SuperLooper-May 2010 by Western Sports Publishing

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SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE THE MAGAZINE FOR TEAM ROPERS MAY 2010

Feature

HAULING & PULLING ALSO INSIDE:

CLASSIFICATION Where the Wolves Meet the Sheep

George Strait Team Roping Classic

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WORDS CAN’T DESCRIBE THE CLASSIC FEEL

S UCCE S S I S I N YOUR HANDS

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LIVE STEER REQU IR E M E N T S Purchase Expense (10 head @ $350 = $3,500) Containment Expense and Time (pasture, holding pens, arena supplies) Feed and Veterinary Expense Time Expense (loading, breaking in, wraps) Roping Partner Required Roping Arena Required

H E E L - O- M A T I C BENEFI TS

Injured Animals = Investment and Practice Loss Re-sell Steers at Huge Loss

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USTRC Championship Results 70 74 78 84 90 94 98 102 106 110

FEATURES 8 10 12 16 19

Just the Way It Is by Ben Clements USTRC Announcements By the Numbers by John Findlay Gold Plus Report by Ty Hillman Champions Profile

California Championships Florida Championships Colorado River Classic Oklahoma Winter Classic Louisiana Championships Northern California Classic Tennessee Championships Northeast Kansas Classic Washington Championships New Mexico Championships

Craig Huffines & Bubba Schmidt

USTRC Insider Classification: Where the Wolves meet the Sheep by Gary Poythress

26 28

Top Tips with Rickey Green Horse Health — Straight From the Horse’s Mouth by Dr. Crystal ChristmanLegacy Equine Centre

The Psychology of Team Roping by Allen Bach

2010 GEORGE STRAIT 34 TEAM ROPING CLASSIC 38

SPYDR Rope — What’s the Word on the New 5-Strand Rope? Part II by Melinda Clements

Upcoming Event— Wyoming Spring Championships

50 54

USTRC On Tap US Open Tour Standings

FEATURE

HAULING & PULLING

40 COVER PHOTO: Courtesy of Lone Wolf Photography, Kempner, TX

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JUS T the Wa y IT IS

t is May and I am so glad. This month brings warm weather, May flowers and lots of sunshine. It just does my heart and soul good to be alive in such a great time. May brings a newness and refreshment to my life. Sometimes we all need a little shot in the arm and a new beginning. I know there are a lot of things going on in the world that can bring each of us down, but it is time to focus on the good. We live in a great country where we have the freedoms and rights that others do not have. We just have to open our eyes to see and our hearts to receive the blessings all around us. Last night I had a conversation with an old friend of mine, and she made a statement to me that really hit home. She said, “Sometimes the best things for you are right in front of you and you just don’t know it.” That really set me to thinking and touched me in a lot of ways because it is so true. Many times we get caught up in how we think things are supposed to go and we forget to listen to, or see, what God has in store for us. We kind of miss the boat so to speak. We have a tendency to not see the open doors that are right in front of us because we get so focused on the closed ones and what we think is right. I know I am very guilty of doing exactly that. There are so many times I have not seen what was right in front of me because I have wanted something else, or at least thought I did at the time. I missed the good before me because I thought I knew what was best. If we will just trust God and believe in ourselves things will turn out how they are supposed to. No matter how hard we fight it, God will take care of us. He will show us the way every time. God will never put something on our plate that we cannot handle. We might get weighted down, but it is only because we try to bear and carry it all by ourselves without any help. He is always there for us to hand things over to, but we have to make the effort to give it all to God; all the good, all the bad, all the worries—everything has to be given to Him. Believe me, I know this is a lot easier said than done, but it can be done. Sometimes, we get that sinking and drowning feeling, like there is no way out, when the way out is right before us and has been all along. God does things for us all the time. More times than not, we fail to realize or even recognize that He has been handling our business for a long time. He places people and situations in our lives for a reason. He puts us in specific circumstances for a divine purpose. He grooms us and prepares us even when we fail to comprehend that He has been deeply involved in our life all along. We may fight, balk or run away, but He never gives up on us and works diligently to make us the best we can be. It is kind of like us and our horses. Each day we ride, groom, primp and prime our horses. We do this so they will

MAY 2010 be ready when we ride into the arena and use them for competition. Sometimes, they fight, shy away or don’t understand what we are doing. However, in the end it is for the best for them. We are a lot like our horses when it comes to God. Although we may not understand everything that is going on in our lives, we are in every situation to fulfill a plan we may never understand or grasp until it all comes together. God places things in our path and it is our sense of duty and obligation to recognize and look for the good. Sometimes, we fail to trust and see what is right before us. There is an old saying, “You cannot see the forest for the trees.” No doubt that old saying tends to ring true if we stop and think about it. It has been hard for me to understand that there really are people out there who do things for us, and they expect absolutely nothing in return. They do things just because they want to and they are there because God placed them there for us. There are people who care about and want the best for us. There are times in our lives when, “the best things for you are right in front of you and you don’t even know it.” There is a song that I love and it is called “Open the Eyes of my Heart.” If you have never heard it, I can tell you the version I love is sung by one of our producers and his friend. The most beautiful version of the song is by Zanga Schutte and Kimo Hoopai from Hawaii, although Randy Travis does a nice job as well. The song tells us to open the eyes of our heart and allow us to see God. Open the eyes of your heart and trust in God. Open the eyes of your heart and let others be a part of you. Open the eyes of your heart and see all that is good and wonderful. Open the eyes of your heart and be the best person that you can possibly be. My hope for you this month is that you open your eyes and see what is right in front of you. It just might be something good! More than that, it just might be something great. Let the month of May be a refreshment and blessing to you. Let a newness come over you and open up your heart. There is so much to be thankful for and so many things we should never take for granted. Appreciate what you have. Treasure those in your life and remember blessings are where you find them. You never know when all of that can be gone. Embrace all that life has to offer. Welcome and value all that God has blessed you with. Begin each day with a smile and be alert and conscious of everything. Make yourself aware and look around you so that no matter what happens you won’t miss a thing and that is just the way it is…

128 Riding Herd

by Lee Pitts

129 On the Edge of Common Sense by Baxter Black

130 The Other Half

by Gracie Mae

132 Sports Medicine Stable by Mark Duncan 134 Walt Woodard 136 SuperLooper Events Calendar 139 MarketPlace 209 Advertiser’s Index

SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE 2340 Menaul NE, Suite 400 Albuquerque, NM 87107 Advertising or Editorial: 505/899-1870 fax: 505/792-5678 Produced and published by USTRC EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING USTRC Editor: Ben Clements Associate Editor: Ryan Davis Sales Manager & Event Advertising: John English Advertising Representatives: Elizabeth Dominick Customer Service Representative: Jules Price CIRCULATION & PRODUCTION Art Director: Marcia Rackstraw Production Coordinator: Violet Sue Anderson Graphic Designer: Doug Purdy Administrative Assistant: Kathy Williams OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHY BY Allen’s Rodeo Photos P. O. Box 270428, Flower Mound, TX 75027 1-800-438-8659 • www.allensrodeophotos.com

May 2010 / Vol. 19, No. 5 SuperLooper Magazine (ISSN 1069-5508, USPS No. 009983)is published 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 SuperLooper Magazine. Material may not be used without permission from 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., 2340 Menaul NE, Suite 400 Albuquerque, NM 87107 Advertising claims are the sole responsibility of the advertiser, not SuperLooper Magazine.

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Triangle Annual Summer Sale

June 5, 2010 • 9 a.m. CONSIGN NOW Shawnee Oklahoma Expo Center • No Pass Out Fees • Cutting & Roping Cattle Available • Videos welcome and will be shown as horse sells.

Cindy Bowling Garner 43207 Benson Park Road • Shawnee, Oklahoma 74801 405/275-2196 or 405/273-2818 Fax 405/273-8959 www.trihorse.com

SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 9

10 Announcements_10 ANNOUNCEMENTS 4/13/10 3:36 PM Page 10

USTRC

ANNOUNCEMENTS

$1M ••••• 950,000

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SHOOTOUT FUND UPDATE Spring fling? You bet it is, as team roping storms into the summer months and sets the stage for some of the hottest ropings of the year. The ShootOut Fund is on the rise with over $390,000 already in the pot. USTRC team roping heats up and ropers across the nation better get ready for one of the most blistering seasons ever. Without a doubt, this year’s Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping (NFTR) will be bursting with cash and prizes, so plan to be there. Just like a spring tornado, the USTRC will blast into the summer and as a team roper you will want to take full advantage or your membership and try to secure as many National Shoot-Outs as possible. Do not miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime because the Cinch USTRC NFTR is the place to be. Mark your calendars and plan ahead, the action will be in Oklahoma City October 23-31, 2010.

10 / MAY 2010

It’s Regional Finals time!

USTRC Earnings

Please check your Available Earnings by going to www.ustrc.com. The “Member” link on the home page will take you to your personal file page. Click on the “Your Earnings” link once you’re signed in. Remember all current USTRC members are qualified to enter a Regional Shoot-Out. Every current member has been awarded Flex Earnings ($1,000 to Gold Spur members and $3,000 to Gold Plus members) that can be used to qualify for a Regional Shoot-Out position. It takes $2,000 in earnings to qualify, so combine your earnings with another member and you’re in! Of course you may also qualify by placing 1st through 5th in the Average at any USTRC sanctioned event. Be sure to check out your Available Earnings at www.ustrc.com or call 254.968.0002 ext. 5103 should you need more information. See the West Coast Regional and Eastern Regional ads and entry forms in this issue.

Flex Earnings

Reminder You do not have to wait until your 70th birthday to be eligible for the Lifetime Membership. If you turn 70 within this calendar year, you’re eligible now! In addition, after you receive your Lifetime card, you will not be sent another one, unless you lose, damage or request another one.

Belt Buckle Found If you lost a Sonoita Rodeo belt buckle at a USTRC event, please call the USTRC Office at 254/968-0002. You must describe it to claim it.

Previous Announcements To see all previous USTRC announcements made for the 2010 season visit www.ustrc.com and click on the “Announcements” link.

Earnings that are allocated as a direct result of winning a Regional or National Shoot-Out position. Flex Earnings can be used at the roper’s discretion either at the Regional Finals or the National Finals and with a partner of choice. Flex Earnings do not carry over from season to season and therefore expire at the end of each season. USTRC will allocate $6,000 for a National Shoot-Out — $3,000 per partner. USTRC will allocate $2,000 for a Regional Shoot-Out - $1,000 per partner Applied Earnings - Winnings acquired as a result of placing at approved USTRC Sanctioned and Affiliate events. Applied Earnings can be used at the roper’s discretion either at the Regional Finals or the National Finals and with a partner of choice. Unused Applied Earnings will carry over from season to season.

Available EarningsThe sum of Flex Earnings and Applied Earnings The USTRC is awarding Bonus Flex Earnings. Bonus Flex Earnings of $250/roper will be awarded in the following divisions based on the following scale: #15, #13, #12, #11 & #10 151-250 tms – 7th-10th 251-300 tms – 9th-12th 301-400 tms – 11th-15th 401 + tms – 13th-20th Check online at www.ustrc.com and go to member services to verify your correct Bonus Flex Earnings.

Lost Camera Black camera case with camera and a bag of clothing at the New Mexico Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Sunday, April 4. If found, please call 505/929-1632 for reward information.

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USTRC

by the

BY JOHN FINDLAY

NUMBERS 2009 Season State Stats

would venture to guess, that many of you stop reading this column when you find out I am going to talk about State statistics. By that I mean statistics that will show which states did better than others in this or that team roping number nugget. The reason for this, I would surmise, is that you often assume that those statistics are going to relish praise almost exclusively on Texas and/or other southwestern states, which, I must confess, is often the case. As most of you are aware, when it comes to team roping constituents, Texas is the 800 pound gorilla in our team roping room. When it comes to USTRC membership, their numbers are head and shoulders above every other state. And next in line comes their surrounding southwestern neighbors plus California. As a consequence, it is Texas and these other states that often dominate many of the statistical categories I report on in these pages. Well, take heart you non-ape-like states, a lot of the following is going to warm the cockles of your nonprimate hearts. This month I gathered a lot of the statistics from the November ‘08 to October ‘09 team roping season (i.e. 2009 season) and compared them by state and province. I not only included all of our sanctioned roping stats, I also incorporated stats from all of our affiliate ropings plus a fair number of non-affiliate ropings that producers from all across the country sent us, for which the USTRC is grateful. The more data we can get, the more accurate our classifications are going to be. All of these numbers go straight into our huge TRIAD database where they are laboriously scrutinized, dissected, 12 / MAY 2010

inspected, and combed with fine teeth in order to ascertain an accurate assessment of the abilities of every roper in the system. That is why we encourage as much participation as possible from roping producers. So with that in mind, take a look at the bottom of the main Table, “USTRC 2009 Season” for some impressive totals. There are eight columns in the Table, each covering a different aspect of the season just passed by state. You will find a definition of each column in the “Table Definitions” box. But before you check to see how your state or province did, take a look at the last row - TOTALS. At the bottom of the second column, “# of Ropers” you will see that 26,238 ropers participated in at least one sanctioned, affiliate or TRIAD recorded roping during the ‘09 season. That’s the same as the population of Emporia, Kansas (where we have nearly 20 members). That’s a lot of ropers. The next column is how many ropings these 26,238 ropers entered, not events, but all the roping divisions at each event. There were 682,125 entries. Now that’s a lot of roping. Those two numbers give you the next column - the average number of entries for each of those 26,238 ropers 26. What that tells you is, that on average, a roper will enter 26 ropings a year. The next column is how much money was won by our ropers $33,350,210. That much money would buy a 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually Diesel Truck for everyone living in Tribune, Kansas. Granted, Tribune isn’t as big as Emporia (2008 population estimate 678) but imagine the monster truck jam they could have there (and I know the roping Reynolds family of Tribune would be very happy).

Next column is the number of ropers that earned at least one check at a roping somewhere. 11,718 ropers made that cut which is 44.7% of our total. Considering that over 7,000 ropers entered five or less times and typically a roper is going to earn a check one or two times out of ten ropings, that’s a pretty hefty percentage. The average roper, including those that did not win anything, averaged $1,271 in earnings. And finally, ropers spent an average of $106 per roper to enter each roping. Now I did promise that I would have some good news to report for you nonTexans out there but first we have to give them their due. I have broken the big table out into a lot of little tables that rank the Top Ten states and provinces by each category. Depending on the category, the bragging rights shift around quite a bit so a lot of variety will be found. Actually, Texas leads in three out of the seven Top Ten rankings but those are in categories where that would be expected. The first is the Top Ten states by number of ropers. We are not about to bounce Texas out of that number one spot. And there they are with nearly 7,000 ropers (6,957). They had more than twice as many ropers as does second place, Arizona with 2,739. Oklahoma, New Mexico and Colorado round out the Top Five. California, Louisiana, Arkansas and Kansas are next, in that order, while “Other” brings up the rear. “Other” is composed mostly of ropers from foreign countries, states or provinces with less than three ropers, and ropers whose current zip codes weren’t valid or were unknown. The next table features the Top Ten states by number of entries. The Top Five remained the same. Florida and

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USTRC 2009 Season Ropers Who Participated in a TRIAD Recorded Roping - by State State of Roper

# of Ropers

Total Entries

Avg # Entries/ Roper

Total Amt Ropers Won

AB AK AL AR AZ BC CA CO CT FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MB MD MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NM NV NY OH OK ON OR PA SC SD SK TN TX UT VA WA WI WV WY Other TOTALS

114 3 436 712 2,739 40 1,102 1,214 7 436 297 235 214 286 67 77 657 94 756 4 6 6 39 45 502 504 232 136 68 415 1,840 373 54 85 2,534 5 268 52 110 153 22 374 6,957 580 50 131 39 19 496 653 26,238

2,659 82 19,095 20,198 65,941 1,124 17,557 31,344 243 21,158 14,064 5,358 4,735 4,604 1,424 2,309 15,931 3,133 20,955 47 81 182 923 872 12,717 13,889 5,125 5,133 1,683 6,557 50,774 8,026 6,635 3,131 59,285 132 4,970 5,071 4,117 2,566 456 16,502 186,639 11,734 1,209 2,409 962 768 13,043 4,573 682,125

23.3 27.3 43.8 28.4 24.1 28.1 15.9 25.8 34.7 48.5 47.4 22.8 22.1 16.1 21.3 30.0 24.2 33.3 27.7 11.8 13.5 30.3 23.7 19.4 25.3 27.6 22.1 37.7 24.8 15.8 27.6 21.5 122.9 36.8 23.4 26.4 18.5 97.5 37.4 16.8 20.7 44.1 26.8 20.2 24.2 18.4 24.7 40.4 26.3 7.0 26.0

$81,956 $600 $412,780 $754,028 $3,607,114 $29,685 $1,393,211 $1,885,336 $15,324 $477,212 $471,613 $216,992 $194,252 $284,111 $68,570 $58,975 $800,409 $94,252 $1,175,673 $1,000 $250 $13,055 $32,369 $14,318 $558,359 $492,341 $291,479 $117,206 $114,909 $474,644 $2,858,583 $586,768 $86,729 $79,275 $3,506,715 $3,730 $307,093 $79,366 $135,505 $115,009 $17,746 $441,701 $9,355,994 $770,431 $39,730 $104,714 $81,368 $21,455 $588,405 37876 $33,350,210

