Dally Practice Apparatus

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to exercise apparatus and, more particularly, to a dally practice apparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The popularity of western style rodeo is ever increasing, and more and more athletes are being drawn into the sport. One very popular event is referred to as steer roping. In this event a rider on horseback pursues a steer and ropes it around the head or around the hind legs. During the roping phase, the rider performs what is referred to as a dally: i.e., the wrapping of a rope around the horn of a saddle after the steer has been roped.

Since competitive times may differ by only hundreds of a second, it is extremely important that each phase be performed as rapidly as possible. This requires many hours of practice. While roping can be practiced in any one of a variety of settings, there are as yet no convenient means for practicing the dally.

It is an object of the invention to provide a dally practice apparatus.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a dally practice apparatus which is portable and easy to employ and deploy.

According to a broad aspect of the invention we have provided an exercise apparatus of a type wherein a load is manually elevated by pulling on a first end of a connecting means having a second end coupled to said load, said apparatus comprising, a substantially vertical support member: first guide means coupled to an upper portion of said vertical member for steering said connecting means, and the second guide means coupled to an intermediate portion of said vertical member below said first guide means for steering said connecting means.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are side, front and top views respectively of the inventive dally practice apparatus and FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating how the inventive practice apparatus is employed.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are side, front and top views respectively of the inventive dally practice apparatus. A "U" shaped supporter base member comprises leg members 2 and a cross member 4. A substantially vertical number 6 is coupled to the cross member 4 at a point intermediate its length and extends upward therefrom. An extension 12 is coupled at one end to vertical member 6 and has a roller wheel 14 coupled at its other end. A second roller wheel 16 is rotatiably coupled near the upper end of vertical number 6. A second projection 8 is coupled to the vertical member and extends horizontally therefrom in a direction opposite that of projection 12. Member 8 terminates with a guide member 10; e.g. an eyelet. Leg members 2, cross member 4 and vertical member 6 may be made from any material which supplies the necessary rigidity; e.g. metal, wood, etc. Metal pipe has been found to work quite satisfactorily.

The use of the inventive dally practice apparatus may best be described in conjunction with FIG. 4. A rope 26 is fastened at one end to a load 18. The other end of the rope is passed through eyelet 10 over roller 16 and under roller 14. A rider 20 positions himself on a saddle 22 which is equipped with a saddlehorn 24. By pulling on the rope and elevating the load, the rider simulates the roping of a steer. The rider may then repeatedly practice looping the rope around the saddlehorn as is shown in FIG. 4.

It should be appreciated that the above described configuration requires very little room and affords a convenient and simple means by which a rider can perfect his dally and improve his time. It should be further appreciated that the base consisting of members 2 and a cross member 4 may be eliminated if the vertical member 6 is embeded and secured in the ground.

The above description is given by way of example only. Changes in form and detail may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.