In the final episode of the Pre-Summer Breakaway Tune Up Session, Justin Maass wraps up the day with some of the most honest coaching of the series. Jimmie Smith hits a wall mid-session and Maass pulls her out of it the only way he knows how: three good runs and a short memory. He breaks down why counting bad rodeos is the worst thing a roper can do to themselves and why the mental reset is sometimes the most important adjustment you can make. On the technical side, he gets into sitting still until the gate opens, keeping your left elbow bent through the delivery, and why any backwards motion before you pull your slack is costing you runs. Kayla Graham works through a delivery habit that keeps sending her horse the wrong direction, and Maass zeroes in on what her left hand is doing when she releases.
Up Next in Breakaway Practice
-
Ep. 5: The Mental Game, Mentorship & ...
In Episode 5, Justin Maass steps away from the arena and gets into the part of roping most coaches won't talk about: the mental game. Maass breaks down his coaching philosophy, explaining why he doesn't try to completely rebuild a roper's swing and why embracing your own style is often more produ...
-
Ep. 8: Q&A with Jimmie Smith
Jimmie Smith sits down for a candid Q&A covering her journey from college roping to barrel racing rookie of the year to competing at the highest level of breakaway roping. She also gets honest about the mental side of competition, what it took to come out of semi-retirement, and why she drove str...
-
Ep. 1: First Breakaway Runs with Just...
NFR tie-down roper Justin Maass opens up Maass Performance Horses for a full day of breakaway roping with two athletes who couldn't rope more differently. Jimmie Smith runs close and controlled. Kayla Graham is a self-described bomber who likes to throw it long. In this first episode, Maass puts ...