# of % of Avg Amt Avg Winning Winning Won Per Entry Ropers Ropers Roper Fee/ Roper 42 1 188 339 1,138 17 497 592 4 212 175 122 111 115 28 34 317 49 352 1 1 4 17 20 252 203 118 64 36 201 867 182 44 43 1,107 1 122 35 62 78 11 201 3,012 266 26 57 21 9 257 67 11,718

36.8% 33.3% 43.1% 47.6% 41.5% 42.5% 45.1% 48.8% 57.1% 48.6% 58.9% 51.9% 51.9% 40.2% 41.8% 44.2% 48.2% 52.1% 46.6% 25.0% 16.7% 66.7% 43.6% 44.4% 50.2% 40.3% 50.9% 47.1% 52.9% 48.4% 47.1% 48.8% 81.5% 50.6% 43.7% 20.0% 45.5% 67.3% 56.4% 51.0% 50.0% 53.7% 43.3% 45.9% 52.0% 43.5% 53.8% 47.4% 51.8% 10.3% 44.7%

$719 $200 $947 $1,059 $1,317 $742 $1,264 $1,553 $2,189 $1,095 $1,588 $923 $908 $993 $1,023 $766 $1,218 $1,003 $1,555 $250 $42 $2,176 $830 $318 $1,112 $977 $1,256 $862 $1,690 $1,144 $1,554 $1,573 $1,606 $933 $1,384 $746 $1,146 $1,526 $1,232 $752 $807 $1,181 $1,345 $1,328 $795 $799 $2,086 $1,129 $1,186 $58 $1,271

$91 $145 $99 $105 $98 $96 $140 $116 $104 $82 $84 $87 $103 $110 $99 $94 $111 $96 $99 $103 $94 $113 $83 $82 $118 $128 $91 $83 $107 $111 $134 $130 $33 $70 $112 $74 $112 $55 $92 $103 $96 $76 $107 $118 $74 $86 $106 $100 $99 $83 $106

Alabama kicked Kansas and Other out of the bottom five of that category. That would indicate to me that Floridians and Alabamans enter more often than some of their counterparts but we can check that out in a later table. Table number three is the one that I found to be very surprising. It is the Top Ten states by average number of entries. New York wins this one going away with 122.9 entries on average per roper. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way ahead of second place Pennsylvania at 97.5 and even further ahead of third place Florida at 48.5. I told you we would have some nonTexans showing up in these stats. But how could New York have such a preponderance of average number of entries? I think I have a good idea. My research led me to a National Team Roping League (NTRL) Affiliate series of ropings that take place at the Osburn Arena in Campbell, New York. It is an indoor arena, so it is able to hold NTRL ropings there at least once a month, including much of the winter. To the envy of many other roping producers, this arena has an attractive following of about fifty to sixty hard core ropers that rarely miss an event and all of them they enter up in practically every division. Roping up, roping down, switching ends . . . in a faraway team roping outpost like south central upstate New York, these guys make every opportunity count. These ropings are mostly $25 per man. The Osburns, Katie and Will, proprietors of the Osburn Arena, had to raise the fees this year from mostly $20 to mostly $25 a throw. Life is tough. The guys that enter are nearly all from New York but there is small but just as loyal contingent from Pennsylvania, one of the reasons why Pennsylvania is in second place in average entries. But here is the interesting part. There are 41 ropers who currently show a New York state address that entered a roping at the Osburn Arena at least once in 2009. On top of continued on page 14

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by the

NUMBERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE13

that, these 41 ropers entered a roping somewhere in 2009, whether at Osburn or somewhere else, 4,879 times. That’s an average of 119 entries per roper! But, the majority of those entries was at the Osburn arena. There is one guy, who will remain nameless, who never went anywhere else but Campbell to

Top Ten States by # of Ropers TX AZ OK NM CO CA LA AR KS Other

6,957 2,739 2,534 1,840 1,214 1,102 756 712 657 653

Top Ten States by # of Entries TX AZ OK NM CO FL LA AR AL CA

186,639 65,941 59,285 50,774 31,344 21,158 20,955 20,198 19,095 17,557

rope and in 2009 he entered up 305 times! He roped in every division, as both a header and a heeler and he is a #3. God Bless Him! Our Resistol is off to the Osburns who have created a much-needed northeastern roping mecca on the team roping frontier. Campbell is just west

Top Ten States by Avg # of Entries/Roper NY PA FL GA TN AL WV NC SC OH

122.9 97.5 48.5 47.4 44.1 43.8 40.4 37.7 37.4 36.8

Elmira on I-86 about 70 miles from Rochester, just north of the Pennsylvania border. Other than ropings in Union City, Pennsylvania, which is near Erie, there are no other roping locations in our database anywhere near continued on page 118

Top Ten States by % of Winning Ropers

Top Ten States by Total Amt Won & # of Winning Ropers TX AZ OK NM CO CA LA KS UT AR

$9,355,994 $3,607,114 $3,506,715 $2,858,583 $1,885,336 $1,393,211 $1,175,673 $800,409 $770,431 $754,028

3,012 1,138 1,107 867 592 497 352 317 266 339

NY PA MD GA CT SC WI TN ND KY

81.5% 67.3% 66.7% 58.9% 57.1% 56.4% 53.8% 53.7% 52.9% 52.1%

Table Definitions TRIAD Recorded Roping

Every USTRC sanctioned and affiliate roping (including the Regionals and National Finals) plus every non-affiliate roping for which the USTRC received valid and complete data (results and entries) that was entered in the TRIAD database during the 2009 season.

# of Ropers

The number of ropers who live in the state that participated in a TRIAD recorded roping during 2009 season. Residency was based on current (2010) addresses.

Total Entries

The total number of individual roping divisions (as opposed to events) entered into by each roper in each state during 2009 season.

Avg # Entries/Roper

The average number of roping divisions entered by each roper in each state during the 2009 season

Total Amt Won

The total amount of money won by all of the ropers in each state during the 2009 season.

# of Winning Ropers

The number of ropers in each state that earned at least one check at a TRIAD recorded roping during 2009 season

% Of Winning Ropers

The percent of ropers in each state that earned at least one check at a TRIAD recorded roping during 2009 season

Avg Amt Won Per Roper

The average amount earned by ropers in the state at recorded TRIAD ropings during the 2009 season.

Avg Entry Fee/Roper

The average amount paid in entry fees per man per roping division in TRIAD recorded ropings.

State

States of the United States and provinces of Canada. “Other” includes foreign countries and unknown or inaccurate zip codes.

14 / MAY 2010

Top Ten States by Amt Won Per Roper CT MD WI ND NY GA NV LA NM CO

$2,189 $2,176 $2,086 $1,690 $1,606 $1,588 $1,573 $1,555 $1,554 $1,553

Top Ten States by Avg Entry Fee/Roper CA NM NV MS MO UT CO OK OR KS

$140 $134 $130 $128 $118 $118 $116 $112 $112 $111

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16-18 Gold Plus_Layout 1 4/12/10 3:33 PM Page 16

USTRC

GOLD PLUS Hello Team Ropers, by Ty Hillman

started roping when I was about seven years old. I was very fortunate to have good teachers like my dad, Jay Hillman, and my brother, Jett Hillman, who both roped well. Like many kids, I started out heading and eventually switched to heeling. I competed at some local

PHOTO BY 3 LAZY J PHOTOS

I am very excited and honored to assume the position of the Gold Plus Representative. I have been a member of the USTRC since I was eight years old, about 17 years now, and I have attended many USTRC ropings through the years. I feel blessed because this position allows me to work with both of my passions I have had since I was young; team roping and business. Growing up in Sterling, Colorado, I

jackpots and as I got older, I competed in the Colorado Junior Rodeo Association where I won my first saddle heeling for Brock Hanson. As I look back, I appreciate everyone who used to rope with me because they entered with me, even when they knew we were probably just adding money to the pot. The summer between fifth and sixth grade, I was happy to receive the role of Joe Booker in Robert Redford’s movie “The Horse Whisperer.” I spent three and a half months near Livingston, Montana filming the movie. For all of you wondering; yes, Robert Redford is a great guy. He is very down to earth and I enjoyed him as well as the rest of the cast and crew very much. It was definitely one of the most memorable experiences of my life as I learned at a young age that there are many things in life that are more important than money and fame. While pursuing a career in acting is something that many people dream about, Robert Redford’s advice

PHOTO BY LONE WOLF PHOTOGRAPHY

The Oklahoma Winter Classic held in Guthrie, Oklahoma was a great roping for the team of G.R. Carter and John S. Gregory. They roped four head in 33.33 seconds to win the Gold Plus roping and take home $4,121 in cash, trophy Gist Gold spurs and a Gold Plus Shoot-Out worth $6,000 in USTRC Flex Earnings.

Home-state cowboys, Mike Sibley and Rickie LeBlanc II were the Gold Plus champions at the Louisiana Championships held March 19-21. Their time of 31.81 on four head earned them $3,972 in cash, trophy Gist Gold spurs and a Gold Plus Shoot-Out worth $6,000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. 16 / MAY 2010

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Interdisciplinary Business. While attending school, I met my beautiful best friend, Stevi, and we got married in 2008. She will graduate from the Weatherford College X-Ray Tech Program in May 2010 and is very excited to finish school. It is funny how my priorities have changed over the last few years. While I still have a passion for team roping, I really enjoy being married, hanging out with family, and riding and training young horses with Stevi. While I have had some experience working in the team roping industry, the opportunity I have been given to be the Gold Plus Representative has come at a great time. One of the most important business principles I have learned is to provide customers with great service. I am excited to be the Gold Plus Representative because it allows me to visit with the members and provide them with the best possible service based on the information they give me. My top priority is to listen to the Gold Plus members and incorporate their ideas into the Gold Plus Program. I encourage all Gold Plus members to contact me with all comments, good or bad. I believe feedback is the most effective way to improve anything. If it is negative feedback, we will try to do something different. If it is positive feedback, we will try to repeat the experience. Another priority I have is to take the Gold Plus Program to the next level. When a program becomes comfortable where it is, it tends to s s

worked out great as I made many good friends who helped take care of me. I became a member of the PRCA in 2006 and after having some success at the Denver Stock Show and Rodeo, Kip Kendrick and I entered some of the winter rodeos in Texas. It was at that time that I really gained an appreciation for the people who have made their living roping. While I lost some money, it was a small price to pay for the experience and the lessons I learned in those few months. In 2006, I graduated from Weatherford College with an Associateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Degree in Arts. From there, I attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas where I was able to pursue the other passion that I had, business. Again, I met and became friends with so many great people who have had a great impact on my life. While I still really wanted to improve my roping, I decided that I did not want to try to make it my primary source of income. I became interested in trying to find ways that I could incorporate my business knowledge into team roping. In the meantime, I qualified for the National Header, Aaron Harvey and his partner, Jack Fletcher, Jr. won Intercollegiate Rodeo the Gold Plus roping in their home-state event, the Northeast Kansas Classic. Their four-head total of 30.32 seconds earned them Association Finals in 2007 $3,929 in cash, trophy Gist buckles and a Gold Plus Shoot-Out with Joe Hub Baker and worth $6,000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. graduated in 2008 with a Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Degree in

PHOTO BY OFF THE BEATEN PATH

PHOTO BY 3 LAZY J PHOTOS

was to go home, grow up like a normal kid, and the movie business would still be there down the road. As I grew older, I became very interested in hunting. In middle school and high school, hunting and roping consumed my life. Like many, my goal was to make my living team roping. I roped in high school rodeos as a Junior and Senior and qualified to the National High School Finals in 2003 with Ty Blassingame. After I graduated high school, I moved to Weatherford, Texas to rodeo and attend Weatherford College. I did not know a soul in the Weatherford area, but I went anyway because I thought I needed to live in that area if I wanted to really improve my roping. Things

Alvin Charley of New Mexico teamed up with Chris Branham of California to win the California Championship Gold Plus roping. The duo roped four head in 34.32 second to win $1,128 in cash, trophy Gist buckles and a Gold Plus Shoot-Out worth $6,000 in USTRC Flex Earnings.

Longtime New Mexico ropers, Eldon Apache and Ferlin Charley were the Gold Plus winners at this years New Mexico Championships in Albuquerque. They roped four head in 34.51 seconds to win $2,634 in cash, trophy Gist Gold spurs and a Gold Plus Shoot-Out worth $6,000 in USTRC Flex Earnings. SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 17

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USTRC

GOLD PHOTO BY LONE WOLF PHOTOGRAPHY

PLUS continued stagnate and regress. I want to continually try to improve the Gold Plus Program to be the best that it can be but I need your feedback on what you like, do not like, and any ideas that you have that can improve the program. I look forward to visiting with all of you.

Ty Hillman

The Gold Plus championship at the Tennessee Championships went to the team of Bubba Gray and Stuart Bigbee who roped four head in 32.17. The win earned them $3,570 in cash, trophy Gist Gold spurs and a Gold Plus Shoot-Out worth $6,000 in USTRC Flex Earnings.

The California team of Walt Scott and Tony Lee Boggs claimed trophy Gist buckles and a Gold Plus Shoot-Out worth $6,000 in USTRC Flex Earnings, as well as $2,036 in cash after roping four head in 35.52 seconds and winning the Gold Plus roping at the Colorado River Classic.

18 / MAY 2010

PHOTO BY OFF THE BEATEN PATH

PHOTO BY LONE WOLF PHOTOGRAPHY

The team of Christopher Thomas and Scott Seiler won the Gold Plus roping at the Florida Championships. Their quick work of 36.89 on four head yielded them a total of $2,010 in cash, trophy Gist buckles and a Gold Plus Shoot-Out worth $6,000 in USTRC Flex Earnings.

Norm Haaland of Montana and Jeff Bowers of Oregon roped four head in 42.93 seconds to win the Gold Plus roping at the Washington Championships. The win earned them $1,034 in cash, trophy Gist spurs and a Gold Plus Shoot-Out worth $6,000 in USTRC Flex Earnings.

Paso Robles, California played host to the Northern California Championships where the team of Chad Nicholson and Glenn Teixeira won the Gold Plus roping. They roped four head in 37.28 seconds to win $1,928 in cash, trophy Gist buckles and a Gold Plus Shoot-Out worth $6,000 in USTRC Flex Earnings.

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USTRC

champions

PROFILE

And Then There Was One by Melinda Clements

#11 SHOOT-OUT 2009 USTRC National Champions

Craig A. Huffines

Bubba Schmidt

to catch. A good solid catch kept running through my mind. We just kept thinking get this steer caught and post a time of some kind.” “I guess I just wanted to catch,” Schmidt laughed. “I sure didn’t want to miss and have to hear it all the way home.” “We just kept counting those teams down,” Huffines elaborated. “That is for sure,” Schmidt agreed. “There was nothing we could do but watch. Our check just kept getting bigger and bigger the further it went. There is always more pressure than you realize.” When the pair finally rode in the box Hill and Lee were still confidently holding down the number one spot. Huffines and Schmidt knew exactly what they needed to do. No doubt they were focused and beaded in on the goal at hand. They had roped all day and this was just one more steer. What a steer it was! Huffines didn’t miss and neither did Schmidt. They were ready for the short round and when the gates clanged open the pair jumped out there and posted a time of 8.14 to take the lead in the Average of the #11 Shoot-Out with a total time of 33.56. Only three teams were left and anything

s s

he air was tight with tension. You could almost feel the pressure piercing the air. Of all the ropings held during the nine days at the Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping the #11 Shoot-Out was one of the most competitive during the week. When the short go round unfolded there was only two point eight seconds separating the number one team and the tenth place team. It was the choking kind of pressure. There was just a lot at stake. With a total payout of $431,200, Gist Championship buckles, Tony Lama boots, Martin Championship Trophy saddles and Western Horseman Collector Prints there was no wonder things were nerve wrecking. It was a short go round full of ropers who wanted desperately to leave their mark on the Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping. They all knew a National Championship was at stake and someone’s dream was about to come true. First place in the Average would pay the winners in the Average $106,300. That is a boat load of money and it certainly helps to explain why nerves were on edge, palms wet with sweat and horses hyperactive and geared up to perform. Every team wanted first place. In this roping twenty teams would get a paycheck so everyone was on a mission to put the most they could into their bank accounts. This was one roping you could not stumble through, fun or not! Texas team ropers, Craig Huffines and Bubba Schmidt were the fourth high team coming back in the short go round. It had been a tough roping. As the teams counted down in the short go round the music reverberated off the coliseum walls. Pressure mounted as the roping got tighter and tighter. The process of elimination was tedious. When Casey Lee and Ty Hill, the twentieth team back, posted a 6.79 on their short go round steer to take the lead little did anyone realize they would hold that spot through fifteen more team roping runs. Huffines and Schmidt watched the roping unfold as team after team failed to move Hill and Lee. Both Huffines and Schmidt wondered exactly how everything would unfold. “I was a little bit nervous,” Huffines said. “And we were both looking at our first USTRC Saddles. I think we both just wanted

SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 19

19-20 Champ Profile_ CHAMP PROFILE 4/7/10 4:41 PM Page 20

could happen. It was the longest five minutes of the week if it was, indeed, five minutes. When the dirt settled and the numbers were tabulated Craig Huffines and Bubba Schmidt nailed the #11 Shoot-Out to the wall and captured the #11 ShootOut Championship. “It was a very tight roping,” Schmidt said. “We wanted to have a good time, have some fun and get everything caught and just do well.” The pair did an excellent job. Schmidt and Huffines not only took home checks worth $106,300, but both ropers won their first USTRC Championship saddles. Huge payouts and elaborate prize lines have a way of altering nerves in the short go round. Things tend to happen at the Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping that make you afraid to blink for fear of missing something. One thing is for certain when the dust settled there were two new champions walking around a lot more financially stable than the day before. For you see “And There Was One—Craig Huffines and Bubba Schmidt—the Cinch USTRC #11 Shoot-Out Champions!” n

