8-Time World Champion Team Roper, Rich Skelton, teamed up with 2-time Road to the Horse Champion, Chris, Cox for a Team Roping and Horsemanship Seminar, April 12 14. More than 30 students from several states came to improve both their horsemanship and team roping skills. Their levels ranged from beginner to a #7 heeler. Participants included World Champion All Around Cowboys Larry Mahan and Chris Lybbert.

The unique training partnership developed when Cox sought heeling instruction from Skelton. Chris Cox has been ranch roping most of his life, and recently began competing in the USTRC and other ropings as a header. This summer, he entered the prestigious Reno Invitational Team Roping, heeling for former World Champion Jack Roddy. Rich Skelton has always believed that good horsemanship is the basic foundation for successful roping.

The first morning, students saddled up and roped live cattle so Chris could evaluate horsemanship skills, and Rich could determine the ropers performance level. That afternoon, it was dummy time for both headers and heelers. While Rich Skelton won 8 World Championships as a heeler, he is well qualified to teach headingafter all, he did travel with Speed Williams for years!

Ground instruction for both headers and heelers included position, building a balanced loop, swing, feeding the loop, target, and delivery. After practicing for what seemed like hours, it was time to mount up again and rope the drag dummy. Then back to live cattle with a noticeable improvement by all as the Texas sun was setting.

Day 2 began with Chris Cox demonstrating horsemanship drills to prepares ones horse for competition. Chris training philosophy is to have total control of the horse, from the nose to the tail. He showed students how to have softness and flex in the poll, and make lateral movements in the ribcage and hindquarters. This method allows the rider to place the horse anywhere they want in relation to the box or trailing a steer. Chris training methods make a better mount for any discipline, from roping to barrel racing, and from cutting to reining.

After lunch on Day 2, Richs former roping partner, Speed Williams arrived. Speed demonstrated how headers should handle cattle to make a more successful team effort. The heelers at the seminar truly gained confidence when they had the opportunity to rope behind Speed.

Day 3 saw all the hard work come together. The participants worked on making sure their horses would run and rate at the right spot. They got more dummy work, and plenty of live cattle. Chris Cox TV production crew were on hand to video tape the participants, so they could see their progress each day. The seminar will also be the subject of upcoming episodes of Chris Cox Horsemanship on RFD-TV.

Heres what the participants are saying:

Chris Lybbert World Champion Tie Down Roper, World Champion All Around Cowboy. Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. Chris has trained and sold top Calf and Team Roping Horses said he enjoyed learning from Chris Cox and Rich Skelton.

I learned about moving my horse around, and I actually got to where I could catch feet consistently. I had mostly headed and tried to heel. Rich changed my delivery completely. It was amazing how much better the students and horses were by the end of the school. It was especially impressive to see how much better the students handled cattle.

Larry Mahan 6-time World Champion All Around Cowboy, 2-Time World Champion Bull Rider. Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, National Cowboy Hall of Fame.

This was an amazing event. Chris and Rich had great chemistry. They are both so knowledgeable. They worked so well together. Chris Cox is the best horse trainer I’ve ever witnessed he is a teacher with no gimmicks, no one-liners. A Chris Cox seminar is for those who really want knowledge. Bottom line, two young pups showed this ole dog something new.

Brennan Harmon – Church Point, LA. #7 USTRC Heeler/#6 Header

This was by far the best experience Ive ever had. The seminar touched both phases roping and horsemanship. It was truly the best of both worlds. I cant wait to go to our local USA roping finals this weekend.

Both Chris and Rich have gotten positive feedback from the Seminar, another one will be scheduled soon. For more information, www.chris-cox.com.