To the Practice Pen
I know enough to know that I know far from enough. I used to be wicked punchy, I'm talking giant palm leaf hat and boots shotgunned at all times, punchy. Over the past 10 years I have evolved. ( or digressed, you can decide... I choose evolved) Through this process team roping has become part of my life. Going from wicked punchy to wanna be wicked team roper has come with its share of struggles, lessons, and phases.
I thought I'd share some phases of learning to team rope.
Phase 1 - This is stupid. I'm a working cowboy and team roping is for weekend warriors.
Phase 2 - Team ropers are terrible horsemen, look they use a tie down on their horses and rubber on their horn.
Phase 3- Woof, this is a lot harder than it looks.
Phase 4- Why isn't my "bridle horse" all bridled up anymore?
Phase 5- I can't even build my loop correctly.
Phase 6- Oh man, I caught something... this is fun!
Phase 7- What do you mean handle? It was loose when I caught it.
Phase 8- I think I'm ready to enter a Jackpot now!
Phase 9- Donating, donating, donating. ( Dave Ramsey says that's a step to becoming rich right? )
Phase 10- You guys are getting paid?
Phase 11- Back to the practice pen with tie down rigged up ( probably the wrong length) rubber on my horn, longer stirrups, a great appreciation for how much horsemanship goes into making rope horses, and a whole lot of humility.
I'm currently hanging out in phase 11 and I have been through ALL of these. How else do you think I came up with them? It seems as if every week I learn something new or something I have been doing wrong this whole time. I know I will never know enough.