2 CHAMPIONS0 0 9 Craig A. Huffines and Bubba Schmidt at the 2009 Cinch USTRC National Finals in Oklahoma City. 20 / MAY 2010

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22-24 Insider_Layout 1 4/7/10 2:47 PM Page 22

Classification: Where the Wolves meet the Sheep

by Gary Poythress Illustrations by Jean Abernethy

ach of us has an opinion concerning classifications. Like religion and politics, when human emotions are involved, two plus two does not always equal FOUR. Disagreements between honest, well-meaning people about specific ropers’ numbers may be fine in the coffee shop, but rarely accomplish anything positive in the arena. Perhaps you are one of those fortunate enough to make team roping your chosen profession. It is also possible that you are one of an even smaller group that plans to use team roping as a way to “make a little money.” For both of these groups, team roping is a serious business. Anything that gets in the way of winning takes money from the mouths of you and yours. It’s far more likely that you don’t fall into either of these groups and consider team roping a sport to be enjoyed. Even so, I have no doubt you have been involved in at least one heated discussion related to classifications. I don’t bring this up to convince you that one system is better or more accurate than another. I would like to discuss WHY classifications exist. “Those who do not study history are destined to repeat it.” For those on the top of the team roping food chain, the early 1970’s were the golden age. Most organized events were limited to

22 / MAY 2010

enter once or twice. Eventually a very small handful of ropers finally learned to consistently catch. This gave them a definite competitive advantage that guaranteed success every week. This group became known as “wolves.” If you were not a wolf, you were one of the “sheep.” Sheep were those that could not rope for a living. Almost anyone with a job, family, or outside interests was considered a sheep. At first the sheep admired the wolves for their skills. The sheep worked during the week to make a living for their families while the wolves practiced. The wolves worked weekends shearing the sheep. The rule of the pack was that wolves only roped with other wolves. It was such a certainty that the pack would win every roping they entered, they began “saving fees” to insure that no wolf went hungry (kind of a wolf union). As you might imagine, things were good for the wolves. But, after a few years, the sheep got tired of the weekly shearing. Local producers found they needed to control the wolves. First solution: Each local producer would meet the wolves at the gate. Depending on the producer, wolves would be given the option of leaving, entering less, or roping with local partners picked by the producer. Local producers needed both wolves and sheep entering to survive. Then

as now, producers are always concerned with the team count. The uneasy mixing and matching of wolves and sheep by the producers eventually led to what we now know as “multiple-entry.” Wolves figured out quickly, as wolves will, that if they stayed out of sight producers would not recognize them until the shearing was done. The Ropers Sports News was the only team roping publication on the west coast (I believe in the nation) at the time. A wolf that could keep his muzzle out of the RSN while using it to find new flocks to shear could live off the “fat of the land.” This went on for several years. But sheep got harder to shear. Some sheep even went so far as to drive away or draw out of a roping if the wolves came prowling around too early. But wolves are survivors. Before long they were waiting in town or down the road, using CB radios, and later, cell phones to make sure the sheep were corralled before making their entrance. Established ropings turned into wolf dens and we all know that no sheep will come near a den of wolves. Roping “hotspots” lost teams and eventually died. This drove many producers into bankruptcy and eventually returned a healthy growing sport to square one. The wolves simply ate themselves out of house and home. Second Solution: Associations with

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computer databases. In California, Pat Hunnicutt began an experiment that in 1983 would become known as the American Computer Team Roping Association. The RIDER system in California followed in 1986, and in 1987 Digger Howard from Texas created the Original Team Roping Association (OTRA), commonly referred to as the Coors Association. To my knowledge, these were the first attempts to use a computer database to identify and track team ropers. As a result, team roping again began to grow and prosper in both California and Texas. That is until each association began to repeat the history of producers before them. As each grew, their biggest problem became a lack of information. They could keep their own wolves in line, but not the wolves they didn’t know.

Over 60% of the classification numbers changed by Elite TRIAD have been lowered. These associations were competitors financed through membership sales and did not share information. This made the sheep only slightly harder for the wolves to shear. In an effort to fine-tune the “hideout” game, wolves tried only to enter events that did not turn in, or publish results in the RSN. If a local producer did not play by pack rules he was often “blacklisted.” Wolves and their friends would not support his events. Even worse, some wolves went so far as to lead campaigns to boycott producers. Local producers needed both the wolves and sheep to enter and often found themselves caught between a “rock and a hard place.” Smart wolves began to shear only the neighbor’s sheep. The next thing you know, wolves from Texas were shearing sheep in California while California wolves were finding new sheep to shear in Texas. When even this was not enough to stop classifications from improving, wolves kept adding more twists to “the game.” For wolves all is fair in love and war, and “playing the game” is not lying or cheating. Third Solution: National Database. In 1988 Denny Gentry and Rodeo Computer Services began a collaboration to database

and classify team ropers on a national level. That collaboration would ultimately evolve into the United States Team Roping Championships (USTRC). As computer systems and communications improved, so did the USTRC database. Another significant improvement for the sport came with the addition of more team roping magazines. Publications like the SuperLooper, Dally Times, Spin to Win, Arizona All-Around, The Competitor, The Wrangler, The Rocky Mountain Rodeo News and The Roping Pen joined the Ropers Sports News in promoting the team roping industry. Not only did they introduce new products and improve access to instruction, they also posted results from regional events. Even so, USTRC found it difficult to stay ahead of “the game.” As I said, hiding was the key to survival. Such things as falsifying names, dates of birth, addresses, and social security numbers were considered fair play. After all, wolves did not feel they were really hurting anyone, they were just “playing the game.” Which brings us to today. Team roping continues to mature from a backyard past time into a true industry. For the original wolves team roping became a profession. Roping professionals are actually separated from the roping sportsmen. The demands made on these professionals are huge. As in the past, these ropers continue to “pay their dues” by competing against all comers at the highest level. Whether through competition, instructional clinics, or product development, each is promoting our sport. Publicity and name recognition are critical to their success. They want their achievements known and make no effort to hide where they enter or what they win. Wolves are a product of the team roping sport, not the profession. No longer the “best of the best”, today’s wolf is just the “best of his number.” Though some have professional skills, you are more likely to find the modern wolf wearing sheep’s clothing. He has never won the BFI, Strait, Wildfire, or US Open. You may not even know him by name, just as “that really good number 5.” No matter what their number, ropers become

wolves when they use the tactics of the pack on those in their own number group. Pressuring producers to keep wolves’ competitors from finding out what they are up against is just one such tactic. Over the years USTRC continually improved their national database. The USTRC secret ballot made the pressuring of local producers by wolves useless. The fact that voter’s names were not revealed for obvious reasons presented an opportunity to challenge the validity of the balloting process. The howl from the pack claimed that classifications were determined on a whim. Wolves began complaining that their peers were not qualified to vote, or “they are just picking on me.” Wolves continued demanding something be done to keep them from being abused. They howled that to be fair classifications must be determined by performance, NOT OPINION. Current Solution: Elite TRIAD (Team Roping Information and Data) System. Be careful what you ask for. The wolves now have what they demanded. In addition, they can no longer claim that the information is secret. If the data used to determine a classification is wrong, a call to USTRC will correct it. The USTRC national database has continued to improve. Wolves are finding the fence around the sheep higher than ever. So what is a starving predator to do? Wolves are once again howling an oldie but goodie from the ‘80s. By threatening to boycott arenas that supply data for analysis they are once again putting pressure on the local producers to “hide” them. The new howl is not about accuracy. That is part of their

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The USTRC policy of transparency has made statistics available to each roper. 24 / MAY 2010

problem. Wolves know that computer analysis is very accurate, sealing the fate of the pack. Today’s wolves hope that by keeping USTRC from obtaining enough data they can prolong the inevitable until they “score big.” Wolves want to be fair. They just feel they have every right to their fair ADVANTAGE. What does this mean to you? Could the USTRC analysis of roping statistics hurt you? Over 60% of the classification numbers changed by Elite TRIAD have been lowered. This has been made possible by the analysis of vast amounts of performance data. The more performance data, the more complete the picture of your true competitive abilities. Only when the “best of a number” prove they have a definite advantage in speed, consistency, and mental toughness do they get adjusted. The timing and strength of the adjustment is determined by the roper’s record. The Elite TRIAD analysis recognizes competitive disadvantages. If you are struggling to compete, entries are the key to lowering your number. When the wolves pressure producers to withhold roping data in an effort to keep their performance from getting them raised, they keep Elite TRIAD System from recognizing that you need your number lowered. Why would ropers hide their true competitive skills? Let me offer one explanation. While today’s wolf is waiting for the “big score”, he has to stay sharp. Wolves have a much better chance to win big if they continue to win small. That requires sheep! From a sheep’s point of view, when have you had enough? Should you be penalized for having a job or family? Should you suffer because you do not spend hours on the phone finding partners? You are team roping for fun. Why should it be necessary to spend every moment in the arena to be competitive? And what if you do keep “taking one for the team” by helping hide the wolves? How do YOU benefit when “your” wolf wins at the USTRC Finals, the Reno Invitational, or the WSTR Finals with a bad number? You are probably one of the team ropers introduced to the sport since the beginning of the USTRC. In truth wolves make up only about 1% of the roping population, but they create most of the problems. Wolves playing the game are not taking advantage of the USTRC. In reality, they take advantage of the other 99% of the team roping population. It is normal to seek an advantage in competition. If you gain that advantage through personal hard work, commitment, and effort we congratulate you. If you gain an advantage by using the outdated tactics of the pack, howl on. Twenty-first century sheep were not put here to make winning easier. Whether you are 8 or 80,

winning should be hard. If winning is not hard, or you continue to win giving less than your best effort, you need the one thing wolves hate most, tougher competition. When this concept is applied, those who compete alike will compete together. That is the goal of classifications. Where classifications are concerned, wolves would have you believe it is “us against them.” In reality, it is “them against you.” The USTRC policy of transparency has made statistics available to each roper. USTRC will continue to classify ropers based on their performance. Ropers will ultimately decide whether USTRC continues the current policy of transparency. If that transparency places an undue burden on the local producers, for their sake, it must be discontinued. For your sport as well as your own best interests, speak up! This must be a joint effort between ropers and local producers to stop hiding wolves. Catering to ropers based on the money they spend is fine for the producers, but it MUST NOT be a consideration for those leveling the playing field. On this point everyone agrees! Classifications should be decided by what happens in the arena, not by deals made on the phone. Let your record speak for itself! Encourage your local producers to send roping statistics to USTRC. This is the only way to insure that the big spender and casual roper are both treated equally and fairly. In truth the good old days were only good for the wolves. Let’s not repeat the abuses that nearly caused the sport to collapse in the ‘80s.

Gary Pothyress is a pioneer in the sport of team roping. For the past 20 years, he has dedicated himself to developing classification tools that assure fairness in competition. His efforts have the sport of team roping better for everyone that enjoys team roping today. Gary was a key player helping start the USTRC. Gary and his team at USTRC work daily to improve USTRC's data systems, and their efforts led to the development of the TRIAD classification system. For Gary, the best interests of the roper is always forefront in assuring USTRC offers the highest level of fairness and integrity through its competitions. Now retired as a professional roper, when he's not thinking up ways to improve classifications, he and his wife, Jean, rope together and raise corriente cattle in Hico, Texas.

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26-27 Rickey Green_Project1 4/7/10 4:47 PM Page 26

with

Rickey Green Delivery Analysis o many times we blame our delivery for things that are not the fault of our delivery. How can I blame my right hand for not following through when it was my left hand that jerked the loop back because, just as I delivered my horse stepped forward so I pulled on the reins, and that pulled my coils back, and that jerked the loop back and made it look like I didn’t follow through? This is the type of thing that can be really difficult to figure out on your own. But these are the type of things I can see from the outside, correct and help people overcome every weekend. Most people don’t realize how much having a professional assist you with your roping can help overcome some of roping’s challenges. I will teach whoever shows up as long as they have an open mind and some try, because there’s nothing better than working with someone who loves what they’re doing as much as you do. I’m going to go over a few delivery problems that can be fixed with a change in your practice habits. For one thing, when you’re heading you need to make sure you stay wide enough out to the left of your steer so when you get up to the steer, if he slows a little, you won’t be so prone to lean back or stop your delivery because you’re too close and feel confined in your delivery area. It’s always better to reach out a little than to be too close. People need to position themselves and their horses in a spot that promotes extension in the delivery. The next good habit to create is to always see the head loop go

26 / MAY 2010

Photo 1 on before you reach for the slack. This is one of the most common causes of splitting the horns. When you release the head loop, keep both hands and arms extended to the head until the loop hits. What happens in many cases is as the loop is in flight, people start to drop their hands and

Photo 2

26-27 Rickey Green_Project1 4/7/10 4:48 PM Page 27

reach for the slack as the loop flies through the air. This changes the flight pattern and pulls the rope down onto one horn because the loop is tied to the coils. Another common problem is when a steer moves left, headers donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t move left enough using weight transfer to guide the horse left, and they use their reins too much. So as they move their left hand to guide the horse, they jerk the loop back that the right hand has just delivered. No matter what the point of delivery, both hands must extend to the head (see Photo 1). Then heeling delivery can get really crazy in all the things that can affect a loop. Two major factors that affect the heelerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s delivery are timing and focus point. Yes, the problem is that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not following through, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the problem not the answer. Most heelers who show up at my schools are six and below, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing how much I can help them just by talking about where theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking and showing them how to get in time through the corner. If you try to rope as you gain on a steer, it will cause problems in your delivery heeling. Things happen such as your loop tipping over, your tip hitting the ground outside the right leg, or making you sit down because you see youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re gaining so you sit back and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t follow through. It can also make you shoot the loop through the other side because you sat back at the last minute. To fix some of these problems, try to get your

horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nose next to the left hind leg of the steer and then let him jump away as you deliver, stopping your horse at the same time you start your delivery. Make sure you bring your tip through out in front of the left leg. (see Photo 2) Also, be sure to see your steer hop over the bottom strand before you sit back from your delivery. Keep your right arm and shoulder completely extended until the steer is in your loop. Sometimes your delivery will weaken because youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re letting your eyes jump around too much and not staying focused on the legs. This will cause you to float your delivery because you arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really seeing the target clearly to have a confident follow through. Another problem with heelers can be seen in the corner. If you ride too tight down the arena to your steer, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see the legs over the top of your horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head, so this makes you want to lean right to see the steerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legs, and this makes your horse drift by, which ruins your delivery. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the deliveries fault because the failure was in the positioning. Well, I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fix all of your problems in one article, but I hope this helps. Maybe Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see you this summer at a school. Your Friend,

Rickey Green

Jesus was a Cowboy John 12:14

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SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 27

28-29 Horse Health_Layout 1 4/13/10 3:29 PM Page 28

HORSE HEALTH

t is no secret how much work goes into making a great rope horse these days. From pedigree choices to feed supplements, vaccines, deworming and training programs, every step is a carefully calculated measure with the goal to produce the next superstar rope horse. It is no wonder owners are going to these efforts to ensure their horse has every chance to be great; the competition is tough and the prize money keeps escalating. With all of the effort that goes into creating and maintaining these performance horses, there is one aspect of care that is still commonly overlooked – dentistry. It is important to understand how your equipment normally functions and how dental issues may affect that function.

While at the next roping, take the time to observe some of the horses while they work. Pay close attention to how they carry their head. A well trained, comfortable horse will break from the box and travel with their head in a balanced, natural position. They should neither lean forward on the bit nor be “behind” the bit (nose tucked towards the chin). They should not tip their nose to either side, toss their head or gape their mouth open. These are all signs of oral discomfort. Keep in mind that equipment choices can greatly influence how the horse performs. Different bits apply pressure at different areas of the head and mouth, and can 28 / MAY 2010

Straight From the Horse’s Mouth Dr. Crystal ChristmanLegacy Equine Centre

have a major influence on how certain dental issues affect the horse. Most horses are ridden first in a snaffle bit, then later in a curb bit. A snaffle bit is one where the bridle and the reins attach to the same ring on the bit. The snaffle can have a solid or a broken mouthpiece. Pressure is exerted on the tongue, bars and corners of the lips. A direct line of contact between the rider and the bit is established. A curb bit is different because the bridle attaches at a different site than the reins. There is a shank (long piece on the side of the bit) where the bridle connects at the top, the mouthpiece connects part way down, and the reins connect at the lower end. The shank acts as a lever to provide a mechanical advantage to the rider: one pound of pressure by the rider’s hands translates into several pounds on the horse’s mouth. A curb bit applies pressure first to the chin groove because the chin strap tightens as the rider pulls on the reins. Once the chin strap is completely engaged, pressure is applied to the tongue, bars of the mouth and the poll (behind the ears). The mouthpiece can be solid or broken and often has a port, where the middle of the mouthpiece is raised off the tongue. A port is designed to relieve tongue pressure, but can become hazardous if it is too tall because it may then contact the roof of the horse’s mouth and cause damage to the hard palate. A solid, straight mouthpiece (with no port) can apply enough pressure to the tongue to cause lacerations.

