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Previous Tips on Flanking

Flanking Styles: Stuff vs. Pinning

Definition: Stuff: Gather the legs in the air.  Pin: Gather the legs off the ground.

First a little history behind the two techniques- Stuffing & Pinning. When goat tying first started getting going, the "northern" girls (Montana, Dakotas, Wyoming) very rarely had goats to ty, but tied small calves & the "southern" (Texas, Oklahoma) girls always had goats, so they developed the stuff; where the northern girls had to pin, because they were tying different animals & is was impossible to stuff a calf! 

 Pinning evolved from the outstretched leg (like the calf ropers) to both knees on the goat in a pinning position.  Which is quicker & allows better control of the goat's legs. It is also evolving to were pinners are learning how to bounce the back legs off the ground & catch them on the bounce; so really stuffing is no faster than pinning anymore,& it has several more disadvantages. 

To stuff, girls have to pick their goats up higher- the higher the goat gets from the ground, before it goes back to the ground, the more time it takes.  Pinners don't have to pick the goat up as high & it's easier to learn & more consistent no matter what body type the goat has, short, tall, thick bellied, thin or floppy)  pinning is always the same. 

Another advantage to pinning is that the goat tyer stays more square on the goat.  The goat get's all it "power" to get up from his front leg.  If a goat tyer is sitting on the goat's butt (like a lot of stuffers do) they can't control the front leg of the goat DURING the ty.  A pinner keeps her left knee on the goat's shoulder & can squeeze while she's tying to help keep the front leg in the ty.  Also since most stuffers sit on the butt of the goat, the knot of their ty rests on the front leg.  A pinner's knot should be on the bottom of the goat's legs, which is a tighter ty, as the precious knot isn't resting a the leg with the most power, it's equally underneath all three legs.

Plus if a pinner misses a leg, it way easier to recover from that mistake as the legs aren't lost up underneath the goat & the goat tyer.  If a stuffer misses a leg; it's real costly finding it.

 To be a true stuffer, the goat tyer's right hand should never have to touch the back legs & all three of the goats legs should be stacked when the goat tyer hits the ground.  Because that's the "advantage" of stuffing is to have the legs gathered when the goat hits the ground.  So if the goat tyer is still having to touch the legs or drive the front leg under the back legs once the goat is on the ground, then it's wasted time.  She's still gathering, even if it's only with one leg.   Pinners can gather all three in the same time that it takes the stuffer to drive the front leg underneath the back legs.

So I believe pinning is a better way to go, not only because it worked for me, but I've seen a lot of girls be successful with it as well.   All the National champions in 2007 were pinners- Jr. High Wrangler Division- Niki Bauman, High School National Champ, Bobbi Grann; Kayla Nelson 2 X National College Champion from Buffalo, SD. So proofs in the pudding. 

Basics of how to flank the goat.

Flanking: 1. Position 2. Pop up 3. Push down 4. Pin

     Position:

Your left foot in front of the goat's front feet, knee bent with the goat's head over your left thigh, this is your roadblock for the goat's front end. 

Right foot behind the back legs of the goat, but your right knee BENT & TURNED IN and somewhat under the goat's belly.

Your left hand on the forearm of the goat.

Your right hand in the "pocket", the fold of skin in the flank of the goat. 

Shoulders up, butt down.

     Pop Up:

By rolling your hips under, you pop the goat's legs out of the ground so that he rolls parallel to the ground.  Your hand will hold the goat close to you so that you gain control over him.

     Push Down:

With both of your hands you will push the goat to the ground between your feet.  The goat should make contact with your thighs  and then your knees as you get closer to the ground, but the goat should make contact with your body all the way into the ground.  Do this slow until you gain control of your goat.  He should land square/ flat on the ground.

   Pin:

Your left knee should land on the goat's shoulders, close to your left hand.  The inside of your right knee should land on the goat's thighs, close to your right hand.  This will help your goat lay flat with all four legs sticking out in front of his body. Your weight should be in your hips, barely putting any pressure on the goat so it's "comfortable" for him to lay there.  Your hips may be tight/sore the first several days that you do this.  They will stretch out in time & it will get more comfortable for you too!

When flanking your goat, it is important to push your goat all the way to the ground.  If you don't completely push him to the ground, he's top back leg will be somewhat upward, which looks like he is sucking a leg.  This is a common mistake that goat tyers make when trying to get faster and is simply corrected by pushing the goat all the way to the ground, which will force his back legs straight & perfectly out in front of him, making for a consistent and quicker gather. 

"What a player does best, he should practice least.  Practice is for problems." ~ Duke Snider

Your position before you flank your goat is so important.  If you're not in correct position, the chances of mis-flanking greatly increase.  Position should be

1. Your left leg in front of the goat's chest.  You should be low so that his head is over your left thigh- the smaller the goat, the lower you need to get.

2. Your left hand on the forearm of the goat's front leg, above the knee.

3. Your right knee in the belly of the goat, but your right foot behind the goat- so you'll be a little knocked-kneed to get you knee in his belly. Your right knee should be touching your goat.

4. Your right hand in the 'pocket' of the goat's flank.  In his skin fold of his flank area.

5. You should have your butt down & chest up.  

6. Rotate your hips under & into your goat so that your hips/belt buckle is as close to the goat's side as you can get it. Don't let your butt push out- it will cause your shoulders to drop. 

Be close to your goat- the farther away you are, the more room for error.  Run close into your goat when you are practicing at home & it will carry over to the rodeos.  Best of Luck! 

"If you do not consciously form good habits, you will unconsciously form bad ones." ~ Anonymous

After recently attending the NHSRF in Gillette, one reoccurring 'mistake' I seen many of the goat tyers make that wasted lots of time, was getting too far forward on the goat.  On 'wilder' goats that may strain, it is especially important to keep your weight in your hips & heels and only apply a little pressure to the goat by squeezing from your hips to your knees.  This will keep the goat's back legs in front of you & not under you, allowing you to gather & tie quicker. It is also more comfortable for the goat, so he will naturally strain less. 

The cause of getting too far forward on the goat letting your weight come down on your knees; almost like you are pouncing on the goat. Instead let your butt come down first, like you are sitting down & let your knees follow the goat to the ground.  

If you are unclear about this tip or have any questions: contact me! 

What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.--Ralph Waldo Emerson