b"From the Back OF THE BOXBy John SamsillYou can contact me directly at johnsamsillteamroping@gmail.com if you have any questionsor would like to schedule a clinic or a lesson.A t the end of last year, Iis just below the base of the left horn, and looked felt I was roping greatat the right horn or the right side of the steer's and I wasnt makinghead. I feel this is a mental error and it is not in my many mistakes. For someroping mechanics. When I do keep my focus on myand keep my focus longer. Why I glance off my reason, since the beginning oftarget all goes well, when I dont, I split the horns. Itarget I have never figured out but I know that I do it the year, I have found myselfknow this because I have really taken a look at myso at least I know that much and it's enough for me making too many mistakes and it is costing meroping and broken it down so I can recognize myto know what I need to fix and work on.money. One night I told my wife that I was ropingweaknesses. It is not an easy thing to be completely well but making too many mistakes and I needed tohonest with yourself about things like this. It reallyUntil next time Ill see you at the back of the box. work on eliminating those mistakes. She asked metakes a no-excuses attitude. If you do this you will how I could be roping well and making mistakes. Itlearn a lot about your roping and maybe some did not make sense to her because she said if you'rethings about yourself also. I would like thank my sponsors: roping well then that means you're not makingFast Back Ropes, Usher Brand Silver and mistakes, doesnt it? Ill explain what I mean bySo what will I do to correct these mental mistakes? roping well but making mistakes. See if you agree. For the scoring, I will watch more headers get out ofSaddlery, Hassayampa Veterinary Services, the box. To be exact I will watch the steers leave theSaddleRight Saddle Pads and OmegaThis is what I told my wife, see if it makes sense tochute and keep my focus on how they leave and lookFields Supplements.you. My loops are going on clean and crisp so myat them as if I was the one roping them. This should mechanics, as far as my roping is concerned, arehelp me build my focus and help me maintain it good. No reason to look for anything to change therelonger so I can get out better. By watching more so let me explain what kind of mistakes I have beensteers leave the chute it making. This is the way I break down my roping, oneshould help slow things part is mechanics and the other part is the mentaldown also. It is a lot like side of roping. My mistakes have been on the mentala person who is first side. I have broken the barrier at a couple of ropings.learning to rope. After With the World Series barriers that most producersthe first steer they run, are using today, there is not much time for a headerthey talk about how fast or heeler to read the steer and decide on when tothings were happening start. I try to see the steers head move and then I go.and they cannot So if I broke the barrier I feel like my focus was notremember much of the where it should be. I see them move then I followrun. After the first fifty them out, easy enough to say and it should be easyor hundred steers they run, things begin to slow down and they are aware of what is happening during the run. As far as keeping my focus on my target there are two things I plan to do. First is to watch a spot on the wall or really any object maintaining my focus for longer and enough to do. With the right amount of focus that is.longer. This builds focus This is an area I need to work on that doesnt pertainand the confidence that to my mechanics but the mental part of roping.I can keep it. The second is to make sure that The next thing I need to work on may be a littlewhen I rope the dummy harder to understand why it is a mental lapse but II am looking at my target am still feeling good about my roping. There havebefore I throw my rope, been two steers in the last three ropings I have gonewhile I throw my rope, to that I have split the horns and missed. Why do Iand after I throw my feel it is not my mechanics? I know my mistakes andrope. My target should if I miss a certain way I know what I did to causebe automatic when I it. When I split the horns ninety-nine percent ofleave the box and this the time it is because I glanced off my target, whichwill help me find it fasterPhotos by Wild Grass Rodeo PhotographyArizonaRealCountry.com February 2023 11"