The Cochrane Roping Club uses horned roping cattle from sources to account for different roping levels, with a balance of previously roped stock as well as fresher cattle to accommodate the more experienced ropers. With healthy cattle being a key to successful roping, we are diligent about keeping the cattle cared for in a manner that is up to code with industry standards, this includes a vaccination program, proper nutritional requirements and a clean water supply. If there is any concerns about these at any time, a board member should be advised immediately.
As part of the cattle care, it is important to have handling of the stock in and outside the arena respected by all members around the livestock, to ensure excessive roughness, or actions that can cause injury are avoided. Education on how to handle livestock is available, as the safety and the well being of the roper, chute help, cattle and horses is of the upmost importance to the Cochrane Roping Club. Our Cattle Director or Arena Director will be able to answer any questions and offer advice in this area, so please use this resource.
Listed are a few tips we would like our ropers, regardless of skill level, to adopted while roping at the Club. Doing these things during practice, as well as during a timed roping, will create good habits, and keep cattle from injury. It is in the best interest of the stock. Without well looked after cattle, our roping will be of poor quality.
- We use minimum of 2 people to bring in stock, and these riders always check on the feed, water, salt etc. in the pasture (please report to board member)
- Putting on horn wraps before roping protects the animals from injury & our members rotate the duties of putting them on at the beginning, and removing the wraps at the end of the roping session
- Chute help is expected to handle cattle in a non-abusive manner, and this duty is rotated amongst ropers if volunteer chute help is not available
- When training new stock or if problems arise in certain stock, the Cattle or Arena Director may have a more experienced ropers take these animals
- We like the bovine to leave the chute before the equine and human leaves the box (please ‘score’ properly) a barrier can be used if you require assistance in scoring stock
- There are three legal head catches:clean around horns, clean around neck, half head
- When heading, a leg cannot enter the head loop at anytime
- On the heel side, if a front leg alone is roped the team will be flagged out, however if a front leg is roped along with the hind legs and pulls clean, then it will be counted as a clean run
- During practice night, the header is asked to turn the steer and travel straight across the arena & release the steer when the horse reaches fence, regardless if heeler has caught or not. We hope to prevent excessive time spent pulling and turning of the animal
- During a run (timed or practice), if a roping animal gets to the end of the arena or into the stripping chute, the run is over (please do not drag it out of the stripping chute)
- During timed ropings, the flag will be dropped when the heel rope is tight and both horses are faced up & in control. The head rope does not need to be dallied in order to get a flag however the header must be in control & face up.
- During timed events, our flagging judges (1 to 2 per event) will be educated in the Club’s handling practices before the event by the Cattle and/or Arena Director & will consistently flag that entire event to the best of their ability
- As far as the Ranch Roping Cattle, we will have a separate pen of these to work with, and the group will have discussion and teachings as to proper/safe handling techniques as the season progresses. We have experienced members attending these ropings to ensure cattle are handled in a manner suitable to this type of roping.
We appreciate the efforts by our members to keep the stock in the best possible health during our roping season!