PHOTOS COURTESY OF LONE WOLF PHOTOGRAPHY
The Southwest’s source for rodeo, roping & barrel racing news and information
ll-Around
July 2010 Volume 16 • Number 7 $2.00
Open - Derrick J. Begay (Seba Dal Kai, AZ) / Cesar DeLaCruz (Marana, AZ), 37.72 on 5, $3,500
Red Rock Classic Story and pictures courtesy of SuperLooper Magazine
T
he first thing you notice about Bahe Henio is a quiet humble heart. The Native American heeler from Pinehill, New Mexico is proud and sure of his upbringing and falls back repeatedly on the teaching of his parents. Roping is his life and he is very good at it. His style is unique to say the least and yet in his humble heart beats the pulse of a champion. Having to regroup after being laid off of his job Henio hoped the Red Rock Classic in Gallup, New Mexico the weekend of June 4 through 6 would help pad his bank account in the coming months. “It was a good roping,” Henio responded. “The steers were good at Gallup. I try to rope as much as I can since I got laid off my job and Gallup was a good place to rope.” Henio and partner, Jerome Sangster, won the Average in the #11 with a time of
32.23 seconds on four steers. Henio also won a trophy Cowboy Gold saddle for his efforts. It was his second USTRC saddle. No doubt, his efforts in the practice pen paid off. He placed in the #12 roping as well as having the overall fast time in the Gold Plus. However, what few people realize is that the roping pen for Henio and his family is not the traditional roping pen that most ropers experience and have access to. You see, Henio does his practicing on goats. “My practice pen is roping my grandmother’s goats,” Henio laughed. “Goats have different ways of moving that copy steers. You may have a goat that hops, one that drags and the similarity to steers is amazing.” Henio also pointed out that goats are fast and athletic and help you with your timing. Henio, who grew up and works on a ranch, rides his horses everyday and horsemanship is extremely important to him. Perhaps it is his Native American upbringing but the trust and faith he has in his horse is unbelievable and much to be admired. “I see ropers all the time frustrated and taking it out on their horses,” he commented. “It wasn’t the horse who missed the steer.” A roper since he could hold a rope at a very young age, Henio
prides himself with his ability to not only rope but train horses as well. “My horses are not the well bred, papered horses that most ropers ride,” he explained. “Most of my horses came off the reservation and I have spent time with them training them and riding and using them. I have a little horse that I have won a lot of money on and he is small and very good. People ask me if the horse has papers and I tell them no he came from the reservation. The good thing is he always puts me where I need to be to take my best shot. The horse gives me that shot each time.” Henio feels horsemanship is essential in not only team roping but in his day to day activities and work on the ranch. He works to build a trust and relationship with his horses. His love for the animals is very evident when he talks about the importance of the horse in the sport. “I keep my horses in shape and I take care of them,” he responds in a quiet deliberate manner. “As ropers, without them, we would be nothing. They should be fed and taken care of.” After his win at the Red Rock Classic Henio reflected on the advice he might offer to other Native American ropers who would like to be as successful. He pointed out others in his culture do look up to ropers continued on page 2
#15 - Larry Cohorn (Las Cruces, NM) / Bobby Baize (Anthony, NM), 29.91 on 4, $4,450, National Shoot-Outs worth $3,000 in USTRC Flex Earnings each