In this video, Wesley Thorp breaks down his approach to roping the dummy with a focus on precision, power, and eliminating wasted motion.
From foot placement and shoulder position to swing path and delivery, Thorp explains how to keep your loop balanced, your swing direct, and your rope working for you—not against you. He dives into common errors like feeding past the target, letting go too early, or over-swinging, and how each one affects your delivery and catch rate.
If you're working on your heeling fundamentals or trying to sharpen your timing and power through the corner, this is a must-watch. You'll learn how to focus your tip on the right hock, use a simple A-to-B delivery, and build consistency in your swing and finish—whether you're on the ground or horseback.
Up Next in Heeling Dummy Drills
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Holding Position: Wesley Thorp Tunes ...
Wesley Thorp is back on a new heel horse, working through the early stages of building consistency and control—starting on the dummy. This horse has been passed between riders, recently heeled on left-handed, and shows signs of drifting out of position after the turn. The focus today: drive to th...
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Dummy Roping Session Part 3
In this video, Dean Tuftin shows why they rope the dummy in a circle on young horses and what their focus is for each horse.
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Dummy Roping Session Part 2
At DT Horses, the focus is on what's best for the horse, not a timeline. In this video, Dean Tuftin heels the dummy in a snaffle at a trot.
