We call it “Catch the chickens”, except no chickens were lassoed in the making of the activity. There is only one way to lasso, but 3 steps to go through to perfect the western technique.
The first step was to choose your rope. Kevan gathered us in front of the barn, there were 7 ropes of all sizes, on the ground close to us and he asks ‘Now, which one of these ropes would you choose to use?’ To the right of me was a floppy rope, to the left a very circular, structured and stiff rope and all the rests were various shapes with kinks in some places. I was told to get the stiff rope, because it will hold its shape.
The next step was to hold your rope. He then took us close to the chicken shed, but instead of using the chickens as an example, he used the tying pole, used for the horses. He taught us how to hold it properly in 3 steps, Finger placement, grip and position. In your left hand you, place the rope in your palm and hold it with you index finger and then loop it over the one next to it, for support. Make sure that the rope is coiled around in circles in that hand. In your right hand, you hold the part of the loop, but not the knot.
And lastly, throw your rope: And then away he went, launching his rope into the air and catching his target. You have to get enough momentum, to spin the lasso. Rotating it around your head, whilst focusing on your target. Roughly when the spin gets to your ear, you release the rope and launch forward.
We all gave this process a go, focusing on the aim and precision. Holding the rope in the wrong place really affected your success. I learnt that if you hold it on the noose, it will not make you successful in your catch. I learnt that if you try, you will succeed, it just comes down to knowing what to do. –A weapon Is as strong as its user.
Georgina, England