

s Look for damage to brackets, latches,tie rings, fenders, etc.

s Ensure that all latches hold tight.s Look for any broken, sharp metal

edges which could cut horses or people

A Overall InteriorThe interior of your horsetrailer needs your best attention.Broken, loose or worn areas can causeserious damage to your horse duringtravel. An in-depth inspection canundercover potential problems andprotect your horses.

s Check for broken welds and loosebolts along the entire interior of the trailer.

s Inspect the interior for wear anddamage which could injure your horses.

s Check the roof for broken bolts and rivets.

s Look for sharp points and edges.s Check the floors of hay mangers for

wear and damage.s Replace any trailer mats that may be

torn or have worn edges which maycurl up under horses feet.

s Check the trailer floor for rottenspots, particularly along the edgesand front corners.

s Interior sidewalls may start to showwear and rust and should be repairedas needed.

s Dont forget to inspect the tackcompartment or dressing room. Besure to look for leaks and seal upholes and/or worn out door seals.

Electrical SystemAlthough problems in the

electrical wiring of a horse trailer canbe confusing at times and often need tobe repaired by a technician, simplefixes and bulb replacements can bedone easily.

s Check your trailer electrical cable andplug for excessive wear.

s Check all trailer lights and replacebulbs make electrical reapirs.

s Check to make sure the left and rightturn signals are correct and that yourstop lights work and are bight.


38 / AUGUST 2009

2

3

4

5 1

65

4

3

2 1

6

Marked

1

2

3

4

5

6

Color

Brown

White

Yellow

Green

Blue

Black or Red

Function

TailLights

Ground

Left Turn

RightTurn

ElectricBrakes

12v

Note: center terminal is 6

Truck EndTrailer End

6 Way ConnectorThis is most commonly used on horse trailers, stock

trailers, and utility trailers. When changing connectors, match the positions from old

to new or better yet test for function and be sure theconnector is wired to the standard code.

Also notice that the center (A) terminal is neither thebrake terminal nor the ground terminal. The center terminalis listed as an auxiliary terminal and is used for eitherbackup lights or a 12-volt (+) wire. It is recommended thatthe middle terminal be wired for 12 volt (+) for charging thebreakaway switch battery. Breakaway switches are nowpretty much required on most trailers with electric brakesand a charged battery is required for proper operation.

Nothing is worse than turning on your lights at dusk only to find that your trailer lights arent working. When you stop your rig on the side of the road, you discover that thetrailer plug is damaged. It may have been snagged and pulled apart when turning, or perhaps fell out of the socketand was dragged to the bare wires. Now you must make aroadside repair.

Typically five, sometimes six wires are required to supplythe trailers electrical equipment. Know which wire goeswhere or keep a schematic of the trailer plug in your vehicleto avoid time and aggravation should this happen to you.

Here are simple to read wiring diagrams for both a 6-wayplug and the newer 7-way plug.

5 2

4 3

6 1

Color

Blackor Red

Green

Blue

White

SmallYellow

Brown

Yellow

Gage

10

14

12

10

14

14

10

CircuitFunction

12v

RightTurn

ElectricBrake

Ground

Left Turn

RunningLights

Auxiliary12v

Connector Interior

Note: #7 is the center terminal and currently is most commonly used for backup lights

2 5

3 4

1 6

#

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Color

Blackor Red

Green

Blue

White

SmallYellow

Brown

Yellow

Gage

10

14

12

10

14

14

10

CircuitFunction

12v

RightTurn

ElectricBrake

Ground

Left Turn

RunningLights

Auxiliary12v

Connector Interior

Wiring Code 7 Way Truck End Wiring Code 7 Way Trailer End

Wiring Diagram

ROPERS: Keep this page with these diagrams handy in yourvehicle in case you ever need to do a roadside repair.

7 Way ConnectorThis connector style is m

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