Better Basics, LLC

Box 272

Kinnear, WY 82516

goattyer@wyoming.com

01/26/12

 

Previous Tips on Flanking

If you been watching the WNFR this past week during the calf roping, you've heard Joe Beaver stress the importance of a good flank.  Same applies to goat tying.  The flank really sets up your whole run.  If you get into good position before flanking your goat, the flank, gather and ty will come together smoothly.  Controlling the flank by placing the goat straight down to the ground also sets up a quick gather and ty. 

Getting fast on the ground.

Position is everything.  Getting into good, low position before flanking the goat is so important in setting up your run.  Once in position, really using your hips/lower body to flank the goat will drop tenths off your ground work time.  Make sure you rotate through with your hips fully, as this will help you land in more of a swatting position (instead of a kneeling) when coming down on the goat, making it easier & fast to gather the legs. 

Being a Square Stuffer

In watching the 2010 College National Finals Rodeo Goat Tying Qualifiers ty the pen of goats prior to the start of the rodeo, my belief in being a square stuffer was reinforced!  Girls that keep their left knee on the goat's shoulder and still gather in the air with their right leg had such an easier time with their ty than the girls that sit back on the goat's butt with their left knee in the dirt behind the goat's back.  The stuffers that sit square were also way quicker getting their goats  down to the ground from their flank.  Also the goat's legs are typically a little lower, keeping their tys tighter.  So if you're going to be a stuffer- SIT SQUARE!!!

Finishing a flank

I can't stress enough the importance of a good flank for a good goat run.  When we really use our hips to pick up the goat, (or even when you do it the wrong way & use your upper body) finishing a flank is equally important.  Finishing a flank is pushing/placing the goat down to the ground with your hands so the goat will land flat.  Often when working on speed, we get to "dropping" the goat with our right hand, therefore causing the hindquarters to land too far away from our body.  If we finish our flanks, the goat should be place into position between our knees, staying close to our body all the way down to the ground, then the back legs are easy to reach for the gather, as they will FEEL right there instead of out there; all of which saves on time!

Finishing your flank

One good way to tell that you are not pushing the goat down enough as you finish your flank, is the top back leg of the goat.  If that top back leg is bent, usually upward or in towards the goat's belly, you are not finishing your flank by pushing the goat all the way to the ground.  Also check to see where your right knee is landing.  If you are too wide in your pin- your right knee not on the thigh, but more behind the goat, this will also allow the top back leg to bend as well, making it harder/slower to gather. If you are finishing your flank perfect, the goats back legs should be parallel to each other & straight.

Not finishing your flank is common when

1) you have bad habits to begin with

2) as you add speed- you're trying to gather before you've got it flanked!

Running into position to flank

To save time it's real important to run into position to flank by getting your body low,  with your hips close to the goat's back and your right knee in his belly so when you thrust with your lower body contact with the goat is made quicker.  Your butt should be rotated under yourself as you pivot into your flanking position.  Your butt shouldn't be sticking out with your back straight and shoulders dropped because then your lower body is too far away from your goat to make quick contact with your flank and you'll flank more with your upper body than your lower body, all costing a few precious ticks of the clock.  Really work on getting low & close to your goat when practicing on the ground.  Build muscle memory & focus on getting low and close so it's more natural when you add stepping off your horse.

Flanking Flat

It's important to get a flat flank on your goat so that  you can gather quickly.  A flat flank is where the goat lands square on the ground, not rotated one way or another.  You can get flat flanks by pushing your goat down to the ground equally with both of your hands.   You should be able to do a "self test" in your flank by drawing a line in the dirt from the goat's front leg to his back leg that are closest to you before you flank him.  The goats top line/back should land straight on the line from his shoulders to his hips.  If his shoulders are away from the line, you are not pushing enough with your left hand as the goat is coming down to the ground.  If the goat's butt is away from the line, you are most likely dropping the goat instead of pushing him all the way down to the ground.  Both can make it more difficult to gather.   Flat flanks will help the goat's back legs in position for a quick, easy gather. 

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. 

  

 

Position to Flank

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! 

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! 

 

 

 

This site was last updated 01/02/11