The 9 Best Roping Dummies
This wiki has been updated 25 times since it was first published in November of 2018. Any rodeo contender or working cowboy can tell you that lassoing cattle is no easy task. It requires a lot of training to master the technique, but, unfortunately, you may not always have the luxury of real live cows to practice on. That's where these roping dummies can help. They can be quickly and easily set up anywhere, allowing you to hone your skills whenever the mood strikes. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Ropesmart Steer
2. AJ Tack Lariat Set
3. Something Dummy 7K
Editor's Notes
October 03, 2020:
When it comes to roping dummies, durability and functionality should be top priorities. Though it may not immediately seem like it, constantly hitting an item with a heavy lasso can actually cause a lot of wear and tear, and low-quality models will be prone to breaking somehow. This can be from cracking after getting knocked over one too many times, or perhaps from one of the horns breaking, or even simply from constant exposure to the elements.
When it comes to functionality, we mean two things. It should have a life-size horn spread, unless it is intended for kids to practice on, in which case a small horn spread can be beneficial, and it should meet your needs. So, if you want to practice heading and heeling, you'll need to make sure to choose a model with legs, like the Apple Picker Steel.
An even better option for those who want to practice heeling is to choose a model with articulating rear limbs, such as the Ropesmart Steer and Southwestern Equine Heading and Heeling Stand, since these will have the most realistic action. The 44 Wild West Bonnie The Goat is another model with articulating legs that provide lifelike movement thanks to the inclusion of bungee cords that replicate the resistance you might experience when tying down an actual animal. This last model isn't designed for practicing heading or heeling, but solely for hog-tying.
If you prefer something with a realistic physical structure to a bull, as opposed to something like the Apple Picker Steel, which is just a bunch of pipes, the Something Dummy 7K and Rope It Up Speed Steer are both top choices. They both include two sets of horns and a horn wrap, but we slightly favor the Something Dummy 7K because it has a higher head and features slotted horn sockets that prevent them from twisting or falling off during practice.
Whichever model you decide to purchase in the end, you'll want to have a good pair of boots and a smart-looking hat to wear while you practice.
November 16, 2018:
Roping dummies must be able to stand up to constant wear from a lasso slipping over the horns, so we made sure to only include tough, well-built models. We also wanted to include a variety of units to suit both heading and heeling practice needs.
Special Honors
Teskey's Wicked Stick Roping Dummy Comprised of painted PVC pipes, Teskey's Wicked Stick Roping Dummy is lightweight and easy to move to your favorite practice spot. It is equipped with articulating hind limbs, and its size and wide base make it stable enough to standard dummy heads. However, it does seem a bit overpriced for what it is. teskeys.com
4. Rope It Up Speed Steer
5. Southwestern Equine Heading and Heeling Stand
6. 44 Wild West Bonnie The Goat
7. Mustang Steer Head
8. Apple Picker Steel
9. NRS Circle R Original
A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.