For the second installment of my discipline series, I’ll be focusing on breakaway roping. It’s a western discipline, of course, and I’ve enjoyed it. I first learned to rope two or three years ago (my awesome trainer could probably tell me when it actually was, because I don’t remember the exact time I started learning!), initially roping a dummy, then one drug behind a gator, and finally, an actual cow. Now, just to be clear, only girls can compete in breakaway roping. The male equivalent of this is calf roping, which is a bit different.
What is it?
In this sport, you and your horse are backed into a square box-like pen with three sides and a rope barrier at the front (for those of you familiar with team roping, it’s the box on the heeler’s side). To your left is a chute with a cow at the front. When you nod, the cow will be released, breaking the barrier. Once the barrier is broken, your horse should immediately catch up with the cow as you’re swinging your rope. Once you have a good shot, you throw your rope. Then, stop your horse as fast as you can. If the rope catches around the cow’s neck, the rope will break away from your saddle (up until this point, it’s held onto the saddle horn by a string). When the rope breaks away, the timer stops — hence why it’s called breakaway roping. If you miss the cow, it’s an automatic no time. The goal is to have the fastest time.
What do you need?
For this, you need yourself, your horse, western tack, and a rope. Breakaway ropes must be between 24 and 29 feet, and it’s helpful to have a roping saddle, but it’s not necessary. I’ve always roped in a cutting saddle, and even though it’s not as good for roping, it definitely works. Your horse should be able to go from a standstill to a lope — a gallop is best, if you’re comfortable with riding that fast. He should also stop as soon as you ask him to, so that as soon as you throw, you can stop and have a faster time. You also need someone to teach you how to rope, as there is a lot of muscle memory and technique involved. A cow dummy is also helpful, but if you don’t have one or someone you can borrow one from, you could use a square bale of hay or anything else that’s around the same dimensions (a trailer hitch on the back of a truck works as well).
As always, let me know if you’ve ever tried breakaway roping (or calf roping!) and what discipline you want to see next! Thanks for reading.