Ranch Roping is a rebirth of the roots of cowboy culture. This rebirth honours the Spanish traditions of excellence in horsemanship and livestock handling practices. The sport of Ranch Roping is gaining popularity.

The roping of livestock, whether to catch a stray, brand cattle, or treat sick stock has been a method used for centuries. Ranch Roping mirrors this practical approach to roping and is gaining recognition among ranch cowboys and “pastime” horse owners alike… interested in learning better livestock handling skills.

Riders of any skill level and age can compete in this sport provided that they are on a horse that has a little “cow savvy” and is responsive to signals using one hand on the rein in combination with leg and body cues.

The California cowboys, traditionally referred to as Vaqueros used reata (braided rawhide) ropes and the daily method of roping livestock. In 1927, artist Charlie Russell described the differences between the Texas cowboy and the Vaquero. He noted that the Vaquero carried a 60 (and longer) foot rawhide Reata and swung in a big loop. He noted that these people “were strong on pretty, using plenty of “hoss” jewelry, silver mounted spurs, bits and conchas.”

The method of the Vaquero included extra long rawhide braided ropes and soft shots that did not cause the cattle to scatter when they needed to be roped and doctored. The Vaquero’s methods were different from the cowboys of Texas whose gear Charlie Russell described as being less fancy, with a rope seldom over 40 feet in length due to working in a lot of bush country and being forced to swing a smaller loop. This style is similar to the team roping seen in the rodeo arena today.

Ranch roping competition provided an extra- curricular activity for the ranch rodeo contestants, many of who traveled from the interior of British Columbia and southern Saskatchewan to attend events organized in conjunction with the Medicine Tree Ranch Rodeo in the late 1990’s.

At the same time, other ranch-style roping and horse enthusiasts in Southern Alberta began to promote and encourage this style of competition. In the summer/fall of 2004, a group of like-minded and enthusiastic ranchers and ropers from Alberta and Saskatchewan began to hold ranch ropings. On March 8, 2005, the Canadian Ranch Roping Association (CRRA) was incorporated as a not-for-profit association. Using the Northern Ranch Roping rules as a guideline, the CRRA appointed a board of directors, established a set of rules and began sanctioning ranch ropings to qualify for an annual final.   (paragraph updated Feb 14, 2024 CRRA)

In 2024 we are celebrating 20 years of ranch roping!  We hope you will join us in the ranch ropings we are holding this year so that you can be at the 2024 Finals with us September 14 & 15, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Please watch our website www.canadianranchroping.ca , Facebook and Instagram for upcoming ropings.

Written by Denise Stewart