Maintaining Width

On this run, I kept my width when the steer stepped into me after I threw. I had to stay in my lane to keep the momentum of the run the same. Through the corner, it should be nose, shoulders, then hips for my horse. So to keep that, I’m neck reining him, and I use my feet to move his rib cage over. You can tell in this picture, I didn’t do that last part with his hips. I got his shoulders and his nose into a good spot, and I need to ride his hip better. 

World Series of Team Roping Finale Practice Plan with Kolton Schmidt

Why Hips Matter

My horse is kicking his hips to the cow in this photo because I didn’t ride him with my feet through the corner. I wish he were keeping his hips and his shoulders in the same lane. If his hips are to the cow, that causes him to hit on the front end. A lot of times, on the second hop, the steer’s head is given back and it’s a lot harder for my heeler to throw fast. 

Better Contact

I have good contact on my horse’s face, but I wish I were riding the center of my horse’s neck a little better so he comes back to me. I want his face and his withers coming back to me, with his hips following to keep the steer on the end of the rope and give the heeler a place to ride to.

Learn more from Kolton Schmidt on Roping.com.