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Calf Roping

Knot Rope 101: How to Set It Up

Roper in a black cowboy hat and red sponsor-covered shirt coils his rope while preparing to compete
Emma StienikeJun 5, 2025

Logan Harkey walks through how he sets up his knot ropes for calf roping.

What is a knot Rope?

First, let’s talk about a knot rope and why you should start incorporating it into your tie-down practice sessions. A knot rope is a rope with a knot that is tied into the loop itself, preventing it from closing tightly around the calf’s head. This allows you to practice tracking, catching and dallying without having to remove the rope from the calf.

Cowboy in a red sponsor-covered shirt builds a loop with his rope while standing beside a saddled horse
2025 Roping.com Shoot with Logan Harkey

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Here's How to set up a knot Rope

1

Tie the Knot

Start out by tying a knot within your loop. Logan Harkey explains that he doesn't have a set loop size when it comes to a knot rope. Instead of focusing on a specific measurement, he emphasizes the importance of making the loop large enough to come off the calf's head cleanly.

2

Add the Zip Ties

Logan Harkey uses two to three zip ties to cinch the hondo down, ensuring it's small enough that it won’t tighten on the calf’s neck during the run. This setup allows the rope to catch on the knot instead, preventing it from slipping and tightening.

3

Connect It To the Saddle Horn

Run the rope through either your keeper or a neck rope and up over the horn.

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"If you're home alone or roping by yourself, I would try and stick with a knot rope or breakaway because things happen out of our control and you want the rope to come off that calf." Logan Harkey

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This article was originally published on CalfRoping.com — Training. View original article →

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