b'From the Back&OF THE BOXBy John Samsill PresentYou can contact me directly at johnsamsillteamroping@gmail.com if you have any questions BONZER or would like to schedule a clinic or a lesson.M ost sports have one thingPARTYin common; whichever person or team executes thefor Charitybasics or fundamentals the best usually wins. Team roping is no exception. As a matter of fact, I believe that team roping could be the best example of this. Before talking about what theAZ Zbasics are let me explain why I think they are so crucial for success in this sport.Team roping is not just the team of the two people roping.TOPIt also includes the horses and the steer. I think of the steer as the other team. Whatever he throws at me, my horse and I have to overcome it. If he runs to the left, my horse and I both have to react and read what he is doing so we can react appropriately. It is the same thing if he runs to the right ortalked to him about how he likes his horses to perform and he runs fast or is slow. Adjustments need to be made on thewhy. Nothing with Speed Williams is left to chance and he fly and that takes teamwork between my horse and myself. Iused to dissect each stride of a run to see where he could do not rely on my horse to make whatever adjustments arebe better. His horses always performed to the best of their needed automatically. I give them the cues to give them theabilities and that takes horsemanship fundamentals. confidence to make those needed adjustments. As a header, I need to make adjustments relevant to the steer, but I alsoAnother fundamental is equipment. Make sure your need to adjust so that I can give my heeler and his horse theequipment fits your horse. This includes not only your best possible chance to make their adjustments not only tosaddle but your bridle and tie down. Is your bit sittingLive atthe steer but to my handle. I need to realize that my heeler haswhere it needs to be in your horses mouth? Is your bitDesert Roseto adjust to each handle according to the speed and the anglewide enough or too wide for your horse? Is your tie down I take the steer into. I find that the handles are a lot like theadjusted properly for your horse? Not all horses take the communication and timing of a quarterback and his receiversame amount of tie down pressure. Is your equipment in except that instead of the quarterback needing to know wheregood shape or do you need to replace your cinch or latigos?with special the receiver is going, the receiver or heeler needs to knowAre you caring for your ropes properly, so they not onlyguestwhere the quarterback or the header is going. As I said afeel good but feel consistently the same in your hand? AreMark heeler is adjusting to the handles as they are developing so ifyou caring for your horse properly so he or she feels her we can give him or her a good easy to adjust to handle theirbest and can perform at their maximum potential? AreCordesodds increase dramatically for catching and catching two feet.you taking care of yourself so you can perform at your Making the adjustments I have described above takemaximum potential? These are all basics for me, and I amNov. 11thsure most of them are basics for you too but its nice to be the first basic fundamentals needed to perform withreminded once in a while to take care of the little things. consistency, horsemanship basics, or fundamentals. I amDuring a run for a header, my basics may be a little differentDoors Open at 6:00pmnot sure that you could rank the importance of each basic fundamental of team roping but, in my opinion, unlessthan yours but only a couple of things will vary. Here are my you have a good grasp on your horsemanship youre onlybasics. Get into my concentration mode, this is my preboxMark Cordes at 6:45pmgoing to be so good. Your other skills cannot take you farand box routine that brings my mind where it needs to be. enough without horsemanship fundamentals. This is whatBring my concentration to my steer, score, ride to position, separates guys like Tyler Magnus, Charly Crawford, Clay O,follow through my throw to my target, handle the steer toTo purchase tickets,and Speed Williams. Speed may not be as well known forset my heeler up for a quick easy throw, and then last face. Iplease visit:his horsemanship skills as Tyler but believe me, Speed is aseparate each of these fundamentals while performing them, horseman. I have ridden horses that Speed rodeoed on andbut I like them to flow together smoothly. It may be helpfulskoilsales.comto put together your list of basics to perform when roping.orI think that doing that not only helps us to execute eacharizonarealcountry.comfundamental but gives us a place to back up to when things arent going well. In other words, did you execute each step, or did you take a shortcut? All proceeds will go to Valley Charities!I hope this is a satisfying and prosperous winter for you and you perform to your maximum capabilities. Until next time, Ill see you at the back of the box. I would like to thank my sponsors, Fast Back Ropes, Usher Silver and Saddlery, Omega Fields Horse Supplements, SaddleRight Saddle Pads, and Hassayampa Veterinary Services.ArizonaRealCountry.com October 2021 69'