New EquiFest attraction gave learning experiences
By Frank Buchman — DCNT Contributor
Micah Samples, Abilene, won $1,200, for the second fastest time roping two calves in the open division at EquiFest, March 20.
Breakaway roping competition is becoming one of the most popular highest paying events in the sport of rodeo.
Breakaway roping was typically intended for youth and cowgirls. That has changed in recent times as breed associations have included breakaway competitions for all amateur riders.
In breakaway roping, a calf is roped around the neck with a lariat tied by a lightweight string to the roper’s saddle horn. When the calf is roped, it tightens the string which breaks, the stopwatch clicks and fastest time wins.
For the first time, breakaway roping was a featured attraction at the recent EquiFest of Kansas in Salina.
There was a day-long breakaway roping clinic and a jackpot breakaway roping.
Kansas Horse Council director Fred Gardner, and trainer Phil Haugen, from Weatherford, Oklahoma, conducted the clinic. A champion professional calf roper and horsemanship clinician, Haugen was assisted by his daughter, Hannah Macy, Stephenville, Texas, breakaway roping champion.
A dozen wannabe-champion breakaway cowboys and cowgirls aged 15 and younger ropers gathered at Ag Hall Arena with lariats in hand. A few of the roping students lugged their own calf roping dummies into the arena with them. Several additional practice dummies were supplied by Haugen.
“Basic requirements of roping are position, swing and delivery,” Haugen said, giving a short demonstration. “It’s always position, position, position.”
Obvious to the most lay observer, there were distinct differences among the students’ experiences and abilities. The clinicians went from one student to the next evaluating their roping and offering suggestions for improvement.
“Now if you’d drop your hand when throwing, the loop will circle down around the calf’s head,” Haugen advised one student.
“Oh that’s nice, you are sure doing a great job,” the clinician told a first-time very young roper.
Obvious improvement was shown by every participant after about an hour of roping training on the ground.
“Well, let’s get your horses saddled up, and we’ll practice roping the sled,” Haugen directed his class.
The young learners came out mounted on a wide variety of horses. Some obviously showed roping experience and other horses had never had a rope swung from their backs.
Haugen hooked his four-wheeler to the calf sled, seated himself sideways enabling watching the ropers guiding horses following the sled. The clinician evaluated each rider’s abilities making sure they were encouraged and working to improve.
“Now, that’s the way to do it,” often was spoken individually to the ropers. All riders attempted to catch the sled calf a number of times with most of them eventually successfully roping the dummy.
Following a quick dinner break, students came back into the arena to rope live calves provided by Cindy Brown’s JC Cattle Company, Dwight.
“Position, position, position,” Haugen repeated for the umpteenth time when explaining how for the ropers to get their horses into the roping box.
A dozen ropers lined their horses side-by-side extending down the arena from the roping box and took turns following calves. First the cowgirls and cowboys just followed calves out of the box and down the arena. Then they were given the opportunity to attempt to rope the calves.
A few ropers caught nearly every calf they ran. Just about all of the learners were able latch on at least one calf bringing smiles to their faces.
“You have all done a great job today,” Haugen said, at the conclusion of the event. “Now just keep practicing every day. Practice makes perfect and is essential to becoming a breakaway roping winner,”
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