A miniaturized steer roping practice apparatus may comprise a mobile base comprising a frame, an axle rotatably mounted on the frame to rotate about a rotation axis in a forward rotational direction for forward movement and a rearward rotational direction for rearward movement, and at least one drive wheel mounted on the axle. The apparatus may further comprise at least one leg movable with respect to the base, a leg actuation assembly configured to move the at least one leg in conjunction with rotation of the drive wheel, a cover mounted on the mobile base and having an exterior surface with a resemblance to a steer, and a motivating assembly configured to drive the axle in the forward rotational direction using stored energy. The motivating assembly may be configured to store energy by rotation of the axle in the rearward rotational direction.

A system for roping practice includes a vehicle, a roping dummy, and a hitch device couplable between the vehicle and the roping dummy. A switch on or near a bumper of the vehicle is configured to stop the vehicle from moving, allowing for a riderless vehicle. When a user lassos and pulls against the roping dummy, the switch is actuated, thereby ceasing forward movement of the vehicle. Once the user is ready to lasso again, the user may initiate the drive mode of the vehicle once more. In some examples, the vehicle is autonomously driven using a navigation system and/or one or more transmitters positioned along the boundaries of a practice arena.

The towed roping dummy shock absorption apparatus provides for an apparatus designed to be inserted between a pulling vehicle and a towed roping dummy when practicing team roping from horseback. The apparatus provides for modulation of jerks and forces on the dummy that cause strain on the vehicle, dummy and horse, as well as providing for more consistent speed when being towed.

A mechanical roping steer apparatus for practicing roping of a steer may comprise a support assembly for resting on a ground surface, a rotatable wheel configured to contact the ground surface such that movement of the support assembly across the ground rotates the wheel, and a steer assembly connected to the support assembly. The steer assembly may comprise a frame having a spine structure, a hip structure movably mounted on the frame to move between first and second positions, and a leg structure movably mounted on the hip structure to move between forward and rearward positions, and including at least one leg member. The steer assembly may include an actuation assembly may be configured to move the leg member downwardly toward the ground surface during rearward movement of the leg member and move the leg member upwardly during forward movement of the leg member.

A system and method for scoring the performance of a performer in a sport, such as bull riding and gymnastic competitions. The scoring can be done using a video feed of a performance. Computer vision of the system can detect predefined body parts of the performer in frames of the video feed. Thereafter, geometric centers of the predefined body parts can be defined. Thereafter, a framework can be built by connecting the geometric centers and spatiotemporal changes in the framework can be tracked for determining predefined body movements. A scoring module based on deep neural network can score the performance using the predefined body movements.

A team roping assembly for guiding a bovine along a path between a first end and a second end of a track. Wherein: the team roping assembly comprises the track, a trolley, a horn wrap and a tether. The trolley is coupled to the track. The tether selectively connecting the horn wrap to the trolley. The horn wrap is configured to selectively attach to a head of the bovine. Said trolley 109 is slidably coupled to the track. The tether comprises the first end and the second end. Wherein, the first end of the tether is coupled to the trolley and the second end of the tether is coupled to the horn wrap on the bovine. The horn wrap comprises a protective wraps that wraps around a set of horns of the bovine to prevent rope burns and are used to reduce the risk of a horn breaking when roped.

A one-piece element shaped like a bow-legged bronco buster has an enlarged head that is received in a half hitch of a hondo knot of a lariat used in practice roping. When the target has been encircled by the loop of the lariat, applying force on the rope above the hondo knot causes the ankles of the two bowed legs to flex outwardly releasing the free end of the loop so that the hondo knot and the breakaway attachment secured thereto can be retrieved for the next practice throw.

An apparatus for roping practice includes a steering shaft drivable and rotatable by a head model, a steering link drivable by the steering shaft, and a pair of front wheels drivable and rotatable by the steering shaft via the steering link to steer the apparatus. Accordingly, a first user (e.g., a header) can rope the head model and proceed to pull the apparatus along a support or ground surface so that a second user (e.g., a heeler) can subsequently rope hind legs of the apparatus to simulate a live team roping. The first user can apply a lateral force to the head model with the rope to turn the head model which causes the front wheels to turn and thereby steer the apparatus to turn with the first user as the second user prepares to rope the hind legs.

A stationary roping practice target apparatus that simulates at least a portion of a running animal to serve as a roping practice target can comprise a frame configured to rest on a substantially flat surface during use, a motor that is attached to that frame, and first and second leg appendages that are pivotally attached to the frame and that are operably coupled to the motor. When the motor is operating during use of the stationary roping practice target apparatus, these leg appendages move cyclically between forward positions and rearward positions to thereby imitate the rear legs of a running animal and thereby provide a realistic roping practice target.

An apparatus and system for towing a roping dummy is provided. The roping dummy tow apparatus includes an anchor member coupled a roping dummy, and an articulating support member coupled to the anchor member. The articulating support member includes a plurality of arms coupled to one another. Each respective arm includes at least a first end and a second end, the first end having an elongated arm extension and the second having a grooved concave portion to receive the elongated arm extension. The roping dummy tow apparatus further includes one or more skis coupled to a bottom of the anchor member. The system includes the roping dummy and a vehicle to tow the roping dummy using the roping dummy tow apparatus.