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Team Roping is the fastest growing event in the equestrian world. The only true team event in professional rodeo, team roping requires close cooperation and timing between two highly skilled ropers - a header and a heeler. The event originated on ranches when cowboys needed to treat or brand large steers and the task proved too difficult for one man.
The key to success? Hard Work and endless practice. Team Roping partners must perfect their timing, both as a team and with their horses. Team Roping begins with a steer in a chute and ropers in horseback to either side. A run begins with the steer being released from the chute and given a head start down the arena, after which point the ropers may give chase. The header ropes first and must make one of three legal catches on the steer-around the horns, around one horn and the head, or around the neck. Any other catch by the header is considered illegal and the team is disqualified. After the header makes his catch, he turns the steer to the left, so that the heeler may be in position to rope both hind legs. If he catches only one foot, the team is assessed a five-second penalty. All of the action in a team roping run usually occurs in a time span of 10 seconds (sometimes even less than five), and time is of the essence, as the team that performs their job the quickest wins the event.
 While popular for many years, team roping has seen phenomenal growth in the 90's (it is currently the fastest growing equine sport in the country). Now, everybody and their brother (and quite often their sister) that owns or is thinking of owning a horse - doctors, contractors, students, mechanics, school teachers - is climbing onto the team roping band wagon. Team Roping is the coming sport of a brand new century. As the baby-boom generation matures, moves back to the country, and buys horses, they look to participate in something that helps them define who they are. The only rodeo sport unlimited by age and encompassing the essence of ridin', ropin', and cowboyin' is Team Roping.
Competition: Team Roping draws those with the strong, healthy, American desire to compete and win. There are no questions about who won - it's a simple matter of being the mostest with the fastest. There are no judges (the time clock rules), and when the go-round is over you go get your check.
The United States Team Roping Championship Association (USTRC) unique classification system now maintains the handicaps of almost 103,000 team ropers across North America, continuing to offer the only classification system dedicated to provide everyone, regardless of age or ability, the fair and equal opportunity to compete.
21.7% of the 10,000+ members of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association are team ropers
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The Sport 