Fresh Steers, Solid Runs: Building Confidence in Head & Heel Horses
Practice Smarter: Roping Drills, Horsework & Strategy
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10m
Ryan Motes and Brock Hanson work through a thoughtful practice session on a mixed pen of mostly fresh steers, focusing on keeping things smooth, controlled, and confidence-building—for both head and heel horses.
Ryan rides his seasoned black mare to keep things simple and sharp on the heel side, emphasizing loop placement, momentum, and clean dallying. Brock's on a new head horse, testing his box work, rate, and finish without overpressuring. Both share real-time insight on how they adjust to the cattle, the horses, and the moment.
What’s covered in this session:
• How to handle fresh steers without creating bad habits
• Why loop timing and full coverage matter on the heel side
• What clean dallying really looks like and how to set it up
• Giving your horse time to take the jerk instead of absorb it
• How Brock evaluates a new head horse under light pressure
• Where patience, spacing, and body control all come into play
This isn’t about tuning horses up—it’s about letting them get better by doing things right. Great insight whether you're seasoning a young horse or trying to build smoother runs at home.
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