November 2010

This month, I'm going to answer one of my guestbook comments. Derrick asked about my target and my bottom strand. My target is the base of the left horn because that is where I want to finish my throw. As for my bottom strand, you head with your bottom strand and heel with your top strand. What I mean by that is that my bottom strand is the first to make contact and what I rope the right horn with. Then when you finish at your target, your top strand completes the catch. Now if I'm reaching, my target is the same, but my bottom strand hits on the back of the head and catches both horns at once. I hope this helps you guys out.

August 2010

Well, I hope August was a successful month for you all. I think one of the biggest things I've taken from the month of August is that a positive attitude is very important, but you have to have a reason for that positive attitude. You cannot simply say,"I'm going to go win." You have to put in the time practicing and go do the things you need to do to win. So I have decided that I need to start roping more, practicing as much as I can, roping the dummy with a purpose, and preparing myself for situations that I will be in so I will have the ability to do the things I need to do to win. A positive attitude isn't enough. You've got to be able to actually do the things in order to be successful. If you've never done something or you've put yourself in a situation and had a negative outcome the majority of the time, a positive attitude is unwarranted. The positive attitude should be a byproduct of preparation and practicing in "game type" situations. Once you've put in your time and continue to work, the positive attitude is warranted and will contribute to your success. I hope this helps you all out. Take care.

July 2010

Well first off, I'd like to thank everyone for bearing with me these past few months. I've been on the road a lot rodeoing, and my web guy thinks that a broken leg is a good excuse for being a bit lazy. Now that he's gotten off the couch, we're ready to roll again.
I've got something that I'd like to talk about this month that I think is one of the biggest parts of being successful in the arena, and for that matter, in anything you do, and that is to never get too high and never get too low with your emotions and your attitude. Here for a while, I'd been thinking that all I'd have to do is score good and go rope all my steers, and I would be successful. I had some good wins, won Salinas, and felt pretty good about how things were going. Then, I missed my first one at Cheyenne, and I kept thinking to myself as I rode out of the arena,"How could I miss that steer"? I truly believe that I had just gotten too high with my emotions and my attitude, and when you do that, when anything goes wrong, it's a major blow. So when you keep your emotions and your attitude on an even keel and more consistent instead of the highs and lows, your roping will become more consistent and contribute to more success. Rope each steer for what he is, and if you miss one, you miss one, if you win, great. The biggest thing is to stay middle of the road no matter how things are going. Eventually, the consistency will pay off.

February 2010

This month, I'm going to talk a little bit about your delivery because I've had a couple people asking some questions about their delivery on my guestbook page. Just like some of you, I'd say the biggest problem I have with my delivery is that sometimes I won't take a little speed off my throw when I've got my rope speed up and hustling to get to cattle, which in turn usually causes me to split the horns. Taking speed off your throw is the most important thing to do in your delivery because it allows your loop to open up, you follow through better, and the loop goes on the horns cleaner. Practicing on the dummy is the best place to work on this. It provides a controlled environment for you to develop and fine tune this fundamental roping skill. Always remember to slow down and not get in a hurry roping the dummy. It will help you create good habits that will carry into the arena. I hope this helps you all out and helps you be more successful with your roping.

January 2010

No matter what happened, good or bad, don't dwell on your last steer, think about your next. This is one of the toughest, yet most important things to be able to do when you are roping and rodeoing. When thinking about your next steer, you should always picture success. This is part of the mental preparation that is so important. You should always be looking and moving forward. It's a new year, and right now, I'm looking forward to Denver and the other winter rodeos. Best of luck in 2010!

December 2009

When you're roping at a roping, rodeo, or in the practice pen, you should always be working to get better. Just roping to rope does not help you get any further ahead with your roping. Always push yourself to get better by stepping outside your comfort zone, not doing the same thing you always do in practice. Pick something to work on at each practice session, riding your horse better, reaching, whatever, and practice with a purpose.

November 2009

"Depending on your goals or purpose, if you choose to rope as a hobby then go and enjoy yourself. If your goal is to become a world champion or a top 20 roper, surround yourself with those same type of people. It doesn't matter if you have to run the chutes, build fence or clean stalls to be around those type of people. Don't allow money or work ethic to get in the way. You will be repaid by what you win".

October 2009

"It does not matter of your age, location or if you were raised around horses or rodeo. If you find the desire to rope or try anything new go at it whole heartedly. I have done most of my growing, maturing and learning about life and roping in the last two years. If you choose to rodeo for a living you will learn a lot of life lessons about rodeo and life".