Snaffle

Direct line No mechanical advantage Tongue, bars, lips

Curb

Indirect line Mechanical advantage Chin, tongue, bars Low port = tongue relief

Equine teeth erupt constantly throughout life. In a balanced mouth, this eruption is matched by a steady wearing down of teeth due to chewing roughage. When a malocclusion occurs (where the teeth are not meeting normally), the opposing teeth no longer wear each other down evenly and dental abnormalities occur. This can happen when the teeth erupt unevenly, with a fractured tooth or simply as a result of aging. There are also normal changes that occur over time in a horse’s mouth. The lower jaw is narrower than the upper jaw, creating a natural wear pattern that sharpens the outer edges of the upper cheek teeth and the inner

28-29 Horse Health_Layout 1 4/13/10 3:31 PM Page 29

edges of the lower cheek teeth. Sharp points can rub on the cheeks and tongue, creating ulcerations. When a bridle is placed on the horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head, the cheek pieces and the bit can put pressure on the soft tissues of the head, pushing the sensitive tissue up against sharp points causing pain and further ulceration. If a horse has sharp points on the outside edges of the upper cheek teeth, the surrounding soft tissue will be damaged every time the rider applies pressure to the bridle. This effect is amplified if the horse is being ridden in a curb bit because the longer cheek pieces will exert even more pressure over the sharp points. Sharp points on the inside edge of the lower cheek teeth will cause damage when pressure is applied via the bit onto the tongue, flattening the tongue and pushing it up against those sharp points. The discomfort can distract a horse and impede him from performing to his utmost potential. Even the most stoic horse will eventually show a compromise in his performance if dental abnormalities create repeated discomfort while performing. A horse will naturally drop his nose to balance when stopping or turning. This is especially dramatic when we ask them to respond quickly, as with a heel horse, tie-down roping horse or a barrel horse. Hooks and ramps (abnormally long cheek teeth at the front and back of the jaw respectively), prevent the horse from being able to comfortably drop his head as he engages his hind

end. As he drops his nose, the lower jaw slides forward, causing the ramps on the last lower cheek teeth to push up into the sensitive soft tissue of the upper jaw. The resulting pain discourages the horse from using himself in the most effective manner and translates into a less athletic stop. Long, overgrown hooks can prevent the bit from contacting the bars in the appropriate spot, confusing the cue sent to the horse. Even the most stoic horse will eventually show a compromise in his performance if dental abnormalities create repeated discomfort while performing. Many of these abnormalities will become more dramatic over time unless they are corrected by appropriate equine dentistry. Even if a dental exam reveals no sharp points, hooks or ramps, there may be hidden damage to the bars of the mouth. The bars of the mouth (toothless area between incisors and cheek teeth) can easily be injured by any type of bit. The soft tissue covering the area may be red, swollen or lacerated. Commonly, there is bruising of the bone below the soft tissue or small saucer shaped fractures along the bars. Digital radiographs may be the only way to discover these sources of pain. Treatment of these injuries is successful and varies from rest to surgical removal of bone fragments.

A bit seat is another way that performance dentistry can help to decrease oral discomfort. A bit seat involves contouring the first cheek teeth (second premolars) so that the soft tissue along the bars and lips is not pinched between the bit and the teeth. Extension of the head and neck allows the bit to move deeper into the mouth where it is more likely come into contact with the first cheek teeth. Horses that travel at speed (barrel, rope horses) require a more generous bit seat than those that travel in a highly collected frame (dressage, pleasure horses). A comprehensive dental examination will help to reveal any areas that may be causing your horse discomfort. Regular performance dentistry will help to remove sharp points, hooks and ramps and reduce the likelihood of inadvertently causing pain. Be sure to discuss any unusual behavior with your veterinarian. Carefully consider the equipment that you are using and whether or not that may be exacerbating any current dental issues. Appropriate performance dentistry is a crucial aspect in the development and maintenance of your next great rope horse. n Dr. Crystal Christman, with Equine Dentistry, 2nd ed. Baker and Easley. Elsevier Saunders. 2005

SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 29

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32-33 Allen Bach_Layout 1 4/12/10 4:09 PM Page 32

The Psychology of Team Roping Allen Bach

believe the one thing that makes a roper a longtime winner is that he’s able to provide an optimal environment for himself, his horse and his partners. It’s so important that a roper understands his partner’s personality and how to get along with him. Some of my partners have been totally self-motivated and able to do their part. Whether it’s driving, cleaning out the trailer, putting horses up, taking care of practice cattle, practice horses or some other part of the program, they’re on top of it. With other partners, it seemed like it worked better to talk about it more and for me to provide suggestions about things we could do to make things better. When you’re part of a team, it means just that – you’re part of a team. 32 / MAY 2010

The more you can communicate, the better off you are. We all have our different personalities, but a great partner seems to learn right off the bat how much space to give the other person. That means knowing when to encourage and when to keep your mouth shut. Sometimes not saying something at the right time is just as bad as saying something at the wrong time. There will be a time when your partner puts his heart and soul into something but doesn’t come through, and it might be a big letdown for you at some major roping or rodeo. But it can mean the world to your partner for you to ride up and say, “Don’t worry about it buddy, we’ll get ’em tomorrow. It’s not going to stop us.” Anything that gives them an affirmation that you believe in them is helpful. We all make mistakes and we all miss. You want to be the kind of partner who makes it not a big deal to miss for you. We’re all going to miss. You need to

remember the age-old saying that you want to treat others the way you’d want to be treated. I know how it felt when I let somebody down in a clutch time but that person was able to smile and tell me not to worry about it. “We’re partners; we’re teammates; I believe in you.” The same thing goes for our horses. Sometimes we get to feeling like they’re only animals, but I believe they have a lot of the same type reactions to us that our partners do. We leave them alone and are fine with them until they make a mistake, and then we’re wanting to kick or jerk on them. We need to realize, hey, they make mistakes, too. For a horse to maintain high concentration and be able to execute every single run like you want, he needs you to provide a confident, workable environment. I don’t see a lot of people who, when they make a nice run, pat their horse on the neck. And even when a horse makes a mistake, I just don’t believe that whipping on one or jerking or pulling has accomplished much, not

32-33 Allen Bach_Layout 1 4/12/10 4:10 PM Page 33

that I haven’t been guilty of it myself over the years. I just know that after watching and trying to win for 30 years, there’s a better way of treating your horses than the way some people still treat them. I remember one guy in particular, Matt Tyler, who was always good about encouraging his horse. It seemed like he could back his horse in the box and that horse stood so still, because he’d drop the reins and pat on that horse and basically love on that horse. Matt was a special guy in the sense that he loved his horses and really believed in them and you could tell that went through to that horse. Out of habit, when the horse did something well, Matt would reach down and put an arm around him or pat him on neck. I never did ever see him fight much with a horse. His horses were real confident and they wanted to work really well for Matt. If other people would have had those same horses that Matt had, they’d apply so much pressure that they’d eventually break them down and make the horses feel frustrated and look like different horses. It’s my goal to provide that kind of environment for whatever horse I have and whatever partner I rope with. It’s about getting that horse and that partner to perform at the top of their ability with me. I’ve heard people make comments about a certain guy who would rope well for me or a horse that they were surprised worked that well for me. And there are people out there who have sold the horse or quit roping with the partner when, if they’d have just treated them right, it would have been fine. That leads me to the environment we set up for ourselves. It sounds funny, but you’re your own best friend when it

comes to winning. I’ve talked to a lot of top guys that have been world champions or dominated in their event and nobody cares as much about you as you do. What other people think about you doesn’t really change your performance, but what does affect your performance is how you think about you. Recently I was talking to Trevor Brazile and we were commenting on the fact that when we’re not doing quite as well as we want, we tend to step over to the whipping post, I guess you could call it. Trevor and I were laughing, but it’s true that sometimes you want to tie yourself to the post and beat up on yourself for awhile because you think it’s what you deserve. You may have let yourself and your partner down, so you think you’ll be mean to yourself for a few hours after you rope. But that’s a dangerous area to step into in the way you treat yourself. If you can make the mental adjustment, try to just note where you lost your concentration and didn’t execute, whether it was riding horse to the right spot or setting yourself up or not finishing your delivery. Whatever it was, it only takes a few minutes of meditation and you can go out and fix it in the practice pen or rope the dummy a little. You may not know this, but snakes don’t go above a certain elevation, and this invisible line is often referred to as “the snake line.” We can live and rope above the snake line and be “transformed by the renewing of our minds” (Romans 12:1-2), or we can step below that snake line to where we get discouraged, lose confidence and quit believing in ourselves. Instead of taking your own confidence away, remember that everybody is going to miss one or have that bad day. What’s important is that on that very next day or in that

next run or next rodeo, you’re able to execute at the top of your game again. I have had to do this for 30 years. I might think Friday is bad, but by Saturday I’m ready to win again. One of the things that certain ropers are so good at is they don’t beat up on themselves for very long after a mistake. Cody Ohl is so good that way and Stran Smith, Fred Whitfield, Roy Cooper – that’s why they are all great champions. Bobby Mote is another one, and Donny Gay. Even think about Michael Jordan or Babe Ruth. Babe Ruth struck out more times than anyone in history, but what you hear about is the fact that he hit more home runs than anybody in his time. When he stepped up to the plate, he totally forgot about the last strikeout and pointed it over the fence. He told himself, ‘This one’s going out of the park.’ Your mind is such a powerful part of the way you perform, especially in the way you treat people, animals, and especially yourself. The Bible says the mind is the battlefield, in fact. One scripture that means a lot to me is that “We’re to take captive every thought.” When you have certain thoughts that aggravate you or make you mad or frustrated, use self control to hold those back and think about the things that will make you win – the good things. Think about all the high team runs you did catch or the times you did win the roping. Think about the times you did hold up your end of the team and didn’t let your partner or yourself down. Some people have a tendency to recall their negative performances instead of the positive. But a positive mindset is one of the most powerful things you can develop and establish as a professional roper. n

SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 33

34-36 GSTRC_Layout 1 4/8/10 11:42 AM Page 34

Proctor and Long bank over $100,000 a man at GSTRC by Doreen Shumpert

Coleman along wit Proctor (left), George St rait and Jake included trh their championship Lo and $79,815ucks, trailers, rope baspoils, which ng gs, saddles, ja cash per man ck and more. ets,

Cole leav man Pro soon be the box cotor and Ja e a $1 n wh ke Lo 59,63 at wil ng 0 stee l r.

firmed when a signaled something was up—con g left their ting a poin s” In the fall of 1892, the Dalton gan itor citizen saw one of the “vis headed “home” to eople armed nsp Tow k. cler hideout in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Winchester at the bank nd plan of robbing an and e), stor re Coffeyville, Kansas, with the gra dwa themselves (via the har they could pull off on. the town’s two banks. After all, if was unexpected gun battle ’d outshine the less than 15 such a daring double heist, they All in all, the whole affair lasted luding Bill, (inc d dea t infamous James-Younger gang. minutes, ending with eigh and three and ens) “Well prepared” with false beards citiz e t, Dick and som uded Bob, Grat and Bob, Gra es, he tim 23 t Sho t. met mustaches, the group (which incl wounded, including Em ell and Bill of bag ky din one and Emmett Dalton, plus Dick Broadw both himself October morning as surrendered d. Rai k Ban ille feyv Power) rode into town that busy money from the great Cof ed “strangers” of a life sentence, he nonchalantly as five heavily arm Pardoned after serving 14 years agent and actor, and possibly could. became a California real estate le who the n, ntio atte ing However, to anybody pay died at age 66 in 1937. brainer that deal was a suspicious looking no-

Roughly 118 years later, March 2010... They say history repeats itself, and the Proctor/Long “heist” involves many eerie parallels to the aforementioned historical account. Header Coleman Proctor is from Pryor, Oklahoma, and heeler Jake Long is from none other than Coffeyville, Kansas. The two are lifelong pals, and have ridden (and roped) together since they were three- and four-year-old tykes. And, similar to the Daltons riding in the shadow of the James gang, Proctor and Long entered the George Strait Team Roping Classic (GSTRC) in relative obscurity with no major “raids” to date. They were “well armed” from the practice pen, but seen as no major threat. It was a no-pressure scenario; remain calm, stick to the plan, do the job, and leave with as much cash as possible. Sound familiar? It should—but this time with a romantic ending that 34 / MAY 2010

amongst the competition. Both Proctor and Long are quick to say no roping day in junior rodeo, high school, college, PRCA or otherwise holds a candle to winning the coveted GSTRC title. Anybody who knows roping also knows that the event is a “life changer” to win, and is heralded as the toughest, wolfiest, highest-paying, most prestigious roping event in the world.

involves enough loot to make the Daltons flip over up on boot hill. When the Proctor/Long “gang” rode out of old San Antone, it was in trickedout, custom-painted Chevy dually trucks, with horses in tow in Strait XTreme Bruton trailers. They had lifted loot off of 468 other teams, to the tune of nearly $160,000 in cash, which they didn’t surrender. And, the take included not only newfound fame, but also custom Twister saddles, Resistol rope bags, Gist belt buckles, jackets from Wrangler and Justin, and a few more trinkets. Better yet, when this dust settled, the only injuries involved were a few shot Custom painted, tricked out Bruton Easy-Pull trailers and Chevrolet up dreams and egos dually trucks await the champion header and heeler.

34-36 GSTRC_Layout 1 4/8/10 3:44 PM Page 35

A stoked Coleman Proctor climbs the ladder of success, literally, as he and partner Jake Long inspect every door, window and inch of their new trailers.

“I don’t know when winning this is going to sink in but it’s pretty incredible,” said Long. “To do this together probably is the most special thing that has ever happened to us.” “I couldn’t agree more,” added Proctor. “We’ve been to this roping for so many years and we’ve dreamed about this for so long. We have run that steer thousands of times and to come out here and do this in front of all these people and for this much money, well there just isn’t a better stage for team roping. Whether you’re a fan, a parttimer, do it for fun or make a living at it there’s nothing better than this.” Held each March at the San Antonio Rose Palace in Boerne, Texas, the GSTRC continues to attract the top pros, break records and sell out every seat in the house. No surprise, as its producer country music Hall of Famer, Artist of the Decade, and avid team roper George Strait knows all about first-class events and attracting crowds. This year, 469 teams battled it out for over $600,000 in cash and prizes over the two day event. Sadly, co-producer Buddy Strait (George’s brother) unexpectedly passed away last year, and this year’s roping was held in his honor. Sponsors included an all-star lineup: Capital Farm Credit, Wrangler, Hill Country Tractor/Kioti Tractor/Rivera’s Machinery, Inc., Gist Silversmiths, Cactus Ropes, Bill Miller

run. While high-paying, their top ranking was shortlived; Proctor and Long needed to be 4.82 to take the lead, which was right up Proctor’s alley as he “prefers high pressure and to rope fast any day.” They were 4.68. Their strategy? Relax, joke around, and convince themselves it was “just another steer” and “just Country music Hall of Famer, Artist of the Decade, and GSTRC another little jackpot.” host George Strait thanks the top 50 teams, sponsors and fans Change nothing. Go for alike before Saturday’s title rounds. broke, and don’t rope scared Bar-B-Q, Bruton Easy Pull Trailers, Justin like they had in the past. Looking back, Boots, HEB food stores, Resistol hats, even they aren’t sure how they pulled Frost Bank, Brake Check, Wayne Wright that off exactly. Injury Lawyers, Tractor Supply Company Although they celebrated the payday and Classic. of their lives early (whether they won or As usual, Friday was “elimination not), things silenced quickly as Brown day”; any team missing their first steer and DeLaCruz rode into the box—5.57 faced a long drive home. From the seconds from victory. They smoked a teams that survived to rope their second 5.31-second run...plus five. DeLaCruz’s one, the top 50 fastest times on two loop came up a leg short. Talk about earned the right to play for the big toys hero to zero, and in a hurry. in Saturday’s three rounds. That’s when Consequently, Proctor and Long held it really gets Western, because all 50 on to first, and the Minor boys moved teams get all three steers, which equals into second—earning some custom lightning fast times as teams also Flying J saddles of their own to go with compete for round money and other the cash. incentives—such as an extra $10,000 for The celebration was on as a jubilant winning a round on a “Red Wrap Steer.” Proctor and Long returned for a hatIf no team succeeds, that amount waving, well-deserved victory ride to a doubles each round, which can drive the standing ovation. Long barely made it to bounty up to $40,000 by round three. the top end of the arena before he was on Never lacking for drama and the phone to wife Tasha, who had stayed excitement, Saturday’s action wasn’t for home in Kansas with their 21-month-old the faint of heart and featured some fast, daughter, Haven. furious and climatic team roping— “The first couple of times I told her I something akin to watching your team won she didn’t really believe me,” he throw an overtime interception in the laughed. “Then she just started Super Bowl. screamin’!” Top 10 high-call teams included the likes of Matt Sherwood, Allen Bach, Travis Woodard, the Minor brothers, Brady Tryan, and more...and of course the teams of Coleman Proctor and Jake Long (second high call), and Luke Brown and Cesar DeLaCruz, who were high call and sitting in the driver’s seat—almost literally—with two trucks well within reach. With three teams to go, third With only one team to go, Proctor and Long celebrate early high call Riley and Brady Minor after stretching their final steer in 4.68— assuring them took the lead with a 4.79-second second place—at least—and one gigantic payday either way. SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 35

34-36 GSTRC_Layout 1 4/8/10 3:42 PM Page 36

Also similar was the fact that Proctor was also atop a very special horse, Booger, a Cee Booger Red bred roan horse that his dad bought for him when he was 12 and Booger was only three. The two grew up together; when they were both kids Proctor rode him down town to the store for a cheeseburger every day, tied him to the swing set with a bucket of water, then rode back home. Chiefly a heel horse, Booger has adapted (with some doing) to the heading side, and has also hazed, calf roped and run some barrels amongst other things. With his part of the loot, Proctor plans to pay off debt, work on building a house with his special lady, Stephanie Arnold, and kick-start his fencing company. He’s especially thrilled with the truck; it’s the first new one he’s ever owned, and both he and Long have found out their new wheels grab plenty of attention including honks, waves, and photo requests from strangers everywhere. Overall, both champs are overcome with gratitude and send out major kudos to George and the crew. “I’d just like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Proctor said. “I’m a small town Oklahoma kid that’s always wanted to win this since I was little. For a guy like George who needs no more recognition to just do this from the heart and put on such a great roping’ for the cowboys is just awesome,” he continued. “It’s one of

Spectators and competitors alike can find a welcome break, good eats and good shoppin’ with plenty of food, tack, clothing, jewelry and other vendors.

