Trick roping facts for kids

Trick roping, circa 1914

A charro demonstrating trick roping, circa 2013

Trick roping is a cool performance art. It involves spinning a lasso, also called a lariat or a rope, in amazing ways. You might see it in Wild West shows or other Western-style performances in the United States.

What is Trick Roping?

Trick roping is all about showing off skills with a rope. Performers spin the lasso around their bodies or in the air. They create different shapes and patterns with the moving rope. It's a mix of art, skill, and entertainment.

Where Did It Come From?

The lasso is a well-known tool used by American cowboys. They used ropes to catch animals like cattle. As cowboys used their lassos, they became very skilled at spinning and throwing them. They started inventing fun tricks to show how good they were. These tricks then turned into entertainment and even competitions!

Amazing Rope Tricks

There are many different trick roping moves. Most of them fit into three main groups:

• Flat loop: The rope spins flat, like a pancake, usually around the roper's body.
• Vertical loop: The rope spins up and down, like a wheel.
• Butterfly: This trick involves making the rope look like a butterfly's wings.

Besides these, ropers also do tricks where they throw the loop. Some even use two ropes at the same time!

The Texas Skip

One famous vertical loop trick is called the "Texas Skip." In this trick, the performer spins a big rope loop straight up and down. As the rope spins, they jump through the loop from one side to the other with each turn. It looks really cool and takes a lot of practice!

Famous Trick Ropers

Many talented people have become famous for their trick roping skills:

• Texas Jack Omohundro: He was the first person to bring rope tricks to the American stage.
• Texas Rose Bascom: Known as the "Queen of the Trick Ropers," she was part Cherokee Choctaw. She appeared in Hollywood movies and traveled the world with famous stars like Bob Hope and Roy Rogers. She is in the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame.
• Montie Montana: He had a very long career, lasting 60 years, as a trick roper. You can even see him in some John Wayne movies.
• Will Rogers: This actor and humorist was famous for playing cowboys. He was also an expert trick roper! His amazing rope tricks were shown in a silent movie from 1922 called The Ropin' Fool.
• Vince Bruce: He was known as one of the best Western performers in the world. In 1991, he performed in a musical called The Will Rogers Follies. He played the trick-roping star and stayed with the show for over two years in New York. He even set a world record for "Texas Skips" by doing 4,011 skips!
• Flores LaDue: She was an amazing cowgirl who won three world championships for trick roping. She was never defeated in the event! Flores and her husband, Guy Weadick, helped start the first Calgary Stampede. Many believe Flores LaDue was the first trick roper to ever do the Texas Skip.
• Horse trainer Buck Brannaman: He started his career as a child performing trick roping with his brother.