Everything about Lasso totally explained
:
Lariat redirects here. For the wrestling move, see lariat. For the genetic structure, see Splicing (genetics). Reata redirects here. For the comic book character, see Reata (comics)
A
lasso is a loop of
rope that's designed to be thrown around a target and tighten when pulled. It is a well-known tool of the American
cowboy. The word is also a
verb;
to lasso is to successfully throw the loop of rope around something. When referring to the entire length of rope used, before or after a loop is formed, the rope itself is more properly called a
lariat. Many cowboys simply call it a "Rope."
A lariat is made from stiff rope so that the
noose stays open when the lasso is thrown. It also allows the cowboy to easily open up the noose from
horseback to releasing the cattle because the rope is stiff enough to be pushed a little. A high quality lasso is
weighted for better
handling. The lariat has a small reinforced loop at one end, called a
hondo, through which the rope passes to form a loop. The other end is usually tied simply in a small, tight, overhand knot to prevent fraying. Most modern lariats are made of stiff nylon rope, usually about 5/16" or 3/8" in diameter.
The lariat is used today in
rodeos as part of the competitive events such as
calf roping and
team roping. It is also still used on working
ranches to capture
cattle or other
livestock when necessary. After catching the cattle, the lasso can be tied or wrapped (dallied) around the
horn, a typical feature on the front of a
western saddle. With the lariat around the horn, the cowboy can use his
horse as the equivalent of a
towtruck with a
winch.
Part of the
historical culture of both the
vaqueros of
Mexico and the cowboys of the
Western United States, is a related skill now called "trick roping", a performance of assorted lasso spinning tricks.
Will Rogers was a well-known practitioner of trick roping and the
natural horsemanship practitioner
Buck Brannaman also got his start as a trick roper when he was a child.
History
Lassos are not only part of
North American culture; relief carvings at the ancient
Egyptian temple of
Pharoah Seti I at
Abydos, built c.1280 BC, show the pharoah holding a lasso, then holding onto a bull roped around the horns. They were also used by
Tatars and are still used by the
Sami people. The
Mongols use a variant of the lasso called an
uurga consisting of a rope loop at the end of a very long pole.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Lasso'.
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