Top 8 Finalists 1. Coleman Proctor / Jake Long, 14.93, 159,630; 2. Riley Minor / Brady Minor, 15.08, 63,852; 3. Brady Tryan / Cody Doescher, 15.4, 43,898; 4. Derick Fleming / Britt Bockius, 16.4, 39,908; 5. Kelsey Parchman / Travis Woodard, 16.6, 31,926; 6. Blaine Linaweaver / Bucky Campbell, 17.17, 23,944; 7. Preston Billadeau / Tom Bill Johnson, 17.25, 19,954; 8. Matt Sherwood / Allen Bach, 17.56, 15,964 Go Round Winners 1. Colby Siddoway / Brandon Bates, 4.73, 3,000; 2. Ty Blasingame / Matt Zancanella, 3.71, 3,000; 3. Colby Siddoway / Brandon Bates, 3.73, 1,500; 4. Speed Williams / Clay O Cooper, 3.73, 1,500 Wayne Wright Red Wrap Steer 1. Ty Blasingame / Matt Zancanella, 3.71, 20,000 GSTRC Round Winners Friday - Round 1 1. Jo Jo LeMond / Michael Jones, 3.96, 14,084; 2. Ty Blasingame / Matt Zancanella, 4.31, 8,452; 3. Colby Siddoway / Brandon Bates, 4.39, 5,634 Round 2 1. Kaleb Driggers / Brad Culpepper, 4.33, 16,902; 2. Britt Williams / Jimmie Cooper, 4.56, 12,676; 3. Cory Kidd / Adam Plyler, 4.67, 8,450; 4. Wes Goodrich / Austin Adams, 4.69, 4,226

Fans get pictures with the next best thinga cut-out picture of George driving the championship rig.

With Long’s wife Tasha unable to attend, George Strait autographed the dashboard of the family’s new wheels.

36 / MAY 2010

the few ropings a year that can pay for the last five years. We won a lot of money, but a lot of other people also won a lot of money. It’s just incredible that so many ropers can win that much money at one event. It’s amazing that somebody with his stature would take the time to put on such a great production, not for fame or money, but because he’s George and enjoys it—he’s the king of kings at this to me,” Proctor concluded. n

Courtesy Front Page Publicity

In typical fashion, the event was a bona fide blessing for the Long family, as the win enabled them to pay off bills, rigs and more, bringing that priceless feeling of relief right along with it. It’ll also allow Tasha and Haven to hit the road with daddy this year, which is extra special. Also special was that Long was able to do it aboard his 10year-old San Peppy bred horse, Mikey, re-named such in honor of a very special cousin, mentor and manager that the Long family tragically lost in an accident last year. “I’ve had some offers to buy Mikey, but just for that reason he’ll never leave my possession,” Long added. “It was really cool for my family for me to win the Strait off of that horse,” he added. Proctor remembers being stunned when he saw DeLaCruz’s rare mistake which “just doesn’t happen,” then seeing Long’s shocked face as the two tried to digest their fortune. Although they’d both roped at the Strait for years, even switching ends before, aside from Proctor winning a little round money they’d come up empty—so victory was a little hard to fathom. Proctor’s first call was to his mom, his best friend and unwavering supporter, whose motherly advice prior to the short round included telling her son to “keep his head out of his you-know-what.” Similar to Long’s wife, it took some doing to convince her he won—then the screaming commenced.

Grey’s Anatomy star James Pickens, Jr. visits with George Strait about his legendary team roping Classic. Pickens, an avid team roper, plans to start his own roping event in California.

George Strait awaits his first steer at the 2010 GSTRC.

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38 Spydr_Layout 1 4/12/10 3:07 PM Page 38

What’s the word on the new 5-Strand Rope? continued For the past three months, Superlooper has been out and about asking questions and hitting the phone lines with ropers concerning the new 5-Strand Spydr rope from Classic. As the first of its kind, the excitement around the rope has been staggering. Classic says they have been working 24/7 in order to keep up with the demand from ropers wanting to give the new rope a try and those who are already coming back for more. Least to say, the popularity of the Spydr is immense! Picking up from last month, we had three more ropers who have taken the opportunity to give the new Spydr rope a try and give us their honest feedback.

clayton vanaken Hometown - Descanso, California Occupation - High School / Cowboy Age - 18 years old TRIAD # - #8 Elite “I like them (Spydr)! The head rope – I really liked. The heel rope – it was not quite stiff enough for me, but it was good and really snappy. I would lose my tip when I got a little bigger loop, but I swing pretty hard and I suppose it wouldn’t do it if I got a

shannon mcdaniel Hometown - Deville, Louisiana Occupation - Diner Owner Age - 40 years old TRIAD # - #5 Elite “It (Spydr) does not fit me. It was too stiff and kept hitting the left shoulder and bouncing back off, same as the Heat does for me. I roped with an extra-soft but it still does not come around far enough. I’m sure it’s the lazy loop I throw and even the Lyles which

coy irwin Hometown - Andrews, Texas Occupation - Banker Age - 33 years old TRIAD # - #7 Elite “The Spydr has good body, but it is lacking a little weight for liking. The head rope seems a little bit limber for what it is labeled, but really it just felt like it did not have enough weight. Basically, the heel rope is the same thing. It has body, but the weight just didn’t feel balanced for me. Sometimes, I did not quite feel the tip completely. On good hopping cattle, it stood up and felt good, but when I tried to float it or if I had to speed up my loop, I would

little harder lay.” When asked if there was anything that stands out about the Spydr, Clayton had this to say. “I really liked the head rope. You can throw them a really long way and it lasted a really long time. I probably roped about 200 steers with it. That was just amazing compared to others. I was also a lot more confident throwing it further.” Conclusion – I’d like to keep using the head rope and I think I will either rope with the Powerline or Spydr on the heel side.

I have always used seem to be feeling too stiff right now too. I’ve ordered some new ones this morning and if I can’t use them, I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Shannon, Was there anything you liked about the Spydr? “I liked the feel of it period, but on the smaller horned cattle was when I was ripping them off. On bigger horned cattle, it all worked good. I would even say they were a little better than the Heat, but there you go - I struggle with both of them.” Conclusion – Up in the air – Not sure what else to try to do!

loose the tip.” As far as finding anything he liked about the Spydr, Coy was very apprehensive to say anything good or bad about it. “It’s (Spydr) got good body and I really liked it when I first swung it. Also, it seemed to last good as far as roping quite a few steers with it. It was just that I was trying it make it do something I just couldn’t make it do. I’ve had that happen on a few other ropes in the past too. I am trying Calloway’s right now and I like them, they just don’t last nearly as long as some of the Classic ropes I’ve used.” Conclusion – Still searching for the perfect feeling rope that has the body and weight for his style of roping.

So there you have it. From the pros who used the Spydr to sweep the competition at the PRCA National Finals Rodeo last December to the roper we talked to over the past two months, there is a vast difference in opinions about the new Spydr 5-Strand rope. Those who like it –really, really like it and those who have different feelings about the rope can’t really say they don’t like the rope, but they need a different feeling rope to fit their style of roping. So, if you want to give it a try, head to your local rope dealer, or call Classic and have one sent to you and make your own judgment. Who knows, it might allow you to rope faster and have more confidence then you have ever had before in your roping career. 38 / MAY 2010

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HAULING AND PULLING

TEAM ROPERS, TRUCKS AND THE ECONOMY

hat would a cowboy be without his truck? From the one-seated flatbed ranch truck with manual locks and windows to the Dodge Mega Cab dually with wallto-wall carpet, plush leather seats and electric locks and windows, the truck has become a symbol of the American cowboy way of life. For a team roper, the truck and trailer are just as important as his horse and saddle. Just head to any team roping any day of the week and you will see a variety of trucks hooked up to trailers of all sizes. A team roper’s rig has to be big enough to haul their family and friends and powerful enough to pull a trailer full of all their horses. Today’s large and very heavy living quarters horse trailers have become more like a home away from home. The added weight makes owning a big powerful truck essential to the modern day team roper. For those in need of such a new truck, whether or not now is the right time to buy or trade has more to do with economy woes than necessity. However, 40 / MAY 2010

things are starting to look up. Take for instance a recent well respected survey conducted by Autodata Corp. of the U.S. auto industry’s national sales report. Their findings showed that the sales of full-sized pickup trucks outperformed the overall automotive industry averages. This may be the first sign that the economy is starting to rebound, a sign more than welcomed by the big three Detroit auto makers. Full-size pickup trucks are among their most profitable models and are a category they dominate in the auto industry. All three of today’s top pickup truck manufacturers have seen an increase in sales hovering around 30% throughout the month of March. This jump in fullsized truck sales not only gives the automakers a sigh of relief, because of wider profit margins, but may also mark the beginning of the end of the recession. Several truck dealerships in Texas have reported a sales increase of 70% in March, which means that money, is starting to flow again. So, if you are in the market for a new

pickup truck, now may be the best time to buy or trade. The manufacturers and dealers are motivated now more than ever to earn your business by offering great rebates, 0% financing and improved services. There is little doubt that the dealers welcome one and all as they begin to climb up from their recent depths of red ink back into the black.

What Truck Meets your Needs? Team ropers know what they want when it comes to their truck and Dodge, Ford and General Motors understand their demands. Each manufacturers pickup trucks are equipped with enough tow power to pull the big hills while providing plenty of cab room and comfort for everyone to enjoy the ride. While all three cover the basic necessities, each boasts their own special feature packages. Here’s a glimpse of what Dodge, Ford and General Motors have to offer with their 2010 heavy duty pickup truck models.

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2010 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins Turbo Diesel The workhorse 6.7-liter Cummins® Turbo Diesel engine has been a jobsite regular for years, and for a good reason: It’s exceptionally powerful and durable. Transmission Choices New for 2010, the automatic transmissions feature Electronic Range Select (ERS) and Tow/Haul mode. Electronic Range Select (ERS) allows the driver to manually limit the highest available transmission gear, thereby allowing manual upshifts and downshifts based on road speed and engine speed. Tow / Haul mode improves vehicle performance and fuel economy while minimizing engine noise during trailer towing or heavy-load hauling. When Tow / Haul mode is selected, a revised shift schedule is used to provide more power and reduce transmission shift changes and “gear hunting.” The Tow / Haul switch is located in the center stack of the instrument panel.

Handling & Suspension Ram 2500 and 3500 are built with sturdy hydroformed frames (the stiffest in Dodge Ram history) and capable four-wheel drive options to handle the toughest jobsite terrain. To smooth out the ride, new fluidfilled hydromounts on the cab reduce the amount of shake you feel.

in features like the upgraded interior with a Soft-Touch instrument panel and door trim, two-tone upholstery plus detailed stitching on the seats and throughout. The refined interior of the Ram Heavy Duty was a major reason it was named Motor Trend’s 2010 Truck of the Year®.

Ford 6.7 Power Stroke® V8 Turbo Diesel Class-leading power and economy Best-in-class fuel economy with an 18% improvement over the previous engine.† Best-in-class torque and horsepower B20-capable - Quiet and clean

This enhances towing and off-road functionality by transmiting lots of power efficiently from the engine to the wheels.

Fuel Economy The 6.7L Power Stroke® as well as the V8 turbo diesel and the 6.2L V8 gas engine, TorqShift® 6-Speed Automatic were engineered and built to deliver bestThe TorqShift® 6-Speed Automatic is in-class fuel economy. The impressive built bigger and stronger than ever, it thing is that the fuel economy is achieved encases large, hefty gears for durability and with engines that are light in weight but offers great torque-handling capabilities. big in towing, hauling, torque, s s

Brake Life Ram Heavy Duty trucks with the Cummins® Turbo Diesel engine are the only trucks in their class with a standard integrated diesel exhaust brake. It prolongs brake life, reduces brake fade, and provides stopping safety and confidence when hauling heavy loads on downhill grades. The diesel exhaust brake slows your truck down without using your wheel brakes. Instead, exhaust gasses that would normally flow through the turbocharger are kept in the engine after the turbo’s exhaust inlet closes. This builds exhaust backpressure, which slows the engine and therefore the drivetrain.

Integrated Trailer Brake Controller The available integrated trailer brake controller allows you to automatically or manually activate the electronic brakes on properly equipped trailers for greater stopping power on downhill grades. The controller and status display are mounted in the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel, and the included control lever can activate the trailer brakes independent of the truck’s brakes. All-New four-door Crew Cab benefits: • The first Crew Cab ever available for Rear Backup Camera Dodge Ram Heavy Duty The available ParkView® rear backup • Seating for up to six camera shows you what’s behind your • Four full-size doors truck on the available the full-color • Six more inches of legroom than the multimedia touch screen when you’re previous Quad Cab® it replaces in reverse. It eases parking and takes the Mega Cab® benefits: guesswork out of backing up to a trailer • The greatest total interior volume in Interior Comforts its class Dodge Ram Heavy Duty trucks offer • The most spacious interior available many available comforts and in the full-size segment conveniences so you can relax during a • Seating for up to six long day on the road. Detailed • Four full-size doors craftsmanship can be seen throughout

SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 41

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horsepower and all-around toughness. The 6.7L Power Stroke® turbo diesel delivers an 18% improvement over the previous diesel, while the 6.2L gas V8’s improvement is 15%. Frame Strength It can’t be Built Ford Tough if it isn’t tough from the ground up. That’s precisely why on this frame the crossmembers are riveted, welded or both to optimize frame capability. There’s also the thick steel C-channel up to 6.7-mm thick. Put this and more tough measures together and you’ll know why Super Duty® delivers best-in-class payload and towing. Trailer Sway Control Standard on Super Duty® pickup and SRW Chassis Cab, trailer sway control helps keep whatever you’re towing doing what you want it to do, not what gravity wants it to do. This stability and control happens through selective wheel braking and reduced engine power to help keep your trailer behind you through high winds, turns and rain-soaked roads. Hill Start Assist / Descent When you’re crawling up a steep hill, the standard Hill Start Assist feature automatically works with the anti-lock brakes to help keep you from sliding back down. The same feature is especially important when towing because it gives you all-important confidence in control up hills. Also with the Hill Assist feature, Super Duty® holds the brake on an incline to help prevent backward roll when switching your foot from the brake to the gas, giving more confidence to tow the big rigs. Conversely, when going downhill you need the new Hill Descent Control™, included on single rear-wheel pickups with the available FX4 Off-Road Package. Looking ahead, the Super Duty® will continue to innovate with its enhanced Tow/Haul Mode. For 2011, the new Power Stroke® 6.7L diesel and six-speed TorqShift® transmission utilizes seemless engine exhaust braking to improve driving confidence and minimize brake wear. Ford Work Solutions™ This is the beginning of innovative ideas frim Ford. The Ford Work Solutions is a suite of smart tools, available individually, designed to improve your productivity on the job. 42 / MAY 2010

There are four tools in all: • The indash computer provides full office capability with wireless keyboard (inkjet printer optional), hands-free calling through Bluetooth™-enabled mobile phones, and Garmin® Navigation. • Tool Link™ tracks tools using Radio Frequency Identification

GM HD Trucks Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra Duramax Diesel A Powerful Choice! – The Duramax Diesel boasts a 6.6L V8 diesel engine that is class leading horsepower and overall torque. The 2010 features a BS Biodiesel –compatible engine that is manufactured to help reduce emissions and maximize power. Allison Transmission To harness all of the HD muscle of the available Duramax 6.6L diesel V8 engine, the available Allison Transmission uses many of the same load-carrying components found in some mediumduty transmissions. It also employs advanced technology such as a Tapup/Tap-down driver shift control feature you won’t find on Ford full-sized pickups, shift stabilization that helps reduce shift busyness when driving on mountainous terrain and grade braking, which automatically downshifts when the driver applies the brakes while descending long, steep grades. 5-Year / 100,000 Mile Warranty GM HD Trucks are backed by the best coverage in America, starting with the 5year, 100,000 mile transferable Powertrain limited warranty. That’s 40,000 miles more than other leadeing truck makers including Ford and Toyota. When you add the 5-year/100,000 mile Roadside assistance and courtesy transportation program, it’s the best

(RFID) technology. • Crew Chief™ provides comprehensive fleet tracking and diagnostics. • Cable Lock™ adds security for tools and other valuable items stored in the pickup bed using a vinyl-coated, 10-ft. braided steel cable. For complete information, go to fordworksolutions.com.

coverage in America. So, just in case you need a hand, help is on the way to give your vehicle a jump or even fix a flat. That’s the kind of confidence and commitment to quality that comes with every GM truck. Most Dependable - Long Lasting If there is one thing GM has learned from building trucks for over 90-years, it’s that your pickup needs to be ready to go when you are. That’s why we make sure dependability is ingrained in the DNA of every Silverado from Chevy and Sierra from GMC. Making them the most dependable, longest lasting full-sized trucks on the road. Off-Road Trips are Better In a Z71 Heading away from the beaten path? The Z71 Off-Road package is available on Silverado 3500 HD single wheel and includes 36mm twin-tube, high pressure gas charged shocks, a 36 mm front stabilizer bar and off-road jounce bunpers to absorb large suspension inputs. When you’re heading for the deep stuff, the Skid-Plate package is there to protect the undercarriage from debris that is kicked up. Pickup truck owners know the right equipment keeps them connected to the road. The available GM segment automatic locking rear differential allows additional traction on slippery surfaces when rear-wheeled slippage is detected at lower speeds. It’s simple. GM trucks grip where you need it!

