Roping “Draggers”
Barnes & Cooper: Inside the Practice Pen
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7m 6s
In this in-depth discussion, Jake Barnes and Clay O’Brien Cooper break down one of the most technical—and often misunderstood—aspects of team roping: how to handle dragging or heavy steers.
Clay explains the difference between a steer that’s dragging versus one that’s getting heavy, and how the heeler’s positioning and timing can directly affect how the steer reacts at the end of the rope. Jake adds that ropers can still read timing and rope accurately, and headers can setup a good heel shot emphasizing the importance of feel and reaction over visual cues.
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