A freind of mine just emailed me privately and pointed out the slideshow/video found on the HOME of WH here, it is at the bottom of the page here:
http://westernhorseman.com/index.php?optio...&Itemid=116

After watching the video, I have to agree with her that I am appalled and disgusted!!! Although it doesn't actually show any horse tripping, it does suggest that is what happens at this rodeo event in OR.
Perhaps I am mistaken, but I was under the impression that horse tripping was illegal in the USA? If it is not, it should be!

Ducking from those of you that might disagree with me...but I'm also ready to sling back if I have to, lol.

I just went and watched the slide show because of your post, and I have to confess I saw nothing even remotely suggesting the tripping of a horse. I've never been to one of these particular types of rodeos, so I can't speak for or against it either way, but the pictures in the slide show seem pretty straight forward. I can't imagine anyone, especially Western Horseman, participating in or condoning anything having to do with tripping up horses.

It's not so much the pictures, they are fine. Turn your sound on and listen closely as Ross describes what he saw.

"Two ropers try to head and foot loop a horse" and "it wasn't as tough for the header as it was for the footer"

My apologies for my ignorance everyone! I have never been to a Big Loop Ranch Rodeo, and just didn't know what I was seeing/hearing in that video, so I asked a dear and trusted friend of mine that lives in Burns, OR...and this is what she told me...........

"I just watched the video. Nowhere does it say anything about tripping or even imply it. I saw even Glen was on there; he is an excellent horseman and is extremely skilled at what he does. He is a good enough horseman that the F&W Sheldon horses that are being tested for the infertility program are in his care.



Horses are NOT tripped. Google “big loop roping” and follow some of the links. Horses must be roped first around the neck, and then around one front leg. They are not to be dropped to the ground, just held, in the same manner calves are roped, except calves and heeled.



This is NOT a case for PETA or the HSUS; it is NOT an inhumane practice, and IS part of ranch life here still. Actually, roping a horse around the neck and around one front leg is safer for the horse than just a neck rope. And horses do have to be roped upon occasion here in the west."
(snip)

FYI, I do not and would never support PETA anyway...and am starting to question the HSUS in some cases.

in order to understand horse roping you must know that the larger outfits did not have the time or man power to halter break colts at a young age. therefore when the colts are older they would neck them and then the quickest and safest way to lay them down would be to rope them by both front feet. they would then tie their feet together to brand and castrate the horse. this later turned into a competition.
you may think what you want about horse roping but without understanding the roots and the history from the missions to the ranches and the huge cavalry remount operations and back to the ranches you are not really giving the competitions a fair shake.
liam nomano

Thanks for your input Liam,
I openly admitted and apologized for my ignorance, you are right, I am not educated in the art or history of roping...which is why I asked, I wasn't meaning to disgruntle anyone, I even went so far as to ask elsewhere, where it was explained to me in a way I could somewhat understand
And coming from an uneducated person (in this instance) like myself, I feel I am giving it a fair shake and am satisfied with the answer I was given. I'm even hoping for the opportunity to one day go and watch one in person to get a better understanding & appriciation.

Its called forefooting not horse tripping. Heading and heeling of horses doesnt work to lay a horse down. Besides Wally Blossom provides the two year olds that are tougher than nails right off the Owyhee Desert. I have some cool horse roping pictures from Jordan Valley a few weeks ago. What makes it wrong to rope horses? Its ok to rope cows though cause they don't have the feelings horses do? This is the same thinking that says its not ok to kill or eat horses too. Horse roping is not cruel and an awsome sport that is rare.

Mustang Blue don't feel bad, although familiar to many of us ranch folk from the Great Basin horse roping isn't exactly on the 6 pm news in Iowa or Nebraska everyday so your 'ignorance' if that's what you call it is understandible. Horses are rarely hurt at Jordan Valley - riders yes! If not from getting bucked off or clotheslined, some of them just from recovering from excessive alcohol consumption...

Thankyou La Vaquera...I think I've gotten a pretty good picture in my head now and am actually looking forward to one day getting to witness this evnt first hand. You all have helped explain it and I appriciate that...thankyou

Here is the 101st Airborn Oregon style! Shawn Powers on the head end and Randy Everette on the forefoot.

I worked on that project with Glenn and the Sheldon guys. Just to clarify the animals are fore footed- by both front legs. The time stops when the fore footers rope is dallied and all the slack is removed from the rope. If the animal is excessively rough housed or treated inhumanely the team can and WILL be disqualified. Glenn and Wally both have some money tied up in these animals and the Big Loop is only the second rodeo of the season. If a horse is injured or has to be destroyed then they lose money and possibly business, due to people who don't understand the culture and by having horses that are not conformationally strong enough to withstand the event. Additionally, when Glenn's horses become too large to rope they are put in his bucking string or started, he loses a lot of money for each one of these horses that doesn't make it to maturity.

We still head and fore foot all our colts to brand and cut. It is fun but not exactly a beginners sport.