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TODAY’S HEAVY DUTY SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON HEAVY-DUTY PLAYERS Diesel supplier TD engine Horsepower Torque Max payload Transmission (auto) Fifth-wheel max tow Lowest available gear Max GVWR

2010 Chevy Silverado HD 3500 GM (Duramax) 6.6L OHV 32-valve V-8 cast-iron block, aluminum heads 365 hp @ 3200 rpm 660 hp @ 1600 rpm 5300 lb 6-speed 17,500 lb 3.73:1 13,000 lb

2010 Dodge Ram HD 3500 Cummins 6.7L OHV 24-valve I-6 cast-iron block/head 350 hp @ 3000 rpm 650 hp @ 1500 rpm 5130 lb 6-speed 17,600 lb 4.10:1 12,200 lb

2010 Ford Super Duty F-350 Power Stroke 6.4L OHV 32-valve V-8 cast-iron block/heads 390 hp @ 2800 rpm 735 hp @ 1600 rpm 5460 lb 6-speed 17,800 lb 3.97:1 13,000 lb

ACCESSORIZE YOUR RIDE Trucks West

Trucks West of New Mexico is all about your safety, your family’s safety and your horse’s safety. Better pulling power with maximum stopping power. Medium duty to heavy duty, we have your next towing vehicle. We stock Volvo, Mack, AUTOCAR and GMC. Free 22 point inspection (call for details) and a full service department for all of your truck needs. Let us show you a truck that can pull and stop your new living quarter trailer with ease. We offer special financing for any Equine Association. Call Maralyn Hillman, General Manager 800-288-7703, mhillman@trucks-west.com or go on line and view our inventory at www.truckswestnm.net

Bully Dog Efficiency, Economy, Effortless Bully Dog gives you all three at one low price point Bully Dog is now offering an economical downloader for individuals that prefer big fuel saving and mild

performance gains at a low price. Through extensive development and testing, the Triple Dog E3 downloader provides fuel mileage gains as high as 5 miles per gallon (MPG) over stock. The new Triple Dog E3 is loaded with features, each is designed to make your truck as efficient as possible. Some of these features include the ability to adjust and limit the truck or SUVs maximum speed requiring the vehicle to be operated at a lower speed, saving fuel. Additional features include: Free on line updates, On-the-Fly adjustability giving the user the ability to adjust power and economy for the way their needs at any desired time. The Triple Dog E3 downloader is available for gas and diesel trucks and SUVs dating back to 1999 in some cases. The gas downloader works on over 50 applications including Ford, Dodge, GM and Nissan. The diesel version works on over 20 vehicle applications from Ford, Dodge and GM. To learn more about the new Triple Dog E3 Gas Downloader or the new Triple Dog E3 Diesel Downloader download it’s product information sheet or read more details on our website. The Products Bully Dog products are developed with you in mind and each of you has a

different need, want and desire. Our products, all the way back to the first propane kits, reflect that. Bully Dog products are built to be flexible, allowing each user to get their own desired result, from outrageous performance on the race track to improved fuel economy driving down the highway. Bully Dog products have you covered with increased performance, added safety and improved economy. This is evident with the Triple Dog Downloader, Outlook Monitor and the new Performance Management Tool. These products offer the safety of a module married to the performance and flexibility of a downloader. Innovation Product innovation is key and Bully Dog takes innovation very seriously. In the past 8 years, Bully Dog has been first to market with product fitment and function over 80 times. They are the ONLY manufacturer that allows you to take their product for a free test drive with the Tri Before You Buy program. And in 2005 with the release of the Triple Dog Downloader and Outlook Monitor, Bully Dog revolutionized the market with the ability to adjust power, safety and economy levels on-the-fly while driving down the road. So what are you waiting for, find the right product for your vehicle and Unleash the Power! SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 43

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Diesel Kleen® + Cetane Boost® Benefits: • Contains Slickdiesel® for maximum diesel fuel lubrication – protects pumps and injectors against wear caused by ULSD • Boosts cetane up to 6 numbers – engines run smoother with less power lag and faster cold starts (cetane is to diesel what octane is to gas) • Boosts power – reduces need for downshifting during high-load conditions • Cleans dirty injectors – goes beyond the industry standard of keeping injectors clean to actually clean dirty injectors • Increases MPG up to 8 percent – fuel savings exceed cost of additive

fuels has been a positive step in reducing sulfur emissions from diesel vehicles. However, with the reduction of sulfur levels from 500 parts per million (“ppm”) to 15 ppm in ULSD diesel and even lower in biodiesel, water separation is becoming an issue like never before. Not only can water collect at the bottom of fuel tanks, causing fuel tank corrosion, icing and general problems with overall performance, but the lack of sulfur also enables fuel contaminants to accumulate, damaging fuel-filters, injectors and other components within the fuel system. To combat the increase of water and fuel contaminant-related problems, the folks at Power Service Products have developed Clear-Diesel® Fuel & Tank Cleaner, a ULSD-compliant additive that is effective in all diesel fuels, including biodiesel. Through laboratory research and testing, Clear-Diesel has unique compounds proven to remove significant amounts of water within diesel fuel. In addition to its water-removing properties, Clear-Diesel’s +PetroFresh® is effective in breaking down and dispersing diesel fuel contaminants throughout your fuel system. Essentially, Clear-Diesel dehydrates and stabilizes your fuel tank, picking up where sulfur left off, but with better effect and without the detrimental emissions that sulfur produces. If you have a clean tank, then you have less of an opportunity to pick up fuel contaminants in the fuel lines that will plug fuel filters and reduce MPG. Clear-Diesel is perfectly safe to mix with all ULSD and biodiesel fuels, and it’s easy to use. The easy-pour 80-ounce bottle treats 250 gallons of fuel. For best results and to ensure proper mixing, Power Service Products recommends adding the additive to your tank before filling with fuel.

Recently, the company has introduced another product that deserves your attention. The use of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) and biodiesel

About Power Service Products Power Service Products’ headquarters and 26-acre manufacturing facility is in Weatherford, Texas. The family-owned company began in 1956 in a small, one car garage, but has grown into one of the industry’s greatest success stories. The company’s research laboratory is a recognized leader in the development of

Power Service Products Fuel Maintenance Is More Important Than Ever

Just like a fine-tuned athlete, one of the most important things you can do to keep your diesel truck running right is to maintain it properly. Not all diesel fuels are the same and the quality can vary from individual fueling stations and by region. Performance also varies by the type of diesel fuel that is used. One company that has been an industry leader in the diesel additive market is Texas-based Power Service Products. In fact, Power Service is the No.1 selling brand of diesel fuel additives in the U.S. (Source: NPD Group). Diesel Kleen is a performance product. Loaded with performance-enhancing components such as cetane, detergents and lubricity improvers, Diesel Kleen provides an immediate improvement in the operation of any diesel vehicle.

44 / MAY 2010

new and improved diesel fuel additives. “For more than 50 years, we’ve been proud to be part of America’s farm and ranch industry,” said Ed Kramer, Power Service owner and president (and son of the founder, Al Kramer). Power Service products are available at automotive retailers nationwide. For more information, visit www.powerservice.com

SportChassis Showcase new interior with an interactive virtual tour

SportChassis LLC recently launched “Get Acquainted With Your New SportChassis” (www.sportchassis.com/360), a cross-media promotional campaign that uses print ads, promotional videos and online virtual tours to announce their upgraded interior, increase brand awareness and drive qualified customers to their local dealers. The campaign features visual media and print ads which direct prospective customers to the new interactive 360° tour which places viewers inside the luxurious interior of a 2010 SportChassis. “This year we made some innovative changes to our interior and we felt that a 360 interactive viewer would clearly showcase our achievements.” said Chris Brinkley, Marketing Director at SportChassis. Brian Aneshansley, General Manager, added “at SportChassis we understand when marketing a niche product, it is oftentimes hard for the general public to touch and feel just exactly what makes this truck a SportChassis. SportChassis LLC is committed to providing an interactive website that allows more people to experience the SportChassis product line.” SportChassis designed the Ranch Hauler for the cross country towing of

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large trailers. Built on a Freightliner M2 frame, the standard SportChassis unit is superbly outfitted with a Cummins ISC330/Allison 3200 TRV engine/transmission combination. Also standard is four-wheel ABS, keyless entry, soundproofing, and a state of the art multimedia system designed by Pioneer. Trucks may be ordered to suit any application with seven standard paint colors, three interior color schemes and over 100 upgrades. The luxurious SportChassis cab complements four different body styles, ready to tackle a multitude of needs. The P-series lineup features the convenience of a pick-up style bed which gives the ability to add options such as tonneau covers and walk-in toppers. If you would like more information about this topic or to schedule an interview, please contact Chris Brinkley at 580/323-4100, ext 146 or marketing@sportchassis.com.

Southwest Fabricators Southwest Fabricators is happy to announce that we now offer full rigups for the 2010 Dodge 3500 trucks as well as the brand new Barb Wire option on all headache racks. These additions to our line up are just more examples of SWF staying on top of the game for all of your after market heavy duty accessories needs. We still offer full bumper replacements and grille guards as well as rear bumpers, headache racks, and steps or running boards for older model trucks. Grille guards or replacements and many custom bed options are available for 5500 trucks and freightliners. As always ALL of our products are made with the highest quality materials. Check our website for information and pictures or give us a call to help you with your decision. www.southwestfabricators.com 1-800-815-4348. Built in Texas for the real world.

Firestone Industrial Products 2010 Firestone Industrial Products Catalog Now Available New Applications Highlighted for R4Tech(tm) Hybrid Air/Leaf Suspension System Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC offers its 2010 air helper springs catalog detailing products and accessories available for today’s cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, motor homes and RVs. Ride-Rite air helper springs are installed between the vehicle’s frame and suspension and offer added load support in addition to vehicle leveling. Load carrying capacities vary between 3,000 and 5,000 lbs. per set. Sport-Rite™ air helper springs mount between the frame and the suspension to enhance the vehicle’s ride characteristics, while also keeping the vehicle level. Designed for small pickups, SUVs and vans, Sport-Rite air springs support up to 3,000 lbs. per set. Coil-Rite air helper springs mount inside an existing open coil spring suspension and allow for adjustable spring rates that are superior to standard coil springs. They support between 500 and 1,000 lbs. per set. Level-Rite™ kits feature a fully protected, reversible sleeve air spring paired with a high-performance Bilstein® monotube shock absorber to help level the front end of vehicles that see use in snow-plowing, off-roading, or that have slide-in campers or large, heavy grill guards. Firestone’s Complete Suspension Solutions - including Ride-Rite, SportRite, Coil-Rite and Level-Rite air helper springs as well as their complete line of air accessory systems - have become synonymous with quality, durability and outstanding customer support. For more information, visit www.ride-rite.com.

Suspension Technology Industries STI expands their air suspension selections & obtains a patent STI’s Ability to Create Custom Air

Suspensions For Various Trailers Suspension Technology Industries has helped trailer owners protect their vehicles and trailers with Air Ride air suspensions with over 40 years of innovative engineering and knowledge. The trailer industry continues to be a vital part of transportation of everything from automobiles, livestock, luxury goods, medical equipment and so much more. Everything can benefit from being hauled in a well protective environment. STI has the LBS air rideair suspension available for trailers from 3,500 to 12,000 lb capacities. An improved air ride protects trailer cargo and tow vehicle while independent wheel suspension provides excellent stability. STI air suspensions are built with rugged components that provide a constant floor height (trailer rides at the same height light or loaded), and a trailer floor that lowers for stable loading and unloading along with better step in height, STI’s air suspensions provide axle load equalization. Your truck or trailer also performs all applications, on-or off-highway. STI’s one-stop shopping includes the axle, hubs, brakes, air supply and control kits, which are shipped complete and mounts entirely under the trailer frame. Various ride heights are available to customize the suspension for your needs. The excellent frame-to-ground clearance (suspension projects only 13.1"-14.8" below the trailer frame) and industry standard wheel ends with electric, hydraulic or disc brakes are available. STI’s Air Ride Air Suspensions are available on new trailers from major trailer manufacturers or retrofit systems for existing trailers, STI also offers their newly patented Cargo Max feature, to allow maximum storage inside your trailer. Expanding the standard 68" width to 81" available storage width saves your cargo a lot of knocked livestock shins to car door dings. For more information regarding STI, visit their new website www.RIDETHEAIR.com. SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 45

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FUEL PRICES WHAT ARE TEAM ROPERS TO DO?

here is little doubt the high price of fuel that hit the country last year played a role in today’s slow economy. Like everyone else, team ropers felt the pinch at the pump and know that these prices could return. It is because of the high price that many have become more aware of fuel uses and what they can do to improve their mileage. There are many ways team ropers can cut back on fuel usage and save at the pump. Here are some fuel economy tips team ropers can use to compete against high prices at the pump.

Free wheeling: Keep hubs lubed and brakes properly adjusted so there’s no fuel-robbing drag.

Sit still and quiet: Excessive idling wastes fuel. If you’re going to be sitting still for more than a couple of minutes shut the engine off.

Keep your towing vehicle tuned-up:

Overdrive saves:

Listen to your manufacturer! Service your engine at recommended intervals for heavy-duty use; besides tune-ups, change the air filter, oil and transmission fluid. Keeping the vehicle tuned up and in top running condition saves fuel. A poorly tuned engine can lower fuel economy by 10 to 20%. Something as simple as a clean air filter can improve your fuel economy up to 10%.

Using overdrive whenever you can saves fuel by decreasing the engine’s speed.

Lose the Lead Foot: Accelerating smoothly and maintaining moderate speeds are two of the best ways to maximize towing economy. Want optimum mpg? Leave early and drive 60. Speeding and rapid acceleration reduces fuel economy anywhere from 5 to 33% depending on your individual driving habits.

Pressure – Don’t let air get in your way: Inflating vehicle and trailer tires to their maximum recommended ratings will boost fuel mileage, weight-carrying ability and performance. Checking and adjusting your tire pressure to the proper pressure can increase fuel economy by 3%, not to mention preventing premature tire wear and failures or blowouts caused by over or under-inflated tires.

Streamline your truck and trailer: Either find a trailer that promotes wind-flow or invest in wind deflectors that provide reduced drag.

Steady as you go: Keep the trailer level and properly balanced (both in terms of tongue weight and side-to-side distribution) for steady handling.

Loads and gear: Carrying excess weight kills fuel economy. Ditch the stuff you don’t need such as extra saddles, water and feed. Consider picking up things you need at the event. 46 / MAY 2010

Sit back and cruise: Using the cruise control saves fuel as it keeps the vehicle at a constant speed rather than variable speeds. This applies when you are driving on a relatively flat surface. Keep in mind the over 60 mph rule applies here too.

Emissions: Poor emissions and / or a faulty oxygen sensor can cause a 40% reduction in fuel economy.

Keeping cool: Air conditioning is great, but it will lower your fuel mileage. Only use the air conditioner when it gets really hot. Try cracking a window during the cooler hours of the day, morning and evening.

Quality prevails: Using the recommended grade of motor oil will increase fuel economy by 1 to 2%. In addition, many of today’s synthetic oils will increase fuel economy by 2 percent or more.

For the gas users: Use regular gas unless your owner’s manual specifies a higher octane gas. You’re just throwing money away when you pay the extra money for premium fuel. Follow all or some of these ideas and you will see the difference. We may have no control over the prices at the pump, but we have total control over getting the most out of the fuel we put in our tank.

