Lasso

The lasso is the " extended arm " of the shepherds, a noose for trapping animals. It is a long, more or less stiff leather or hemp rope with a noose at the end of immigrating themselves, which is thrown to the animals either on the neck, horns or via one or a plurality of leg (s). The animal is either fixed or thrown to the ground; in litters from horseback lasso in North America is usually on the saddle horn attached ( Roping Saddle ) or on a ring behind the saddle ( Recado ) in South America.

The loop at the end of the rope, which allows the formation of a lasso and their pinch can be knotted or woven, but also of leather braiding, metal, horn or plastic. In American literature is for the name " honda " in use; The loop itself is referred to as a "loop", the long end of the cable as a " spoke".

Designation

The German word " lasso" is attested since the 18th century, when it became known through travel reports. It was simply the English word " lasso " over which, in turn from the Spanish ' lazo " ( string loop ) back.

In the U.S., next to the rarely used word " lasso " exists also the term " lariat ", a corruption of the Spanish " la riata ", " the noose, the rope ". Usually a throw rope is but plain and simple "rope ", " rope, cord " called.

History

For his purpose than cattle or horse - gear - usually for riders - the lasso was first used in Europe and Asia. The Spaniards brought it likely to America. Today it is used mainly by cattle herders in the U.S. and in South America, especially if no other fishing facilities are available or can be built, such as a catch alley or a gate.

The Lasso is an indispensable requisite in many Western movies. It was formerly also sometimes used as a weapon (see gladiators ).

Central Asia

The nomadic peoples of Central Asia use a similar device for capturing their grazing animals. There, a rope loop is attached to the end of a long wooden pole. The rider swings the sling the animal pursued - even at full gallop - over the head and then pulls on the rod and rotate it several times to close the loop. In Mongolia, this tool is called Uurga ( Уурга ) and is still regarded as a national symbol of nomadism.

Northern Scandinavia

For the reindeer Sami breeding in the north of Norway, Sweden and the Russian Kola Peninsula ( Sapmi ) the lasso (in the language of the Sami ( Samiska ) " suopunki " called ) still catch indispensable tool for and fixing of single animals during buoyancy of the herds. It is a specially manufactured for this purpose synthetic rope with Kunststoffumantelung used, which is available for different outdoor temperatures ( extreme cold can damage a simple rope or unwieldy make ). The Honda has the shape of an "8 " was traditionally carved from reindeer bone and is now mostly plastic.

Production

The lasso the Cowboys and Vaqueros is of rawhide of cattle, horses or buffalo ( bison ). These animal hides are exempt only from leftover meat ( by example, she places next to an ant hill ) and then spirally cut from outside to inside in a long time, five millimeter wide strips. These strips are knotted to a peg and pulled through and drummed in between two logs. Thus, the leather is soft and the hair is removed. The strips are moistened with cold water and braided from four to eight strips into ropes. The rawhide is rubbed for the care with raw liver or brain mass to keep it supple and durable. At one end of an eye is spliced ​​or tied a lasso knot or eingeknüft a ring or the like. The traditional rope- braider called " Reatero "; However, use lassos are now mass brands, the price is in a range from about U.S. $ 20 to U.S. $ 100, can go into areas of 200 to 400 U.S. $ for the leather Reatas.

A lasso is approximately three to 20 feet or more long and about eight to twelve millimeters thick. Depending on the material used, the tear strength is up to 1000 kg. Originally made ​​from Nandu tendon or stable plant fibers ( sisal ), were mainly leather and since the late 19th century, later used as materials hemp. Also art fiber and waxed cotton ropes are now standard for twisted and more or less stiff ropes. Hemp ropes are much cheaper than leather ropes, but they wear out faster. Today, poly-cotton or poly ropes are common, the traditional leather ropes have become quite expensive and rare. ( Or tame horses Catching etc. among others lasso tricks; ; calves tracing), even for the different kinds of animals for different purposes ( calf, bull, horse ...) are different stiffness grades, thicknesses and lengths used. Horses fishing for example, requires rather long and soft lassos; Tricks short and harder ropes etc.

Throwing technique

The lasso is attached to the saddle just below the saddle horn or held in his free hand and quickly around the saddle horn wound after the throw ( dally roping ). For throwing the loop is approximately 1.5 m in diameter ( an arm span ) or more open. Especially in South America also very large loops are common up to four meters. With the throwing hand is - about a third of the loop perimeter next to the Honda - the same time the noose and the rope caught, so the loop will remain open while swinging. The other slightly open hand holds the rope rings. The lasso is swung in circles from the wrist several times over the head and then thrown, which for too long have wearied the swing limb. The sling is the animal on the neck, horns or the front feet ( " forefooting " ) and hind legs ( " heeling " ) thrown, then the end of the lasso is wrapped around the saddle horn and with a twist or a hard stop of his own horse the trapped animal knocked over. The fast winding the free end around the saddle horn and the soulful " brakes " of the rope by sliding Let the Horn called Dally roping, which was derived from the Spanish term " la vuelta is " - make the rotation. The Cowboys spent much of their free time with throwing exercises. In practice, about 30 different throwing techniques are described, depending on the location of the thrower to the animal and if the loop is thrown over the front or hind legs, over the head or the horns. In our everyday work only some come more often used, which carry their own name (eg, the Houlihan throw).

As a sports and art

In rodeo sport there are the disciplines "breakaway calf roping " (calves tracing) and " wild horse race" (wild horses begin ). Special Roping competitions are held in USA. World Champion Terry McCutcheon. In the circus and horse shows occur Lasso acrobats; the famous horse whisperer Buck Brannaman began his career as a teenager Lasso Artist. In Europe, lassoing is practiced as a pastime and a complement to Western Riding, which has led to their own clubs and even championships. Ranch Roping is often practiced as a practical application of this skill.

Trick Lasso

The purpose of the trick - Lasso is to show off acrobatic feats. By cleverly turning the acrobat keeps open the loop ( Loop) thanks to centrifugal force, with a distinction between horizontal and vertical loops. A well-known vertical loop is " Texas Skip ": This "jump" of the lasso acrobat apparently through the loop in reality he pulls the loop from one side to the other and jump up at the right moment to pass the rope under his feet. A well-known trick lasso acrobat was Will Rogers.