How to Make a Bull Rope
Bull riding has been a fixture of cowboy life for decades. Early bull riding competitions pitted the bravest cowboys against the roughest stock in the herd. Modern bull riding still holds true to those roots, with skilled riders matching skills with powerful 1,200-lb. bulls. Bull riding requires few tools, although a good bull rope is essential. Making your own bull rope allows you to customize your rig as much as you like, and can save money over expensive commercial ropes.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- 30 feet of 5/8-inch diameter twisted rope
- 5 30-foot sections of ¼-inch-diameter soft cord
- 5 2-foot sections of ¼-inch-diameter soft cord
- Utility knife
- ½-inch leather strips
- Leather soap
- Rag
Instructions
-
-
1
Rub your leather strips with a generous amount of leather soap to soften them. Dampen the soap with a little water and run it over the strips, wiping the lather off with a clean rag
-
2
Hold all five pieces of 30-foot cord in your hands, tying a large knot in one end. Hang the cords over a secure fixture, such as a coat hook or doorknob. Hanging the cords allows you to pull on them as you work to keep your braid tight.
-
-
3
Separate the cords between your hands, holding three of them in your left hand and two of them in your right. Begin your braid by passing the number 1 cord in your right hand under the number 2 cord and over the number three cord in your left hand. You will now have two cords in your left hand and three in your right. Pass the new number one cord in your left hand under the number 2 cord and over the number three cord in your right hand. Repeat this process until you have braided the entire length of rope, tying a firm knot at the end to secure your rope.
-
4
Braid the 2-foot sections of cord in the same manner to construct your handle. The handle is the portion of the bull rope that the cowboy wraps his hand through to hold himself on the bull.
-
5
Lay the handle on top of your longer braided section, approximately 6 inches from the end. Pass two leather strips up through the long section and the side of the handle closest to the center of the rope. Wrap the strips around both sections of cord twice, passing them back down through the handle and long section. Continue this wrapping process until the handle is firmly laced to the longer section.
-
6
Fold the long piece of twisted rope over and lay the two ends on top of the long braided piece on each side of the handle. This long rope is the section that will pass under the chest of the bull, so make sure it is free of knots and twists.
-
7
Thread two more pieces of leather up through the braided section and handle, looping them over the twisted rope and wrapping them securely as you did before. Repeat the lacing and wrapping until you have laced approximately 6 inches of rope together, which will prevent them from separating while riding. Knot the ends of the leather and trim the excess with your knife.
-
8
Rob some resin between your hands to warm it up and coat the handle of your bull rope with it. The resin heats up with friction and becomes sticky, which will help your newly made bull rope stay secure during even the roughest ride.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Test the strength of your bull rope before using it on a live animal. Tie it to a secure object such as a post or tree and pull hard on it. If you notice any broken or frayed sections, do not use it.
Never try to ride a bull unless you have had proper training. Rodeo bulls are bred to move quickly and buck vigorously, and can easily injure an untrained rider.
References
Resources
More Like This
Comments
-
This is absolutely incorrect. I have been braiding bull ropes for over 10yrs, and riding bulls for over 17yrs, and this is absolutely NOT the correct way to make a bull rope. Not one single part of it is correct.
-
wheres the pics??
