( 30)Īnother possibility is Rope-Steer’s calf dummy which, for $999, is mounted permanently on a sled with four wheels, eliminating drag so you can pull it fast from a dead stop. You can order the dummy and sled for around $999. Their new GTS Ground Training System is anatomically correct to a real running calf, and you can easily slide it off the sled to rope on the ground, too, in five colors, for about $450. Other options on the market include SS Roping’s hayrack-friendly Tuf-Kaf dummy, modeled off the Josh Peek-endorsed flank-and-tie dummy with jointed legs that breaks away from the sled. The great part is you can add horns and collapsible legs to make it a team roping dummy, and store your rope inside the dummy. The versatile Runner comes in just a calf head for $75, or $525 for the full dummy, while the sled runs about $325. RopeSmart’s The Runner calf dummy endorsed by John Douch comes in pink, blue or black and is portable so you can take it on the road or put it on the sled to pull behind your ATV. Its founder analyzed the best ropers to find common denominators in angle and plane of swing, then designed dummies to force you to develop those good fundamentals as you isolate and eliminate your bad habits.

The San Antonio-based dummy firm RopeSmart, a WPRA sponsor, has been around for more than a decade. Or starting from scratch, you can get the dummy and new sled for around $1,295 retail.

If you already have a Smarty sled, the Smarty Junior breakaway kit for $495 gives you the dummy and equipment you need to turn a Smarty sled into a Smarty Junior sled. For about $395, you can buy the Sidekick, which is just the half or full body of the ground dummy with an easy-grip handle.

It’s made of durable polyethylene that can take plenty of abuse in any weather, and is made in Texas in green, black or pink. NHSRA sponsor Smarty already offered the realistic and easy-to-maneuver team roping dummy designed by four-time World Champ Allen Bach, and now it has Smarty Junior, a calf dummy endorsed by Jackie Crawford and Shad Mayfield. Plus, the height is adjustable so you can practice on bigger or smaller “calves.” A bonus? This sled can also carry Heel-O-Matic’s Bones 2.0 heading dummy. The dummy runs about $500, and you can get the sled for around $550, which is unique for it’s long tongue that sets it farther from the ATV. What sets this dummy apart is the long neck, designed to allow your curl to kick back up correctly, while the angle of the head ensures you’ll keep your tip down. It weighs only 29 pounds, has a sturdy base so it stays put, and is made of a cow-hide-like material so your rope doesn’t slide around on it. Heel-O-Matic’s NEX calf roping dummy is endorsed by the likes of Lari Dee Guy and Aspen Miller. “Dummy Up” is featured in the July 2022 Issue of The Breakaway Roping Journal. At the first BFI with 40 teams, entry fees were $500/man with a guaranteed $40,000 payoff.As competitive as breakaway roping is, it pays to lock that tip-down angle into your muscle memory-but with a curl so you get a legal catch in no time flat. The 45-year professional rodeo announcer and founder of Ropers Sports News hosted the first Bob Feist Invitational in Chowchilla, California in 1977 with the intent of giving the better team ropers a place to compete and the amateur ropers a place to watch the best and learn. History of the Bob Feist InvitationalĪ roper himself until a series of accidents around 1981, Feist’s main focus was always on promoting the sport through his ropings and the first-ever publication covering solely team roping. Because of Feist’s passion for the sport, top ropers from across the country will gather at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma March 29-April 4 for the 46th annual Wrangler Bob Feist Invitational 2023 (BFI). When looking at men who have dedicated their lives to western sports, rodeo, and particularly team roping, there is no doubt Bob Feist is one that sits at the top of the list.

Smarty roping dummy