RIATA
(ree-AH-tuh)
A
lariat Related crosswordese: REATA Common
clues: Lasso;
Gear for a gaucho; Cowboy's rope; Ranchero's rope; Cowpoke's
tool; Lariat; Rodeo rope; Calf catcher; Steer stopper; Vaquero's
rope Crossword
puzzle frequency:
4 times a year News: Vancouver
Humane Society targets Calgary Stampede event
A
lasso is a loop of rope that is designed to be thrown around a
target and tighten when pulled.
Lassoing
on the prairie (from the book Prairie Experiences in Handling
Cattle and Sheep, by Major W. Shepherd, published in 1884)
The
rope is now mainly used in rodeos as an attraction, but it still
used to catch fleeing cattle or other livestock. After catching
the cattle, the lasso can be tied around the horn, a typical
feature of the western or cowboy-saddle. With the lasso around
the horn, the cowboy can use his horse as the equivalent of a tow
truck with a winch.
Part
of the historical cultures of both Mexico and the western part of
the United States, trick roping (lasso spinning tricks) was, and
is, a well-known cowboy athletic activity. Will Rogers was a
well-known exponent of trick roping.
A
lasso is made from stiff or stiffened rope. This makes the noose
stay open when the lasso is thrown. It also allows the cowboy to
easily open up the noose from horseback when releasing the cattle
because the rope is stiff enough to be pushed a little. A high
quality lasso is weighted for better handling.
This
article is licensed under the GNU
Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the Wikipedia
article "Lasso".
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