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WYOMING SPRING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Torrington, Wyoming May 14-16, 2010

48 / MAY 2010

Della wasn’t a pretty woman. Perhaps the life she lived had taken away her beauty. Perhaps what she felt and how she looked had been shaped by the harsh land and the primitive surroundings. She remembered feeling beautiful once but it seemed like a long time ago. Goshen County! Some days she hated where she had ended up, yet it held an attraction she could not explain. Five people in a small dirt sodbusters hut were sometimes more than she could deal with. Day after day the Cheyenne and Arapahoe came to trade. They traveled, traded and spent time at the post near her hut, almost on a daily basis. Not once did they come to visit which was probably a blessing. There were stories about what they did to white women on the open range. And yet, the open country sort of grew on you. It got embedded deep in your skin and inner being after awhile. Once in awhile wagon trains making their way west stopped for supplies and fresh horses when they were available. Little did Della know that her sodbuster’s hut and small trading post would one day be a legacy of peace and war, of cooperation and conflict; a place where the West we know today was forged. It would serve as an anchor for military operations, communications, supplies and logistics during the “Great Sioux War.” Della shook her long faded blonde hair out of her eyes and looked far off into the distance. She stepped back into the door of her small homesteader’s hut and picked up the Sharps rifle. Raising the site she watched as a band of Arapahoe warriors approached. Realizing they came in peace she offered her well to water their horses. They pulled skins and pelts from the pack horses and sat down in front of her cabin. So began another day in Goshen County soon to become the most important place in Western expansion over the next one hundred years. Torrington, Wyoming will welcome

48-49 Upcoming_Layout 1 4/12/10 3:04 PM Page 49

Equine & Farm/Ranch Owner Specialists! • Mortality, Theft & Colic Surgery Expense Included • Horse Owner Liability • Rural Home & Ranch Owners Insurance • Horse Event Liability • Immediate Binders Special Rates for USTRC Members

LIVESTOCK INS. SERVICES, INC . P.O. Box 1293

Terrell, TX 75160

Contact:

w w w. L C I h o r s e . c o m LCIhorse@aol.com

USTRC team ropers to the Wyoming Spring Championships May 14 through May 16 and ropers are in for a great weekend of USTRC team roping in a land of history and challenge. Goshen County’s principle industry is agriculture. Sugar beets, potatoes, beans, corn, alfalfa, wheat and other grains are all grown in the area. More than twenty thousand cattle are raised in Goshen County, which makes it the state’s leading beef producer. The largest cattle auction in Wyoming is in Torrington, a regional trade center. If you visit Torrington for the USTRC roping you are encouraged to visit the Fort Laramie National Historic Site three miles southwest of Fort Laramie, Wyoming, the Western History Center five miles west of Lingle, Wyoming and the Homesteaders Museum in Torrington. It is a land full of history, rural appeal and beauty beyond description. This unique historic place preserves and interprets one of America’s most important locations in the history of westward expansion and Indian resistance. As USTRC ropers settle for a weekend of fun and entertainment they can also enjoy the rural atmosphere in a community that appreciates and supports the cowboy and roping lifestyle. The people of Torrington know and understand what roping involves and roll out the red carpet to make ropers and their families feel welcome. Della wiped the sweat from her brow. A brief wisp of wind cooled her face and the Indians bantered back and forth over the price of their hides and pelts. Perhaps beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps Della had an inner beauty that only the land enhanced. Perhaps Goshen County wasn’t such a bad place to live and raise a family after all. Sometimes beauty is found in the most unlikely places. If you haven’t marked your calendar for the Wyoming Spring Championships it is fast approaching and the time to plan on going is now. Make Torrington and the USTRC roping a priority for the month of May. It will be well worth your time. SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 49

50-52 On Tap_Layout 1 4/13/10 1:31 PM Page 50

USTRC

tap

Choice Hotels www.choicesportstravel.com • Special rate ID #00214570

Utah Championships June 4-6, 2010 Salt Lake County Events Center South Jordan, Utah www.southjordancity.org Load ‘Em in the Dark Cattle Company 208/251-3170 USTRC www.ustrc.com Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info K Best Western Cotton Tree Inn Hotel K Arctic Circle Restaurants www.arcticcirclerest.com Restaurants K Madelines Steakhouse & Grill www.madelinessteakhouse.com Restaurants K Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill www.applebees.com Restaurants K Ruby River Steakhouse www.rubyriver.com Restaurants K Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon www.lonestarsteakhouse.com Restaurants K Outback Steakhouse www.outbacksteakhouse.com Restaurants K Texas Roadhouse www.texasroadhouse.com Restaurants K Mountain View Course www.slcountygolf.com Golf K Mulligan’s & Game/South www.mulligans-south.com Golf K All Star Lanes Bowling www.allstarlanes.com Entertainment K Datus Archery Club www.datusarchery.com Entertainment K Riverton Museum www.rivertonmuseum.com Entertainment K Kennecott Utah Copper www.kennecott.com Entertainment

West of the Ozarks Classic June 4-6, 2010 Flying Cow Arena Grove, Oklahoma Jeff and Cindy Smith 620/422-3632 USTRC www.ustrc.com Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info K Stonebrook Inn 918/786-9799 Hotel K Outrigger Motel 918/786-4456 Hotel K Best Western Timberridge Inn 918/786-6900 Hotel K Rheingarten Restaurant www.therheingarten.com Restaurant 50 / MAY 2010

K El Vallarta Mexican Restaurant elvallarta.com Restaurant K Cowskin Prairie Restaurant & Hotel Restaurant K Hill Top Restaurant Restaurant K Montana Mike’s Steakhouse www.stockadecompanies.com Restaurant K Kelly Custom www.kellygolf.net Golf K Cherokee Grove Club 918/786-9852 Golf K Patricia Island Estates & Club www.patriciaisland.com Golf K Road Hog Saloon 918/257-8323 Entertainment K Long’s Resort & Fish Haven longsresortongrand.com Entertainment K Honeycreek Resort www.honeycreekresortandmotel.com Entertainment K Har-Ber Village Museum www.har-bervillage.com Entertainment

Red Rock Classic June 4-6, 2010 Red Rock State Park Red Rock Roping Company / Walt Eddy 505/879-6191 USTRC www.ustrc.com Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info K Best Western Red Rock Inn 505/722-7600 Hotel K La Quinta Inn and Suites 505/722-2233 Hotel K Quality Inn 505/726-1000 Hotel K Best Western / Royal Holiday 505/722-4900 Hotel K Best Western Inn and Suites 505-722-2222 Hotel K Earl’s Restaurant www.foodandwine.com Restaurant K Golden Corral www.goldencorral.com Restaurant K New Mexico Steakhouse www.aznmfishsoup.org Restaurant K Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill www.applebees.com Restaurant K Gallup Municipal Course www.ci.gallup.nm.us Golf K Zuni Mountain Course 1523 Horizon Ave, Gallup Golf K Gallup City Government: Rex Museum www.ci.gallup.nm.us Entertainment K Aztec Twin Theatre www.allentheatresinc.com Entertainment K Gallup Cultural Center www.southwestindian.com Entertainment

Indiana Classic June 4-6, 2010 Yankeetown Arena Henryville, Indiana Dan Stewart 502/583-5502 USTRC www.ustrc.com Remember: The Yankeetown Arena runs on Eastern Standard Time. Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info K Quality Inn 812/752-2212 Hotel K Super 8 Motel 812/752-2122 Hotel K Hampton Inn 812/752-1999 Hotel K Schuler’s Family Restaurant 812/294-4777 Restaurant K Big D’s Bar BQ 812/294-3227 Restaurant K Ponderosa Steakhouse www.ponderosasteakhouses.com Restaurant K Outback Steakhouse www.outbacksteakhouse.com Restaurant K Roadhouse USA www.roadhouseusa.com Restaurant K Champions Pointe Club www.championspointe.com Golf K Westwood Course www.westwoodgolf.org Golf K Clark State Forest Entertainment K Country Lake Christian Retreat www.southeastchristian.org Entertainment K Giggles Comedy Club gigglescomedyclubs.com Entertainment K Hoosier Sports Bar & Restaurant Coursemaps.google.com Entertainment K Howl At the Moon, Inc. www.howlatthemoon.com Entertainment K Scott County Heritage Center & Museum www.scottcountyheritagemuseum.org Entertainment K Kentucky Derby Museum www.derbymuseum.org Entertainment

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Florida Panhandle Classic June 5-6, 2010 Jackson County Ag Center Marianna, Florida - www.mariannaflorida.com Jx2 Productions and John Johnson 423/340-0640 USTRC www.ustrc.com Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info K Holiday Inn Express 850/526-2900 Hotel K Quality Inn 850/526-5600 Hotel K Madison’s Warehouse wwwRestaurantmadisonswarehouse.com Restaurant K Ruby Tuesday www.rubytuesday.com Restaurant K Captain D’s Seafood www.captainds.com Restaurant K Old Mexico Restaurant Downtown Marianna Restaurant K El Sid’s Mexican Restaurants Restaurant K Indian Springs Club www.indianspringsgolfcourse.net Golf K Florida Caverns 850/482-4257 Golf K Florida Caverns State Park www.floridastateparks.org Entertainment K Florida Peanut Producers Association www.flpeanuts.com Entertainment

K Western Sky Steak House www.westernskysteakhouse.org K Don Oscars Mexican Restaurant www.donoscars.com K Franco’s Café www.francoscafe.org K Logan’s Roadhouse www.logansroadhouse.com K Texas Roadhouse www.texasroadhouse.com K Twin Mountain Steak House 325/949-4239 K Henry’s Steakhouse 325/944-4323 K Riverside Hills Club 325/653-6130 K Bentwood Country Club www.bentwoodcc.com K College Hills & Games 325/944-7654 K Railway Museum of San Angelo samfa.org K Cinemark Tinseltown www.cinemark.com K Angelo Skate & Fun Center www.angelorink.com K Blaine’s Pub Co www.blainespub.com K Children’s Art Museum

Restaurant Restaurant Restaurant Restaurant Restaurant

June 10-13, 2010 1st Community Credit Union Spur Arena San Angelo, Texas www.sanangelotexas.org USTRC www.ustrc.com Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info K Ramada Inn Limited 325/653-8442 Hotel K La Quinta Inn and Conference Center www.lq.com Hotel K Motel 6 www.motel6.com Hotel K Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites www.hiexpress.com Hotel K San Angelo Inn www.hotelsanangelo.com Hotel K Zentner’s Daughter Steakhouse www.zentnersdaughter.com Restaurant K Red Lobster Restaurants www.redlobster.com Restaurant K Outback Steakhouse www.outbacksteakhouse.com Restaurant

Golf Entertainment Entertainment Entertainment Entertainment

Restaurant Restaurant Golf Golf Golf Entertainment Entertainment Entertainment Entertainment Entertainment

Iowa Championships West Texas Championships

K Wildwood Course www.nebraskacity.com K Fremont Historical Society 712/374-3248 K GAR Hall Civil War Museum www.civilwarmuseumnc.org K Jan’s Bullpin, LLC 712/374-4536 K Farragut Tavern 712/385-9598

June 11-13, 2010 Sidney, Iowa Rodeo Grounds Sidney, Iowa www.sidneyia.net Produced by Jeff and Cindy Smith 620/422-3632 Remember: WPRA Approved All Girl Roping Sunday Morning Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info K Apple Inn 1-800-659-4446 Hotel K Super 8 Motel 712/382-2828 Hotel K Country Inn 712/246-1550 Hotel K Whip’s Steakhouse 712/374-2728 Restaurant K Casey’s Carry Out Pizza www.caseys.com Restaurant K Water Fowl Café 712/387-3581 Restaurant K Li’l Dickies Steak House 402/873-4863 Restaurant K Flights End, Inc. www.flightsendinc.com Golf

Western Colorado Championships June 18-20, 2010 Mesa County Fairgrounds www.mesacounty.us/fairgrounds Grand Junction, Colorado www.visitgrandjunction.com Rope the Rockies/Jeff & Cindy Smith/Ike & Mary Cox Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info K Comfort Inn 970/858-1333 Hotel K Quality Inn 970/245-7200 Hotel K West Gate Inn 1-800-453-9253 Hotel K Holiday Inn 970/243-6790 Hotel K Best Western Grand River Inn & Suites 970/434-3400 Hotel K Red Lobster Restaurants www.redlobster.com Restaurant K Outback Steakhouse www.outbacksteakhouse.com Restaurant K Texas Roadhouse www.texasroadhouse.com Restaurant K Rockslide Brewery www.pubcrawler.com Restaurant K Chipeta Course, LLC www.chipetagolf.com Golf K City of Grand Junction Courses www.gjcity.org Golf K Western Colorado Center for the Arts www.gjartcenter.org Entertainment K Museum of Western Colorado www.museumofwesternco.com Entertainment K Mesa Theater & Club www.mesatheater.com Entertainment K Whiskey River www.whiskeyriver.biz Entertainment K Fast Eddy’s 970/241-7008 Entertainment SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 51

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North Arkansas Classic

West Coast Regional Finals

June 18-20, 2010 Benton County Fairgrounds Bentonville, Arkansas www.bentonvillear.com Rope the Ozarks (Kevin Hall) Remember: This is a new location for this event. The Roping Show will also be filming at this USTRC event. Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info K Wingate 479/418-5400 Hotel K Microtel 479/271-6699 Hotel K Sleep Inn 479/464-4400 Hotel K Ruby Tuesday Restaurants www.rubytuesday.com Restaurant K River Grille Steakhouse rivergrillesteakhouse.com Restaurant K Outback Steakhouse www.outbacksteakhouse.com Restaurant K Ruth’s Chris Steak House www.ruthschris.com Restaurant K Links at Bentonville Club Golf K Walmart Visitors Center walmartstores.com Entertainment K Crystal Bridges Museum-America www.crystalbridges.org Entertainment K City of Bentonville: Aquatic Center www.bentonvillear.com Entertainment K Dickson Theater www.liveatjrs.com Entertainment K Daisy Airgun Museum www.daisymuseum.com Entertainment

June 24-27, 2010 California Mid-State Fairgrounds Paso Robles, California www.prcity.com Produced by USTRC www.ustrc.com Remember this is a USTRC Regional Finals Event. You do not have to be qualified to enter the West Coast Regional Preliminaries Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info K Best Western-Black Oak Motor www.bestwesterncalifornia.com Hotel K Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites www.hixpaso.com Hotel K Adelaide Inn Hotel www.adelaideinn.com K Big Bubba’s Bad BBQ www.bigbubbasbadbbq.com Restaurant K McPhee’s Grill www.mcphees.com Restaurant K McClintocks F. Saloon & Dining House www.mclintocks.com Restaurant K Paso Robles Club pasoroblesgolfclub.com Golf K Crooked Kilt www.thecrookedkilt.com Entertainment K Pine Street Saloon www.pinestreetsaloon.com Entertainment K The Ranch www.liveattheranch.com Entertainment K Paso Robles Children’s Museum www.pasokids.org Entertainment K Pioneer Museum www.pasoroblespioneermuseum.org Entertainment K Hearst Castle Historical Monument www.hearstcastle.org Entertainment K Lake Nacimiento Resort www.nacimientoresort.com Entertainment

North Carolina Championships June 19-20, 2010 McPerson Arena Bristol, Tennessee www.bristoltn.org Jx2 Productions 423/340-0640 Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info K State Line Bar & Grille 423/652-0792 Restaurant K Logan’s Roadhouse www.logansroadhouse.com Restaurant K El Patio Mexican Grill 276/466-8831 Restaurant K Cedars Course www.cedarsgolfcourse.com Golf K Bristol and Country Club www.countryclubofbristol.com Golf K Bristol Caverns www.bristolcaverns.com Entertainment K Twin City Drive-In Theatre www.twincitydriveintheatre.com Entertainment K Hands On Regional Museum www.handsonmuseum.org Entertainment K O’Malley’s Lounge 423/652-2995 Entertainment K State Line Bar & Grille 423/652-0792 Entertainment 52 / MAY 2010

Red Desert Classic June 26-27, 2010 Sweetwater County Events Center www.sweetwaterevents.com Rock Springs, Wyoming www.rockspringswyoming.net C&C Roping Productions 435/793-5035 Remember: WPRA Approved All Girl roping Friday. Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info K Motel 8 307/362-8200 Hotel K La Quinta Inn 307/362-1770 Hotel K Best Western Outlaw Inn 307/352-4850 Hotel K Motel 6 307/362-1850 Hotel K Econo Lodge 307/382-4217 Hotel K Bitter Creek Brewing www.bittercreekbrewing.com Restaurant K Santa Fe Southwest Grill www.santafetrailsouthwestgrill.com Restaurant K Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill www.applebees.com Restaurant

K Coyote Creek Steak House & Saloon www.coyotecreekrs.com Restaurant K Rock Springs City Government Course www.rswy.net Golf K Rock Springs Family Recreation Center www.rswy.net Golf K Rock Springs Historical Museum www.rswy.net Entertainment K Star Theatre 307/362-2101 Entertainment K Saddle Lite Saloon 307/362-8704 Entertainment K Sweetwater County Museum www.sweetwatermuseum.org Entertainment K Bomber’s Sports Bar Entertainment 307/382-6400

Lasso Del Norte June 24-27, 2010 Santa Fe Trail Events Center Las Vegas, New Mexico www.lasvegasnm.org Produced by Kenny and Marsha Zamora Great Eats, Entertainment and Visitor Info K El Camino Motel 505/425-5994 Hotel K Best Western Montezuma Inn 505/426-8000 Hotel K Days Inn 505/425-1967 Hotel K El Rialto Restaurant & Lounge 505/454-0037 Restaurant K Hillcrest Restaurant/Flamingo hillcrestnm.com Restaurant K K-Bobs Steakhouse 505/425-6322 Restaurant K Pino’s Family Restaurant www.pinosfamilyrestaurant.com Restaurant K El Sombrero Mexican Restaurant Restaurant K New Mexico Highlands www.newmexicogolf.org Golf K New Mexico Highlands University www.nmhu.edu Entertainment K Las Vegas Museum www.lasvegasmuseum.org Entertainment K Pendaries RV Resort www.pendariesrvpark.com Entertainment K Kiva Theatre 505/454-0152 Entertainment K Byron T’s Saloon www.plazahotel-nm.com Entertainment

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. E P O R E M A S . E C A F NEW Kollin VonAhn 2009 World Champion

Rich Skelton

Randon Adams

2003 and 2004 World Champion

2008 World Champion

Walt Woodard 2007 World Champion

54 Open Tour_Layout 1 4/14/10 11:28 AM Page 54

$10,000 to Year End High Point Header and Heeler $5,000 to runners-up.

US Open Tour

STANDINGS

HEADERS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.

