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The devil is in the details

Julie

Well-known member
The devil is in the details
Cowgirl Sass and Savvy Julie Carter

Dan and his roping partner Monte, are about as diabolically calculating as ropers can be - fine-tuning every facet of their sport and always looking for an edge that promises more frequent and lucrative trips to the pay window.

Last fall they decided they were a little weary of winning just enough at the local jackpots to almost get their fees back and were intent on setting their sights on any number of bigger, tougher ropings.

You know the ones. Thousands of ropers all vying to win a purple pickup truck with flames painted down the side. Prestige doesn't always partner with dignity, which, by the way, is usually hard to find at a team roping.

The duo practiced day and night and in all kinds of weather. When the early spring rains turned the arenas into rice paddies, they drove as far as they needed to find a covered practice pen.

No team roper has ever been accused of getting his priorities out of order as long as you agree his first priority is roping.

When the first "big one" rolled around, they entered up and arrived feeling skillfully prepared and confident. All things in order, when their names were called they backed their horses into the box with hats pulled down tight and minds focused on the task at hand.

Their first steer left the chute like a scalded dog headed for cool water. The cowboys traveled a good distance down the arena before they got him roped and turned, making their time a little long in the first round.

Their plan for the second steer involved Monte pushing the barrier a little harder and determining he would not play catch up this time.
Of course, this steer broke from the chute and promptly came to a complete stop.

The judge culled that steer and gave the team another one who happened to be of the Nascar-bred Corriente line. They caught him but, again, their time wasn't anything to be too proud about.

The day progressed in much the same pattern. Another steer ducked under the heading horse's neck and made a beeline to the arena wall like he was on his way to the hot dog stand.

They caught him "long" but it qualified them for the short round.
In the short round, with a last shot at making some money, their steer moseyed out of the box like an AARP member looking for a Furrs cafeteria.

The ropers pulled their horses up hard, flailed a couple loops at the gawking steer and in spite of the odds, managed to get a qualified time. It wasn't pretty but they had four steers down clean.

Their hard-earned, fine-tuned calculated efforts had put them pretty close to the bottom of the list of qualifiers. With no new money in their pockets, they loaded up and headed home.

The return trip, as it often does, offers enough miles and time for serious introspection.

It was during this analytical survey that the duo realized there was a critical element to roping they had neglected to factor into their program.

Sure enough, they needed to go home and work on practicing the luck of the draw.

Visit Julie’s Web site www.julie-carter.com
 

Soapweed

Well-known member
Nice entertaining story, Julie, and it even makes a good point.

Play the best you can with the cards you are dealt. :wink:
 
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