PROFESSIONAL TIE-DOWN ROPER Seth Hall grew up in Albuquerque but travels to 80 rodeos throughout the country each season to compete. His sport requires roping a calf, dismounting his horse, and tying together three of the calf’s legs—all in a few seconds. Catch Hall, who sat in sixth place in the overall Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) standings in mid-July, as he takes on all comers on his home turf.
I enjoy getting to rope in front of my hometown crowd. A lot of my family comes and watches, so it’s a little bit more nerve-racking. That’s when we do better, when our backs are against the wall.
At a young age, I was put into this. My dad roped and rodeoed when I was growing up. By the time I was four or five, he was hauling us around the junior rodeos throughout New Mexico. We were running barrels and flags and tying goats. The older I got, we started roping. I haven’t really let up.
I went to Odessa College, in Texas, on a rodeo scholarship and then into the pros. There are no tricks or secrets of the trade. The more you do it, it becomes a muscle memory. Whoever puts in the most work is usually the one that’s most successful. It’s kind of a thing that’s bred into you—like an itch on your back.
I’m not going to be able to do it forever. I’m 35, coming down to the end of my career being a tie-down roper. I’ve got a few years left, and then I’ll go on and pursue some of my other events. The National Finals Rodeo, in Las Vegas, Nevada, in December has been a dream of mine. That’s our Super Bowl of rodeos. It’s one of the biggest stages in the world. This year might be my first to make it.