Building a Rope Horse: Day Back on a 4-Year-Old After Time Off
Team Roping Practice Sessions
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10m
Wesley Thorp puts a 4-year-old gelding back to work after a break from live steers. This is a young horse he’s had since two, started himself, and carefully brought along. Today, the goal is to reintroduce pressure, score a few, rope some slow and medium steers, and see where the horse stands mentally and physically.
Thorp shares his philosophy on balancing progress and patience—pushing just enough to move forward without blowing up confidence. He focuses on controlling the first few strides out of the box, keeping the horse soft through the turn, and relaxing into position. When the pressure goes up mid-session, the horse responds well, showing he’s ready for the next step—while also reminding Wesley not to overdo it.
For ropers bringing up young horses, this is a clear, detailed look at how a pro reads a horse, adjusts pressure, and keeps the end goal in sight: a confident, solid, long-term prospect.
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