Team Roping started in the old working ranches of the west, when two ropers were needed because the size of the animal was too much for a single man. One cowboy would rope the steer around the horns while the second would rope the legs to allow for branding or vaccination. These skills are essential to a working ranch and are still in use. Team Roping is an event that both men and women compete together.
The Header and Heeler, work together to rope a 600 pound steer in the quickest time to win
Here in Cheyenne the Steer is given a 30 foot head start, if the rider starts before than, he is given a 10 second penalty in given.
The header must rope the steer in one of 3 ways
Once a clean head catch is made, the header must turn the steer.
Then the heeler tries to rope both hind feet.
Team roping was the last addition to the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, the first year it was added the rodeos payout topped 1 Million dollars for the first time.