In the movies you've often seen cowboys lasso steers and wild horses. Their lassos have a loop at one end. The South American gauchos use a bola, a thong or cord which has balls of stone or iron attached to one end instead of a loop.

Handling a lasso correctly is a lot of fun. To make one, first get a rope about 3/8 of an inch thick and 25 feet long. Make an eyelet or noose at one end. This loop should not have a diameter of more than 11/2 inches. Fasten the loop with wire. To reinforce the loop itself, use either leather or another piece of wire.

The Basic Position
At the beginning, practice in a level, not too grassy clearing. Hold the lasso in the basic position, using the first two fingers of both hands to grasp the circle you have made. The palm of your left hand should face your body, while the palm of your right hand faces outward. Hold your hands about 24 inches apart. With a quick swing, throw the sling into a horizontal position, and then start the circling. The Top is called the top. When you twirl the end of the rope, the loop should turn in a full circle. Be sure to turn the rope in a counterclockwise direction. Start the circling by moving your hand a few times in a circle which corresponds to that of the loop. Then, reduce the circling of your hand as much as possible to allow you to turn the rope that much faster.

The Hoop
Lay the loop out on the ground in a circle with a diameter of about 5 feet. Now start to turn, changing the rope from one hand to the other in front of you and behind you. You have to practice changing hands this way, but it is not too difficult to get the loop circling easily and regularly. This switching of hands results in the loop encircling you. When you are in the center and the loop is going around fast enough, suddenly raise the hand holding the rope and bring it above your head. Using only this hand, turn the rope faster than before. While the loop is swinging around, you will be able to bend down, kneel, and get into various other positions. Jumping into the Lasso

Here's a lasso stunt that calls for some practice. Make the top forming a large loop. Then jump into the loop and at the same time bring your hand with the rope over your head.