National Finals Rodeo: Teamwork on the hoof can win …

Friday, Dec. 3, 2004 | 10:36 a.m.

Headers and heelers comprise the one true team event in the NFR.

Team ropers begin from three-fenced boxes on either side of a chute from which a steer enters the arena.

As in tie-down roping and steer wrestling, the steer gets a head start. Failing to do so results in a 10-second penalty.

When the steer reaches the head-start distance, the header bolts after it with the heeler a pace or two behind.

The header gets three chances to catch his rope around both horns, a horn and the head, or the neck of the steer -- any other catch results in disqualification.

After the header makes the catch, he turns the steer to the left to expose its hind legs to the heeler, who attempts to rope both legs.

If the heeler catches only one leg, the team is assessed a five-second penalty. The clock is stopped once there is no slack in either cowboy's rope and their horses face each other.

Among all timed-event competitors, the American quarter horse is the most popular breed used by cowboys. The header's horse is usually sturdier, using power to turn the steer after it is roped, while the heeler's horse is more agile, allowing it to follow and react to the steer. S

Six-time world champions Speed Williams, 35, and Rich Skelton, 37.

Headers

Jake Barnes (with Bach), Scottsdale, Ariz.

Trevor Brazile (with Folmer), Decatur, Texas

Frank Graves (with Culpepper), Poplarville, Miss.

David Key (with Cooper), Caldwell, Texas

Blaine Linaweaver (with Campbell), Leavenworth, Kan.

Chad Masters (with Kelly), Adams, Tenn.

Turtle Powell (with Monty Joe Petska), Alpine, Texas

Steve Purcella (with Bockius), Hereford, Texas

Shain Sproul (with Harrell), Benson, Ariz.

Clay Tryan (with Michael Jones), Billings, Mont.

Travis Tryan (with Kirt Jones), Billings, Mont.

Matt Tyler (with Koontz), Dennis, Texas

Wade Wheatley (with Zancanella), Hughson, Calif.

Speed Williams (with Skelton), Amarillo, Texas

Tee Woolman (with Cory Petska), Llano, Texas.

Heelers

Allen Bach (with Barnes), Weatherford, Texas

Britt Bockius (with Purcella), Claremore, Okla.

B.J. Campbell (with Linaweaver), Benton City, Wash.

Clay O'Brien Cooper (with Key), Glen Rose, Texas

Brad Culpepper (with Graves), Ashburn, Ga.

Wayne Folmer (with Brazile), Justin, Texas

Kinney Harrell (with Sproul), Brady, Texas

Kirt Jones (with Travis Tryan), Decatur, Texas

Michael Jones (with Clay Tryan), Stephenville, Texas

Dugan Kelly (with Masters), Paso Robles, Calif.

Kory Koonzt (with Tyler), Sudan, Texas

Cory Petska (with Woolman), Lexington, Okla.

Monty Joe Petska (with Powell), Turlock, Calif.

Rich Skelton (with Williams), Llano, Texas

Matt Zancanella (with Wheatley), Aurora, S.D.