Pro's Classroom
While Harris and the staff at NRS are professional instructors, some ropers crave instruction from someone who has made his name rodeoing. Of course, there are a couple of guys who rodeoed at an elite level and have turned to teaching as a second career. Three of the most prominent instructors in that category are Rickey Green, Tyler Magnus and Walt Woodard. Each has his own strong points, so as a roper you need to determine who's strengths match up with what you want to learn.
Green is perhaps currently the most focused on teaching of the three with clinics scheduled for three weekends out of every month across the country. Headquartered out of Morgan Mill, Texas, Green teaches a style of roping he calls Power Team Roping.
"The most important part of Power Team Roping is body position," he said. "Proper body position lets you get the rope to an angle that has the most power. It also opens up your roping area to encompass a greater range of shots you can make. Your options are open to how fast, slow or what distance you want to rope."
Check his website, www.rickeygreen.com, to learn more about his philosophies and to see his schedule.
A recent trend in the industry is the more intensive semi-private clinics. Green hosts a handful of these, as do many other professionals. Tyler Magnus's program at the Little Bear Ranch and Rich Skelton's Get Rich Roping program both incorporate the idea of a total team roping immersion process.
Think of the schools as a fantasy camp where you learn something.
"These schools give me the time, and the number of ropers I prefer, so I can help each student meet their maximum potential," Green said.
Magnus, who has modeled his program at Little Bear Ranch in this mold as well, is known for his emphasis on horsemanship. While he still hits the rodeo trail some, this fall he has a full schedule of clinics on tap.
"Good horsemanship is the key to successful roping," Magnus said. "Many ropers focus too much on their rope and not enough on their horse. You might catch, but you'll never achieve consistency without sound horsemanship."
Visit www.tylermagnus.com to see what he's got going on.
Walt Woodard, meanwhile, is carrying a full-time rodeo schedule and fitting in clinics where he can. In addition to some at NRS, he's got his own schedule and starting in September, he's quite busy.
Woodard is known for his outstanding teaching ability, and for over 20 years made a nice living doing only that. Thomas, who attended one of his clinics at NRS this year after auditing one last year, sees him as someone who can take people with a little more experience to a whole new level.
"Walt Woodard can teach anybody to rope," she said. "But people who have a grounding can really get a lot more from him."
Most of the rest of the top 15 cowboys in the professional rodeo also give lessons and host clinics. Rich Skelton has developed an intensive-yet all-inclusive-luxury clinic series called Get Rich Roping (www.getrichroping.com).
Most pros are willing to give private lessons that work around their schedule as well. If you admire someone's particular style or feel they would be a good match for your style, find a way to get in touch with them-the rodeo world is truly small. Further, consider laying the groundwork for something like this prior to when rodeo season is in your part of the country. You may be able to schedule a lesson while your favorite pro is in your region rodeoing. Bobby Harris (www.bobbyharrisropingschools.com), Mike Beers (www.mikebeers.com), Speed Williams (www.speedzoneroping.com), Tee Woolman (www.teewoolman.com), Jerold and Leo Camarillo (www.camarrilloteamroping.com), Charly Crawford (www.charlycrawford.com), Chad Masters (www.chadmasters.com), and Allen Bach (www.proroping.com) all have websites you can visit to see a schedule of upcoming clinics and contact information to schedule a private lesson.
Youth ministry roping camps are also on the rise. Because of many of the top professional's personal faiths, top pros such as Allen Bach, David Key and Kory Koontz are giving their time to local ministry partners to teach roping and share their beliefs.
Allen Bach's month long camp last October was a huge success and recently a ministry called Equine Champions For Christ held a Christian Team Roping Camp for thirty young ropers in Salado, Texas.
Kenny Hague, Jo Goertz and Michael Goertz started the ministry to honor God while allowing kids the opportunity to learn from world class team ropers.
"Everyone from participants to the workers came away knowing that God is great and through him all things are possible," Jane Campos-Cisneros, a volunteer for the organization, said.
