ONE TOO MANY

It was the “zsssssssssssssp” heard—and seen—around the Western world.

Everything was set up in 2019 for Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira to win back-to-back $100,000-per-man titles on live television at RFD-TV’s The American. It would have been Driggers’ record fourth win. The duo led the pack into the final-eight round, where they roped last. Nogueira caught both heels deep with his favorite Powerline Lite in an insanely fast, 3-second run that would have won the round. But no. His beautiful heel shot snagged his horse’s front foot, too. The perfect loop—and potential $200,000—fed completely out. No time.

We canvassed top heelers to find out why this happens and how you can prevent it.

Nogueira, the 2016 All-Around World Champion, is quick to say the pricey mishap two years ago wasn’t his horse’s fault.

“I threw too fast,” he said. “That steer was running down the arena hard and my horse thought I would track him longer. I ended up throwing too fast and it