ARIZONA.

Impressive. This year the team counts have been unbelievable. We have no hard way of measuring the total teams at all the ropings this season, however my guess is that the total team ropers in Arizona must be up around 25%. It is truly amazing to see that type of growth in one year. All you have to do to get a feel for how many team ropers are here is look at the schedule on the back page of the Arizona Jackpot. In the third week of January there were 54 team ropings advertised. That is 54 team ropings in 7 days! Truly mind boggling.

NTR FINALS AND THE HORSE SALE

There are two things I would like to point out about the upcoming NTR National Final and The Horse sale at Rancho Rio. First, we have changed the NTR VIP $10,000 added ropings this year. You must be to 21 years of age or older to rope—besides that anyone can enter these ropings as long as you have a current NTR VIP membership. Secondly, we have listed contact information for each of our consignors, so please contact the owner of the horse, or horses, you are interested in prior to sale day. It really gives you an opportunity to ask questions and hear more about them.

THAT IS JUST THE WAY (TEAM ROPING) GO

A couple of weeks ago at Dynamite Arena there were 200 teams in a #10 three-steer roping. It was a beautiful Arizona day and the roping is going to pay six monies in the average with first paying roughly $3,000. We bring the top 20 teams back to the short round, run them slowest to fastest, and finally we get to the high call back. I’m watching from the catch pen end of the arena. The steer runs a bit and when the header throws his loop the steer tips his head back and the loop waves off. No time, high team goes out.

As ropers we have all been in that same spot, certainly disappointed, we often let our competitive spirit get the best of us. Not this guy. In talking to the roper right after that run he was so cool. I apologized for the steer and his response was, “Like Texas Ranger MLB manager Ron Washington said, ‘That’s the way baseball go.’” I love that and it’s so true in team roping as well. It is probably the best lesson I’ve ever learned in the sport—it’s just the way team roping go. Thanks for the lesson in sportsmanship.

Good Luck Ropers!

Ty Yost