Roping’s 10 Commandments with Robbie Schroeder
By A.J. MANGUM, originally published in the May 1999 issue of Western Horseman You’re an amateur roper, one who ropes strictly for sport. You might be a newcomer to roping, or you might be a veteran header or heeler, a fixture at weekend jackpots. Either way, you know the demands of your pastime. You also know that those demands can be so overpowering a roper might have days when he questions whether he wants to pick up his rope or leave it untouched. The roper who can cope with competitive pressure, focus on horsemanship, balance his progression with his horse’s training, and gauge his own skill can avoid frustrations that might lead to burnout. Trainer and world champion roper Robbie Schroeder offers these 10 rules to help a roper develop the mindset to focus on success rather than failure. 1. Finish Your Horse’s Training A roper might begin a horse’s training-or even send his horse to a trainer-but not get the job finished. Too often, a roper reaches a point where he believes he can rope well on his horse, then decides the horse’s training is complete. The horse might be prepared to enter the roping box, Schroeder says, but winning is another story. “An amateur roper really needs a finished horse,” Schroeder says. “Some ropers are tempted to take a young horse and try to learn with the horse. That just doesn’t work. An amateur needs to learn as he goes. He can’t teach his horse at the same time.” Instead, a novice should buy a well-trained mount with solid skills as a roping horse. Such a partner can be an amateur’s best teacher. 2. Fit Equipment to Your Horse Don’t be tempted by trends or influenced by other ropers’ gear choices. Experiment with different types of saddles and tack, then use what makes your horse most comfortable “Most importantly, make sure your tack fits your horse properly,” Schroeder says. “If it doesn’t, he’ll be uncomfortable. You can’t have a good run on an uncomfortable horse.” 3. Practice “You will always need to practice,” Schroeder stresses. “A lot, in fact. If I’m not roping off a horse every day, I’m at least roping a dummy every day.” Once a roper learns to catch consistently, it’s easy to be tempted by the idea that practice schedules can begin to ease. Resisting that temptation, Schroeder says, is the mark of a dedicated roper. “There’s no excuse for not practicing,” he says. “Even if you don’t have your own place to ride, you can certainly set up a roping dummy and solve a lot of problems that have nothing to do with your horse.” 4. Escape the Arena 46
“A lot of ropers never ride just to ride or to exercise their horses,” Schroeder says. “When they saddle up, they head straight for the roping arena.” Riding outside the arena—perhaps to work cattle or trail ridegives a roper a chance to become better acquainted with his horse, and provides the horse a refreshing break and new surroundings. It also helps a roper develop as a rider, giving him an edge when he returns to the arena. 5. Don’t Jump the Gun One of the deadliest sins a novice roper can commit, Schroeder points out, is leaping into competition without adequate preparation. Selfimposed deadlines and pressure from other ropers might push an amateur into ropings, rodeos, or horse shows before he’s ready. The result: a roper disappointed in his performance and disgusted with his choice of a sport—a roper on the verge of quitting before he gets started.
6. Keep Your Eyes Open If a roper pays attention at competitions, he can back into the chute with a few competitive advantages. “While you’re waiting in the arena for your turn, watch the barrier, watch the cattle,” Schroeder says. “If you happen to draw a steer you remember as good or bad, you need to know what to do. You can’t remember all of them, but you can remember the exceptional ones.” 7. Cope With Competitive Pressure It’s easier said than done, but a roper must learn to block out, or at least reduce, the pressure he feels in competitive environments. “Treat a competitive run just like a practice run,” Schroeder advises. “Keep your mindset the same as when you’re at home. Let everything be normal and think positively.” 8. Don’t Be Intimidated To be competitive in any endeavor, you have to see your competitor—any other competitor—as your equal, regardless of your opponent’s past records or bravado. “That has to be your attitude if you’re trying to win,” Schroeder says. “You’re there to compete, so compete. Don’t be intimidated by anyone, and don’t let the other guy beat you before you get a chance to rope. You can’t progress that way.” 9. Know Your Speed Limit In roping, speed is everything. Right? Wrong. “Too many ropers think more about speed than skill,” Schroeder believes. “Work on your accuracy first. Being accurate at a slower speed is better than being fast, but inaccurate. Slow down and let everything come together.” 10. Ask for Help “You can never learn everything,” Schroeder says. “Even professional ropers learn from each other. Instead of creating your own bad habits by coming up with your own solutions to problems, ask someone for help. There are any number of people who will help you if you ask, but if you don’t ask, few of them will volunteer. “Remember that you can always learn something—even if it’s something minor—from anyone. Even ropers with less talent can often teach you something.” JANUARY 2021
Junior Nogueira-
Yesterday, we
lost the best horseman ever, in my opinion. The first time I ever came to America, the first place I ever roped a steer at was Robbie Schroeder’s arena. It had rained the day before, and my Brazilian friends’ arena was wet, so Robbie invited us over to rope. That day, I ran some steers and he gave me more horses to ride and rope on. At the time, I didn’t know anything. I had come with a friend, who spoke pretty good English, but I didn’t speak much at all. Robbie invited me to come stay, and he was so amazing with horses. I didn’t have to understand word-for-word what he was saying, because I could watch what he did with his horses and know what he was telling me. I went home, and came back and stayed with him for six months working for him and helping with the show horses. He had bucking bulls back then, and I always went with him and we had so much fun. In the years that followed, Robbie told me every time I spoke to him, “I’m so proud of you, I love you like a son.” He believed in my roping, and he’s who taught me to be a horseman. He’d say over and over again how good I roped, and he showed me how to really see a horse for what it was. The great horsemen of this generation learned from Robbie. You could watch him and not be able to figure out what he was doing, and then suddenly you’d see the horse melt to him. He could see the skill in a horse—whether the horse knew much or not—better than anyone I’ve seen. He’s who found Green Card, the horse that got me through the bulk of my career. And he’s who was so proud of me at this year’s World Show and encouraged me with Hali. I last spoke to him during the NFR, when he built me up with confidence when I needed it. Robbie was just 62. He was young. And he was a great friend, who has contributed to my whole life more than I can explain. I will miss him, but I’m thankful for the lessons he taught me and the chance he gave this young kid from Brazil.
