Here's A Roping "Dummy" You Can Run By Yourself

Here s A Roping Dummy You Can Run By Yourself FARM HOME recreation For fun the Unruh family of Cimarron Kan enjoys practicing roping with a “robot” steer The problem is that most roping machines require a second person to run controls and that’s not always easy to arrange The only unit on the market that didn’t require a second person was a robotic steer named “Buford” “He’s the only dummy on the market you can rope by yourself ” says Deanne Unruh When she and her husband Bobby decided to buy one they discovered the business was no longer active So on August 1 2011 the Unruhs along with Bobby’s parents purchased the defunct business Buford has been around a couple decades or more Unruh says and has gone through a few upgrades Today Buford is an all-electric variable-speed heading and heeling machine with head and heel sensors that automatically shut off Buford so you can take the rope off and get your horse ready to go again He works well for anyone that needs to work a young horse eliminate bad habits of an older horse or for anyone who ropes just for fun like the Unruhs who installed lights so they can rope in the evening after work They’ve sold to a variety of people across North America and overseas “Most every customer says ‘We have a sled but my wife is tired of driving the four wheeler’ ” Unruh notes Many are retired and want it for themselves or their grandkids Because of the variable speed it fits everyone’s skill level It’s simple to hook up to 20-amp service and the heavy-duty steel frame on a center pivot only requires a 65 by 65-ft area Cost for the stationary model is $4 500 including shipping The Unruhs also sell Jakesteer a plastic dummy “Instead of carrying hay it’s a plastic body with three sets of horn ” Unruh says “It’s easy to carry around We take it camping When we get bored we get out the dummy and rope ” It sells for $325 plus $50 shipping Dealer inquiries are welcome Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Rope-O-Matic P O Box 516 Cimarron Kan 67835 ph 800 828-3895; www rope-o-matic com

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