Rance Doyal and his fellow Oklahoman header, Mason Appleton, set the new 3.2-second world team roping record at the Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho, in June. Doyal, 24, lives in Coleman, Oklahoma, with his fiancé, Gracie Smith.
Q: How did the son of a PBR (Professional Bull Riders) star (Royd Doyal, who now does a lot of judging) become a professional team roper?
A: I roped calves for a long time, and also rode calves and steers at junior rodeos. When I had to start getting on bigger stuff, I got stomped on pretty good. I was like, this is stupid. My dad broke his neck, back, both legs and had knee surgeries thanks to riding bulls. I decided that was not for me. As for the calf roping, I wasn’t very big, so had trouble flanking. I guess team roping was just a better fit for me.
Q: Has your dad taught you any lessons he learned from his bull riding career that apply to team roping, too?
A: He tries to help, but I explain to him all the time that team roping is not like bull riding. We are not the same as y’all.
Q: Does your dad rope?
A: He heads a little. He is not a heeler.
Q: Who taught you how to rope?
A: I went to some Allen Bach roping schools, and Tim Ross helped me, too. A lot of it was self-taught just by doing it a lot. I’d have my mom (Tracie) put it on in the chute and turn goats for me, and just kept roping until it all came together for me.
Q: Why heeling over heading?
A: Everybody wants to be a heeler when they first start roping. My heading was OK, but not nearly as good as my heeling. So I stuck with it.
Q: How long have you and Mason roped together?
A: This is our second year. We roped together last year, too. We started roping at Guymon in 2024, then just stayed home and circuit rodeoed the rest of last year in the Prairie Circuit.
Q: What makes you two click as a team?
A: Mason goes pretty fast, and I like to go fast, too. When we catch, it works and we usually win decent money.
Q: How hard have you been hitting it in 2025?
A: We’re going to go to the Northwest this fall, for sure. We have a chance to make it (the NFR) if everything works out. We’re planning to get to 80 rodeos this year.
Q:What were your rodeo plans for 2025 before June 19 (the day they were 3.2 at Nampa), and did those plans change any after that record run?
A: Our plan was to just come out for the Fourth (of July run) and see how it went. If we did good and had somewhat of a chance at the Finals, we’d go on. We got ourselves moved up quite a bit, so we stayed out here.
Q: The 3.2 is surely your career highlight now. What do you consider second best behind that?
A: Winning the Prairie Circuit last year with Mason. The first couple years I circuit rodeoed, I didn’t do much good. We went into the circuit finals (in Duncan, Oklahoma) with a pretty good lead last year, then placed in the first couple rounds to close the deal.
Q:Before the 3.2, did you consider yourself a go-round roper or a guy more suited for success in averages?
A: We’re somewhat of a go-round team. We seem to win more in the go-rounds, so I guess I would call us a go-round team.
Q:What are you riding these days?
A: I have a sorrel that I got from a buddy by the house that I’ve been riding everywhere. Snorty (his registered name is PRF Superoctane) is 12. I’ve also got a green App that hadn’t been roped on when I bought him a year ago out here, if I need him. I have Reagan Ward’s heel horse out here with me, too.
Q:Who do you consider the best heeler on the face of the planet in 2025, and why?
A: In my opinion, there are two of them—Jade (Corkill) and Wesley (Thorp). Jade doesn’t miss. I don’t even know when the last time I saw him miss was. Thorp hardly ever messes up, and his heel loops come tight faster than anybody going.
Q:Is there anything you’re trying to incorporate from those guys into your own roping?
A: Yes. I like where they get down the arena. Jade hangs a little bit farther back, but no matter what the steer does he’s always in a good spot to throw. I like how Thorp gets up and around them, so he’s ready to throw whenever.
Q: What’s the one thing you’re working hardest on, because you think it’ll take your roping up a notch?
A: Just being in a good spot. If I can get a good start and get in a good spot, everything’s so much easier. Doing that allows you to throw whenever, and makes everything a lot simpler.
Q:What else do you do besides rope?
A: We have some yearling bucking bulls and heifers at home, and Gracie takes them to some of the ABBI (American Bucking Bull Inc.) events, which are bucking futurities. I’ve always liked watching bulls buck.
Q: What’s your ultimate roping goal?
A: The end goal would be the NFR ideally, but we’re trying to just take it one steer at a time. And if it works out, it works out.
—TRJ—
