Pushing the Barrier by Speed Williams - August 2008
The Short Round at the BFI
I have to admit that the BFI short round in Reno this summer was one of the lowest points of my career. I spend as much or more time in the practice pen as anyone I know and I’ve invested heavily in a horse specifically for long score situations. I was ready and prepared for this roping. One of the things I emphasize at my schools is the importance of the “short round cow.”
In fact, it’s a large part of my practice routine and prior to the BFI this year; I haven’t missed in that situation before.
Being high team back, I was able to watch seven teams go before me. Every steer before me ran strong and hard. Our steer broke, ran right – a little out of my sight – and when I saw him again I realized he wasn’t going anywhere. I looked down and realized I had broken the barrier.
Being well mounted and high team back, you’re not supposed make that mistake. I can’t begin to describe the feeling of failure when this happens to you. However, I failed to do my job because I didn’t read my cow. Did I leave early? Not if I had a runner like the other seven teams. But for the “high-loper” I drew – yes, I left early.
After the roping I gave Philip my horse and went back in the building. I didn’t throw a tantrum, cuss or scream. I was pretty much in shock and couldn’t believe what I had done. After being in those situations all my life and not failing, well it’s kind of a shock.
Whether or not I’m supposed to admit this, it has bothered me mentally. It took about ten days before it didn’t affect me. With rising fuel prices and expenses, it was like making a bad business decision and letting my family down.
This month I received an email about from an equine massage therapist asking me to share my opinion on the importance of holistic treatment and massage therapy for horses.
Admittedly I wasn’t always a big believer. In 1998 I bought a horse from Bob McCullen who told me that the horse’s back would go out periodically and he would need to be adjusted. He said I would know when because the horse would quit running.
The first time “Bob” went out and I had him adjusted, it made such a huge difference that since then I’ve been a firm believer in equine massage and chiropractors. I have my horses adjusted and swam regularly by Thumper, my equine chiropractor.
It’s part of maintaining your horses and I believe that’s why my first two real good horses, Bob and Viper, lasted so long.
If you have any questions, please visit fastbackropes.com and click on Contact Us and send it in an email.
Speed is currently booking clinics for the fall/winter. For more information or scheduling you may email Speed at speedywilliams@gmail.com.
Official Rope of
Fast Back Ropes, Inc. • Granbury, TX • 800-479-1851