Chad Masters ...............56 Derrick J. Begay............42 Tate Kirchenschlager .....42 Matt Sherwood .............38 Mikey E. Fletcher, Jr. .....30 Shane Philipp ...............28 Luke Brown..................25 Ty N. Blasingame ..........25 David Key.....................25 Gable Hilderbrand.........25 Travis L. Bounds ...........25 Ken Miranda.................25 Andrew E. Ward............24 Justin V. Davis ...............24 Pace Freed ...................24 Trevor Brazile ...............23

17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.

Joel Bach .....................22 Morgan Jones ...............22 Adam Rose...................21 Cody McMinn ...............21 Aaron Tsinigine.............20 Jake Barnes..................20 David Motes .................19 Kaleb Driggers .............19 Tanner Bryson ..............18 Clayton Vanaken............18 Charles R. Pogue ..........17 Cody Odell ...................17 Jesse L. Stipes ..............17 Kelly Barker .................17 Clay White....................17 Tyler Schnaufer.............17

33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48.

Waylon McCurley ..........16 Cody L. Mora................16 Jimmy D. Tanner ...........16 Grant B. Shumway ........16 Edward Hawley, Jr. ........16 Erich J. Rogers..............15 Jay D. Ellerman.............15 Ryan VonAhn ................14 Britt C. Williams ...........14 Nick L. Pullara, Jr. ........14 Jesy C. Austin ...............13 Troy B. Hudson .............13 Drew Horner.................11 Justin L. Lovell .............11 Clay D. Hurst ................11 Justin D. Yost ................11

49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61.

Charly B. Crawford........11 Clay Tryan.....................10 Turtle B. Powell ............10 Jake Cooper..................10 Tee Woolman................10 Bode W. Baize ..............10 Austin Nettleship ..........10 Tammy White ...............10 Nelson R. Linares..........10 Riley Minor ..................10 Wade Kreutzer..............10 Ross J. Farias................10 Daniel Green ................10

Paul Eaves....................14 Boogie B. Ray ..............14 Wade Clayton ...............14 Robert Murphy .............14 Jake E. Freeland............14 Martin Lucero...............13 Josh A. Fillmore ............13 Casey Stipes.................12 Tanner L. Braden ..........12 Dustin Davis.................12 Blake D. Stocker...........11 Jeff S. Brown ................11 Arky Rogers .................11 Clay O. Cooper..............11 Paul D. Tierney..............10 Nick P. Rowland ............10 Evan A. Arnold..............10 Cody Cowden................10

55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69.

Patrick Smith .................9 James Gililland ...............9 Jake M. Long ..................9 Jett L. Hillman ................9 Byron Wilkerson .............9 Myron H. Toledo..............9 Mark Scobie...................9 Jeff C. Pierce ..................9 Chad R. Mathes ..............9 C.L. Morgan ...................9 Nick J. Griffith ................9 Zanga Schutte ................9 Ty Ethridge.....................9 Ty Romo ........................9 Levi T. Tyan .....................9

HEELERS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.

Jade Corkill ..................98 Britt Bockius ................49 Caleb C. Twisselman ......42 T.J. Watts......................39 Brock G. Hanson...........37 Travis Graves ................31 Rich Skelton.................31 Shay D. Carroll .............30 Zak R. Dobbins.............28 Cory Petska ..................27 Cesar DeLaCruz ............27 Anthony Calmelat .........26 Tommy Zuniga, Jr. ........24 Buddy E. Hawkins II......24 Will M. Woodfin ............24 York Gill.......................24 Trevor B. Connolly.........23 Travis Woodard .............22

54 / MAY 2010

19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36.

Jimmie R. Cooper .........20 Brady J. Minor ..............19 Craig Branham .............19 Kory Koontz .................18 Bobby Baize .................18 Ryan H. White ..............18 Brad Culpepper.............18 Monty Joe Petska..........17 Braden Harmon ............17 Kyle Lawrence ..............17 Derrick D. Crawford ......16 Ryan Motes ..................16 Dusty Pulsipher ............16 J.W. Borrego.................16 Cody Hall .....................16 Adam G. Plyler .............15 Jade P. Anderson ...........15 Steve Northcott ............14

37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54.

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Gold Plus Membership

$BSSZ UIF EJTUJODUJWF (PME 4QVS DBSE UIBU TBZT ZPV BSF BU UIF UPQ PG ZPVS HBNF

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3,000 in Flex Earnings

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Project1_Layout 1 11/5/09 2:21 PM Page 2

Become a Member of the USTRC

Gold Plus Options Gold Plus Upgrade + "OZ (PME 4QVS PS Â¾ STU UJNF NFNCFS ZFBST PS PMEFS NBZ VQHSBEF UP (PME 1MVT NFNCFSTIJQ BU BOZ UJNF

The Official Home of

AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COWBOY SPORT

Lifetime Gold Plus Upgrade + "WBJMBCMF UP MJGFUJNF NFNCFST POMZ + 3FRVJSFT BOOVBM SFOFXBM Additional Family Membership + "WBJMBCMF UP JNNFEJBUF GBNJMZ NFNCFST SFTJEJOH JO UIF TBNF IPVTFIPME 0/-: + 4QPVTF SFDFJWFT (PME 1MVT NFNCFSTIJQ BOE DIJMESFO SFDFJWF (PME 4QVS NFNCFSTIJQT -FHBM QSPPG SFRVJSFE &MJHJCMF DIJMESFO NVTU MJWF BU IPNF BOE CF MFTT UIBO ZFBST PG BHF

2010 Membership Application : 1MFBTF JOEJDBUF JO UIF CPYFT UIF OVNCFS PG NFNCFSTIJQT BU FBDI MFWFM GPS XIJDI ZPV BSF BQQMZJOH =

Gold Plus Membership $300 1MFBTF MJTU JNNFEJBUF GBNJMZ NFNCFST PO BQQMJDBUJPO GPSN

/FX 3FOFXBM 6453$

Gold Plus Upgrade 200

Gold Spur Membership $100

First Time Membership $100

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International Gold Spur Member $120 =

USTRC Membership P.O. Box 1198 Stephenville, TX 76401

JR. Looper Membership FREE

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Personal Information

Lifetime Gold Spur Membership $100 = $

Lifetime Gold Plus Upgrade 200

$BSIPMEFS OBNF $BSE

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3FMBUJPOTIJQ IMPORTANT: Memberships are NONREFUNDABLE, NONTRANSFERABLE. All USTRC memberships expire on January 3, 2011. The only exception are those memberships purchased Labor Day weekend and before January 3, 2011. Memberships purchased during this period will be valid until January 2, 2012. Allow 3-4 weeks for 2-way mailing & processing for receipt of your membership card. Allow up to 6 weeks for delivery of the first issue of SuperLooper Magazine. USTRC reserves the right to obtain a payment electronically for any check or other instrument that you send us by initiating an ACH (electronic) debit in the amount of your check or instrument to your account. Your check or instrument will not be returned to you by us or your bank. Your bank account may be debited as early as the same day we receive your payment.

1:17:31 PM

2010 West Coast Regionals_2010 Regionals 4/13/10 4:05 PM Page 1

WEST COAST Regionals

California Mid-State FAIRGROUNDS Paso Robles CALIFORNIA

JUNE 24 THROUGH

27, 2010

ANYONE CAN ENTER You do not have to be qualified to enter the West Coast Regional Preliminaries

2009 Total Payout $298,154 Cash & Prizes

All entries must be postmarked by

Draw In Option in effect in Preliminary Divisions only

JUNE 11, 2010 Draw positions will be available on 6/23/2010 at the USTRC website: www.ustrc.com

Prizes

Will Accept One Rotation of Late/Incomplete Entries per Division

SHOOT-OUT PRIZES

PRELIMINARY PRIZES

12 TROPHY MARTIN SADDLES ◆ Average winners of #15, #13, #12, #11, #10 & #9

10 TROPHY MARTIN SADDLES ◆ Average winners of #13, #12, #11, #10 & #9

GOLD PLUS BONUS PRIZE TROPHY GIST GOLD BUCKLE ◆ High Point Gold Plus member of the weekend

◆ 2nd place Average winners of #13, #12, #11,

21 TROPHY GIST BUCKLES #10 & #9 ◆ 1st through 3rd place Average winners

of the #8 Pick/Draw ◆ Incentive Average winners of the Gold Plus

Century Bonus in the Gold Plus Roping

A Laug Series hlin T Roping eam Event

◆ Winners of the Jr. Looper Divisions

2 TROPHY LEATHER BRIEFCASES ◆ Average winners of the Gold Plus 4 TROPHY GIST BITS Average winners of Open & #15

◆

This is a Pre-Entry Event 2010 USTRC membership required and may be purchased on your entry form, or at this event before you rope.

Guaranteed Minimums

$1,290,000 in Flex Earnings Awarded

$5,000 to Average Winners of the Open

$5,000 to Average Winners of the #15 Shoot-Out

$10,000 to Average Winners of #13, #12, #11, #10 & #9 Shoot-Outs

2010 West Coast Regionals_2010 Regionals 4/12/10 4:24 PM Page 2

Preliminary Ropings

◆ Double US Open Tour points awarded to 1st through 10th place in the Average. ◆ 5-steer Average, progressive after one. Entry fee is $200/roper, enter two times. Incentive is a #15 and will be determined on four-head. (Top five Incentive teams will earn $2,000 in Flex Earnings and advance to the #15 Shoot-Out with fees paid.)

Shoot-Out Ropings

Schedule

◆ Qualification for a Regional Shoot-Out requires $2,000 of available earnings, which may come from either partner or a contribution from both partners. You may use a portion (increments of $100) of Available Earnings (sum of Flex Earnings and Applied Earnings) toward a Shoot-Out qualification. For example, if the Header has $1,400 in Available Earnings and the Heeler has $600 in Available Earnings, they can combine their Available Earnings to qualify for a Regional Shoot-Out. ◆ Shoot-Out ropings will not be handicapped. ◆ No more than two entries per roper is allowed in each division of the Shoot-Out roping. ◆ Shoot-Out ropings will be progressive after one in all ropings. Entry fee is $150 per roper. ◆ #15 and #13 Shoot-Outs are five-steer Averages. #12, #11, #10 and #9 are four-steer Averages. ◆ All teams that qualify to the short round will receive $6,000 in Flex Earnings.

Thursday, June 24

10:00 a.m.

Open (with #15 Incentive) #15 Handicap #15 Shoot-Out

Friday, June 25

9:00 a.m.

#13 Handicap #13 Shoot-Out Gold Plus #12 (with #10 Incentive) #12 Handicap Gist Gold Buckle Roping (won’t start before 5:00 p.m.)

Junior Looper Roping

Saturday, June 26

9:00 a.m.

#12 Shoot-Out #11 Handicap #11 Shoot-Out #10 Handicap (capped at Elite #6)

Sunday, June 27

9:00 a.m.

Stalls Available Reservations will be taken from Gold Plus members only. Reservations must be made no later than 7 days prior to the event. Call your Gold Plus representative, Ty Hillman. All others are on a first-come, first-served basis. No tie-outs allowed. $25 a night plus shavings.

Host Hotel Best Western Black Oak Motor Lodge 1135 24th Street 805/238-4740 Ask for USTRC Rope Rate Must reserve by May 25, 2010 Within walking distance of event In-room coffee and refrigerator

Current Coggins Required

101 13th Street

10th Street

BUCKLES IN THREE DIVISIONS: 6 & under; 7-9; 10-12 years old

California Mid-State Fairgrounds

Hwy 46 Exit

21st Street

#10 Shoot-Out (capped at Elite #6) #9 Handicap (capped at Elite #5) #9 Shoot-Out (capped at Elite #5) #8 Pick/Draw (capped at a #4)

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Hwy 46 East

24th Street

Paso Robles Street Exit

Golden Hills Road

Roper Outerwear West Coast Open

Produced by USTRC For information call 254/968-0002

Riverside

◆ Any current USTRC member may enter the Preliminaries. ◆ #15, #13, #12, #11, #10, #9: 4-steer Average, progressive after one. Entry fee is $150/roper. May enter two times in each roping. #14 team - 1.5 sec. off and a #13 & under team - 3 sec. off in the #15. 12 & under - 1.5 sec. off in the #13. #11 & under - 1.5 sec. off in the #12. #10 & under - 1.5 sec. off in the #11. #9 & under - 1.5 sec. off in the #10. #8 & under - 1.5 sec. off in the #9. Top 20 teams to the short round. Top 30 to the short round of the #9 only. ◆ The top five placing teams in the Average of the Regional Preliminary ropings will receive $6,000 in Flex Earnings. ◆ All teams that qualify to the Short Round will receive $2,000 in Flex Earnings. Teams placing in the top 5 percent in the Average of the Preliminary ropings, will automatically earn a position in the Regional Shoot-Out roping with entry fees paid. ◆ #12 Gold Plus with #10 Incentive, 4-steer Average (Incentive determined on 3-steer Average), progressive after one. Entry fee is $150/roper. May enter twice, any combination of Incentive and/or Non-Incentive for a maximum of two entries. $6,000 in Flex Earnings will be awarded to teams placing 1st through 5th in the Average and Incentive Average. ◆ #8 Pick/Draw (capped at a #4), pick 1, draw 1 for $120/roper. 3 steer, progressive after 1. #7 team - 2 sec off. #6 and under team - 3 sec. off. Top 30 teams to the Short Round. On-site entry only. Books close at 11:00 a.m. Top 10 placing teams will receive $6,000 in flex Earnings.

S05UF_GistGdBk_P_Layout 1 4/12/10 4:07 PM Page 206

P A S O R O B L E S

Friday, June 25, 2010 Held during the West Coast Regional Finals following the #12 Preliminary

C A L I F O R N I A

Wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t start before 5:00 p.m.

#11

$250/Roper, Enter Twice 3 Full Rounds 20% Stock Charge 4 Steer Average with 3 Steer Consolation, 2 Fast Times Overall All teams with 3 steers down will advance to the Short Round All teams with 2 steers down will advance to the Consolation Short Round

Two $6,000 Gist Gold Buckles to the Winners of the Main Average Courtesy of Gary Gist Diamonds sponsored by Reno Rodeo Invitational Team Roping & Perry DiLoreto

Gist Silver Spurs to the Winners of the Consolation Average Courtesy of SuperLooper

1. 2. 3. 4.

ESTIMATED PAYOUT BASED ON 100 TEAMS 4 Steer 3 Steer Average Consolation $12,800 + Nat. S/O 1. $3,000 9,600 + Reg. S/O 2. 1,800 6,400 + Reg. S/O 3. 1,200 3,200 Fast Time Overall (including both short rounds)

1. $1,200 2. 800 MUST BE 21 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AS OF JUNE 25, 2010 or FEMALE ANY AGE

Reg. Entry #1-back_Reg. Entry #1-back 4/12/10 4:29 PM Page 61

2010 ENTRY FORM Page 2

Applicant elects to participate in USTRC events at Applicant’s own risk. Applicant hereby releases and discharges USTRC and its directors, officers, representatives, employees, sponsors and agents from all liability, loss, claims, damages and expenses for injuries to person, property, reputation or financial condition as a result of or in any way relating to Applicant’s participation or failure to participate in any USTRC events, whether caused by negligence, by field conditions, by the conduct of USTRC or its directors, officers, representatives, employees, sponsors and/or agents in the preparation, supervision or conduct of any USTRC events or the administration or failure to enforce any USTRC rules, regulations or guidelines, or oth(If contestant is a minor, entry form must be signed by parent and/or guardian)

Signed ___________________________________________________________________________ Date ______________________________ Parent or Guardian

Roper comments or additional information:

SUPERLOOPER MAGAZINE / 61

USTRC ENTRY FORM • REGIONAL PRELIMINARY

USTRC is a voluntary association. Applicant acknowledges that he or she has no property or other right to participate in USTRC events. Applicant agrees to follow and be bound by the rules, regulations, and guidelines of USTRC, as amended from time to time. Applicant acknowledges that USTRC classifications are determined by USTRC’s classification process based on the application of USTRC handicapping guidelines. Handicaps, including applicant’s handicap, assigned in accordance with the classification procedures are conclusively presumed valid. Applicant consents to same. USTRC reserves the right to change the classifications of ropers anytime throughout the year. Applicant may appeal procedures, as modified from time to time. Applicant agrees that his or her sole and exclusive remedy for a disputed classification is appeal to the USTRC pursuant to USTRC appeal procedures. All decisions of the appeal process are final and conclusive.

Reg Entry #1 front_Reg Entry #1 front 4/12/10 4:28 PM Page 62

2010 REGIONAL PRELIMINARY ENTRY FORM • ANYONE CAN ENTER

REGIONAL PRELIMINARY WEST COAST – CA

Team Roper’s Name _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ID No. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

USTRC ENTRY FORM • REGIONAL PRELIMINARY

Phone No. (

) _____________________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTENTION: YOU MUST INCLUDE YOUR OWN AND YOUR PARTNER’S USTRC ID#.

• Entries must be postmarked by the Friday two weeks prior to the date of the roping you are entering to avoid late charges. Payments must be made by personal check, cashier’s check, or money order. Personal checks WILL NOT be accepted from members who have written bad checks in the past. • Entries postmarked after the deadline must include a $40 per team late fee, and must be paid with cashier’s check or money order only! • Make entry fees payable and mail to: USTRC CENTRAL ENTRY, P.O. Box 1198, Stephenville, TX 76401. For Roping or Classification Information call the USTRC National Office, 254/968-0002.

Open Roping • (#15 Incentive) • May enter any combination of Incentive and/or Non-Incentive. Maximum of 2 entries • $200/Roper Guaranteed Minimum $5,000 to the Average Winners