Whether you have plans to take up steer stopping (do it!) or have no intention of ever roping from the saddle, desensitizing your horse to ropes creates a safer, more confident riding partner. Brad Barkemeyer shares his approach to exposing horses to the noise and movement of ropes.
Watch the full step-by-step video lesson on Ride TV.
1. Start on the ground
I like to start on the ground where I can let my horse know that the rope isn’t something he needs to be afraid of. I’m going to carry the rope and just show it to him. I want to be able to pet my horse with the rope so he knows it’s okay. I want to desensitize my horse so that he’s not reactive when the rope is around his head or legs.
2. Desensitize your horse to the rope’s movement and sound
Then I like to swing the rope so the horse is okay with the sound of that rope moving around. Your horse might react a lot or he might just stand there. This horse wanted to back off and get a little nervous, so I’m just going to keep swinging and making noise with my rope—not to where I’m being aggressive towards him, but letting him know I’m not going to quit just because he moved away from me.
3. Expose your horse to rope contact while moving
Then I like to bring my horse toward me while I’m swinging and try to get the rope up over his head a little bit, being careful not to hit him in the face or in the ears. The sound of me feeding the rope where it zings a little bit is also important for the horse to get used to. Then I go back to him and reassure him the rope isn’t something he needs to be afraid of. I’m putting the rope behind him, letting him move a little bit with the rope touching his back legs.
4. Simulate roping from the saddle
I also like to get back to where I’d be in a mounted position to see if I can get my rope up and swing it without my horse taking off. I’ll play with the rope over on that right side, as if I was riding him, and then swing it a couple of times.
5. Know when to quit
Pretty soon they’ll figure out they just have to stand still and accept that rope moving around. One of the key pieces is to know when to quit. Know when your horse finally accepts the rope, and don’t overdo it.
Interested in competing in steer stopping? Learn the ins and outs of this rapidly growing event with Brad Barkemeyer’s Steer Stopping Masterclass on Ride TV. Designed to help you succeed from start to finish, Brad walks you through the entire process, with videos ranging from the basics to advanced maneuvers. Join Ride TV today.
