b'FROM THE BACK OF THE BOXBy John SamsillFor all your team roping questions, you can email me directly at johnsamsillteamroping@gmail.comS ome of you may beenables you to concentrate on your roping and not wondering where theon riding at this point. Everything feels smooth and title of this column camecomfortable. This allows you to start your swing any from. A few years ago, I wastime youd like. With a shorter score, you can start talking to a friend of mineyour swing on the first stride if you want or you can after a rodeo. He had beenpack your rope and start your swing down the arena just out of the money and we were discussing why.on any stride you want. By packing your rope and We decided that what it really boiled down to wasstarting your swing later you can get more run out that he just didnt get a good start out of the box. Iof your horse allowing you to catch up to the steer wasnt really thinking at the time, but I told him, Itsooner than if you were swinging from the start. all starts from the back of the box. He looked at me,Remember its not about being fast on every steer,shook his head and said, It really does doesnt it! its about being as fast as each steer you drawI really do believe this and so this is how this allows you to be.column got its name.How do you develop this timing? By developing a So now that you know the story, Ill explain what Ihorse that scores correctly. Lots of different ropers mean by this. When a header leaves the box dictatesscore differently. And its not just at the lower levels how good of a start he gets. How close he is to theeither. Id like to tell you how I teach my horses to barrier as the steer breaks either the neck rope at ascore. Ive had very good luck with a method my dad rodeo or the electric eye at most ropings. Of course,taught me.First, I ride him into the box the same way. If I enter from the front, I ride down the left side of the box and turn him away from the steer. What this accomplishes is that when he makes the second right hand turn his butt naturally swings into the corner. This means I dont have to maneuver him in any way. Way less confusing for the horse. Second, when he is in the corner, I do not put tension on the reins until I want to bring him to attention. What I mean by attention is that he is looking straight and alert. If a steer is fighting the chute or I must wait for any reason, my horse is relaxed. I have not given him the cue that he needs to be ready. Its still his time to be able to relax. Hes not on the job yet. Once I do pick up my reins, I put light pressure on the bit. Just enough pressure he can feel it and he is at attention. He should not be leaning in any fashion.I stay as still as possible and do not put Sometimes, Ill score as many as I run, on othermore pressure on the bit. When I release pressure, he goes. If after I put pressure on the bit, bringing occasions I score more than I run. Why do I go throughhim to attention, I need to reset, I simply reach down with my right hand while maintaining the same light pressure and rub his neck just in front all this effort to have my horses score well? of the saddle. This is his cue to relax and so as Im rubbing his neck, I release the pressure on the bit. Remember, it all starts from the back of the box. Now he is on his time and not at attention. Once were ready again I simply reapply pressure and he is back on attention. At home I will score with the how fast the steer is will play a major role in howThe first thing you must know is that when scoring, alight pressure, teaching him not to go until I release. fast a time you post on your run, but we can allhorse should leave off the release. If you think aboutOnce the steer is down the arena I will reach down agree that a good start will improve your chancesit no matter what bit you use, you cannot hold a horseand rub his neck to let him relax. As often as I score of having the best time on any steer. Thats the firstin the box if he really wants out. So, dont try to holdwith light pressure, Ill ride him in the box and thing that happens from the back of the box. him in the box by pulling. Thats a good way to getscore with never putting any pressure on the bit. yourself rocked back and behind. Eventually youllThis teaches him he can relax until he feels the light The second thing that happens from the box is thatwind up having to pull harder to hold him in the boxpressure on the bit. Sometimes, Ill score as many the header develops a timing with his horse. If youuntil at some point you wont be able to hold him anyas I run, on other occasions I score more than I can remember when you first started roping youlonger. This is the time that most people will start torun. Why do I go through all this effort to have my may not have had that timing, and the cantle poppedtry to use any trick to keep from breaking out. Whenhorses score well? Remember, it all starts from the you right in the butt. The other thing that cana horse comes to me, whether young or older, I useback of the box.happen is just the opposite. Your horse moves beforethe same method to show them what I want. I do not you want him to, and you get rocked back. Its whattry to fool my horse. I do not try to keep my horseUntil next time, Ill see you at the back of the box.we call being behind. The easiest place to get yourguessing. He has specific cues and I expect him to use timing with a horse is right from the back of the box.my cues in the box. I try to develop his trust and giveThank you to my sponsors. Usher Brand Silver and Developing your timing from the start of your runhim no reason not to respond to my cues. Saddlery, SaddleRight Saddle Pads. ArizonaRealCountry.com November 2019 47'