Custom Bull Ropes

The formula for the long lived success of my Bull Riding Ropes hinges on dedication to quality and a total of forty two years of studying and perfecting the braiding and lacing techniques best suited to the function of a bull rope. I have first hand experienced and participated in the evolvement of the bull rope from the old " all grass ropes with no leather lacing " to the more sophisticated ropes of today. From the first rope I ever felt was worth selling, my policy has been to make the best rope I can every time and to guarantee the riders satisfaction. Whether you are making your living riding bulls or just starting out, your rope will be made with the attention to detail that is necessary and deserved.

I have never and will never offer varying " grades " of ropes because I do not feel that there is a place for any piece of equipment other than ' Top Of The Line ' in a sport as serious as bull riding. I make only Professional Quality Bull Ropes. The 5/8" polypropylene rope I use is custom spun to my specifications and my lace leather comes from my long time friends at Tennessee Tanning ( a division of Rawlings Sporting Goods ). The below NOTES will give you a pretty good idea of the many options available. I am always open to suggestions which are within the bounds of reason, and I will be glad to duplicate your favorite old rope. Though an order may sometimes be completed through emails, it is better if you call so we can go over every detail carefully. Bear in mind that the answering machine is often my lifeline to business, so please leave a message and I will return your call promptly. In closing this introduction, I want to thank Dwayne Hare, Rankin Lindsey, Sunny and Lisa Williams, and Henry Nakai for making it possible for me to include some contemporary action pix to help illustrate the span of years my ropes have been out there.

Henry Forbes
729 El Centauro
El Paso, Texas 79922
(915) 584-4584
Email: forbesropes@aol.com

OPTIONS
* Every rope listed is available with the following options *
Handhold: 9 Plait or 7 Plait. In widths of 5/8", 11/16", 3/4", 13/16", 7/8", 15/16", and 1". In Full Lace, Half Full/Half Skip Lace, 3/4 Full/1/4 Skip Lace, 3/4 Lace, 1/2 Lace, and All Skip Lace. Lacing may be the normal slightly rounded or flat. Risers in 1 inch, 1-1/2 inch, 2 inch, 2-1/2 inch, and 2-3/4 inch. Handhold base lengths from 6 inches to 14 inches.

Tails: 5, 7, or 9 Plait. In widths from 3/4 inch to 2+ inches. In Tight, Soft, Extra Soft, and X Extra Soft.

LOOPS and TAILS can be the exact lengths you choose, but the 7 foot Body and 8 foot Tail is a good choice to fit bulls of various sizes without getting under or over gunned. Please Note: I am a stickler on making good, straight loops!

NOTES ON OFFSET HANDHOLDS
The concept of the Offset Handhold is nothing new. The first one I ever made was in 1974, and I was not the only braider who had requests for them that far back. We began to perfect our version of this style bull rope in 2001 and they quickly became popular with riders of all levels. We offer both a 1 inch and 2 inch offset - the differences are subtle and they are about equal in popularity. Though they are certainly not for everyone, the offsets continue to gain in popularity - not only with riders experiencing wrist and arm problems, but with many riders who simply like the more natural positioning of their arm that the Offset allows.

NOTES ON BRAZILIAN STYLE ROPES
Like the Offsets, the Brazilian style rope is not for everyone, but there are many riders who like the way these ropes pull from the opposite side of their riding hand; feeling that this helps to better "pack" them to their hand and more to the center of the bull. There is also some contention that there are less hang-ups with the Brazilian style rope.

NOTES ON CONVENTIONAL STYLE ROPES
The block on our Conventional American Bull Rope is 2-1/2 inches wide by 3-1/2 inches long. This block is literally double laced, is extremely stiff, and lays good and flat with no tipping or rolling. The base (bull's side) of the handhold is approximately 1-6/8 inches wide to compliment the block and add stability to the rope - this is critical to the function of your rope.

ROUNDED HANDHOLDS
The Rounded Handhold is not a new concept, but has been increasing in popularity over the past few years. This handhold is constructed so that the "Palm/Underside" is rounded the same as the "Finger/Topside". It can be made in Full Lace, 3/4 Lace, 1/2 Full Lace 1/2 Skip Lace, 3/4 Full Lace 1/4 Skip Lace, 3/4 Lace, or Half Lace. Because of its construction, the rounded handhold cannot be made in All Skip Lace.

THE PATRICK PAD
The PATRICK PAD is simply a built-in Knuckle Pad which is best suited to the OFFSET ROPES. The cost is $8.00 on a 1" or 2" OFFSET rope. $15.00 on a CONVENTIONAL or BRAZILIAN style rope.

ROPES IN STOCK
By making one extra rope every few weeks, I have been able to put together a few ropes to have on hand for those of you who find yourself in a hurry for a rope. I will strive to keep this up and have from four to six ropes on hand on a monthly basis.
These will be CONVENTIONAL AMERICAN STYLE ROPES in 9x5 AND 9x7 (the most popular combinations nationwide) with a variety of handhold lacings and widths and a variety of tail widths braided SOFT. So, if you are in a hurry for a rope, it is worth calling to see if I might have something that will work for you.

PRICES
Conventional Bull Rope Brazilian Style Bull Rope 2" Offset 1" Offset Brazilian 2" Offset Brazilian 1" Offset	$225.00 $250.00 $290.00 $290.00 $290.00 $290.00
Extras
Stitched Loop Extra Slider Knots Leather Wear Strip Rounded Handhold	No Charge No Charge $25.00 $15.00

TERMS
* Prepayment in Full, or 50% deposit and balance due at shipping time
* Check, Money Order, or Cashier's Check
* No C.O.D
* Make checks payable to: Henry Forbes
* I pay shipping within the U.S.
* Quotes for out of the country