Head Horse Ducking Tips

A common problem with good head horses is they learn to duck or go hard left as soon as the roper catches.  So here are a few tips that might help:


1) Do some steer stopping.  Instead of letting him go left.  Ask him to stop straight and stop the steer.
2) Don't dally immediately.  Leave some slack in your rope.  Force him to track the steer for awhile, then dally, and turn it off when you are ready. 
3) Work on control.  When you are not roping, work him off your left leg.  Do some basic roll backs and side passes.  This will help you have better control when you are roping.
4) Just track some steers.  Get him out of the habit of roping quick and going to the horn.  Several times during practice throw your rope but just track the steer to the bottom of the pen.
5) Adjust your position.  If you are not leaning left and moving left, the horse won't go left early.  Stay straight and change your position when you are ready to turn.  


The key is to mix it up so the horse is not trying to get ahead of you.  Get control and don't let the horse decide when you are ready to go left.