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Equipment |
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Previous Tips on Equipment & preparation of equipment
King's Saddlery 1-800-443-8919 Ask for Dan (maker of strings) 3 ply, extra stiff, extra small nylon goat string Goat Dummies: So far, I have not found a goat tying dummy that's realistically close to an actual goat that is COMFORTABLE to sit on while tying. Most dummys have bolts that make them uncomfortable to sit and ty correctly, and bad habits are easily formed because the tyer will adjust position to try to get comfortable on the dummy. Plus most dummies are fairly expensive and I'd rather spend that money on the real thing, as nothing will "teach" like an actual animal. (and the most challenging are the best teachers!!) I've found that tying your foot will teach you (1) how to ty, (2) help add speed to a ty and (3) correct problems with tying. Right handed goat tyers ty their left foot. Rest your left leg, above your ankle on your right thigh so your foot actually isn't resting on your thigh. Hold the arch of your left foot as you would the goat's legs. Rotate at the waist to the right a little bit so your upper body is directly over your left foot, keep both shoulders square to the ground, your eyes on the web of your left hand (holding your arch of your foot) to help put your wraps right around the arch and not on your toes. I like to slap my foot to simulate my right hand going from the goat's legs to my mouth to create that muscle memory. I also ty with only a sock on, as you can feel the tightness of your ty better. I received a great question from Haley Albert from Arkansas on preparing strings for competition. First of all; I have been using a King's nylon 3 ply white, stiff extra small in diameter goat string.
I switch competition strings every 5 or 6 runs, using a King's string, as they lose body & life, which makes your ties slower. So to keep my ties snappy, I switch strings often. When I get a new string, I will ty with it in practice one night, to make sure that the new string feels good to me & then I will put it away for competition. I like to keep my strings is a kid's rope bag & store them in a big coil- the biggest I can make & still fit into my bag. The more coils you put in your string for storing it, the more kinks it will have.
The FIRST time I use a new string for competition I will LIGHTLY sandpaper it to ruffle up the crowns, so that some of the extra wax is removed & more of my rosin will stick to the string. I will start at the tail (fuzzy end) and go lightly down my string two or three times. No more.
I rosin my string EVERY TIME for competition. I like amber rosin & I will take a couple of dime to quarter sized 'rocks' of rosin & crumble them down the mid section my string, (from the tail end towards the knot end) where the goat's legs will actually be. I like to put my rosin on no more than 5 minutes before I actually compete. Rosin only works if it's hot. So when I am getting close to competing, I will take my left hand (non-tying hand) & rub it down my string several times until it actually burns my hand & fingers. Now I know it's ready.
I have a dab of baby power on my horse's right hip, and right before I ride into the arena, I will pat my right (tying hand) in the power, making sure that I get the power in the web of my hand by my thumb, as that's where my string will slide. The baby power will help you slide your hand down your string without getting it stuck because of the rosin. Don't apply baby power directly to your string, as your string still needs to be sticky for the goat.
I choose to use rosin for 'extra insurance' to keep my ties secure in competition. Rosin has plenty of sticky power, is easy to apply, is economical to buy (one bag usually last a year or two) and it works in ALL weather. It doesn't matter if it's humid, cold, rainy or just a nice day- it works. I do not use rosin in practice as I am comfortable tying with it in competition and it will sore up your goat's legs if you ty a lot with rosin on your string. I recommend using it a little bit in practice if you haven't before or if you are not comfortable with using rosin. Make sure you pack some power with you, as you will discover how sticky rosin is if you practice with it! I only use my competition string in the rodeos. I will have several 'wore out' competition strings that I ty with in practice. It's important to ty with the same type of string you use at the rodeos, so it all feels the same to you.
When a string loses all of it's life, find another purpose for it other than goat tying. Don't keep it around. There is really no way to clean strings, I have heard about putting them in the washing machine, but the water takes so much life out of a string- it's trashed when you take it out of the washer. So your best bet with old, worn out strings are to ty up buckets for your horses, or save it for a friend that's not really serious about goat tying (or one that borrows your strings all the time!) so they aren't using a good string of yours! Thanks for the great question Haley!
"If what you're working for really matters, you'll give it all you've got."--Nido Qubein
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