Lasso facts for kids

Riders using modern lassos in a team roping competition.

A cowboy using a lasso on a loose bull during a rodeo.

A Charro with a lariat at a horse show in Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico.

Lassoing on the prairie, from an 1884 book about handling cattle.

A lasso is a special loop of rope. It is also called a lariat, riata, or reata. These words come from Spanish. The lasso is made to be thrown around an animal or object. When pulled, the loop tightens to hold it.

This tool was first used by Spanish and Mexican cowboys. Later, cowboys in the United States started using it too. The word "lasso" can also be a verb. To "lasso" something means to throw the rope loop around it. Most cowboys in the U.S. simply call it a "rope" and the action "roping."

What is a Lasso?

A lasso is usually a long, strong rope. One end has a special knot or metal ring. This allows the rope to form a sliding loop. This loop can be made bigger or smaller very quickly.

The rope needs to be strong enough to hold an animal. It also needs to be flexible enough to throw easily. Cowboys practice a lot to throw the lasso accurately.

How Lassos Are Used

Lassos are mainly used by cowboys to catch livestock. This includes cattle or horses. They might need to catch an animal for branding, medical care, or to move it.

A cowboy on horseback can chase an animal. Then, they swing the lasso over their head. They throw it to land around the animal's neck or legs. Once caught, the cowboy can stop the animal.

History of the Lasso

The idea of using a rope to catch animals is very old. People in many parts of the world used similar tools. Ancient Egyptians, for example, used ropes to catch animals.

The lasso as we know it today became famous with Spanish cowboys. They brought their skills to the Americas. Mexican cowboys, known as vaqueros and charros, continued this tradition. American cowboys learned these skills from them.

Images for kids

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  In Spain, “Reata” can mean a group of donkeys, mules, or horses tied together.

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  Pharaoh ready to rope the sacred bull, from a carving at the temple of Seti I, Abydos, Egypt.

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  "Rustam Lassoes the Khaqan of China from His White Elephant," a Persian miniature painting.

See also

In Spanish: Lazo corredizo para niños