AS SEEN ON
The Wild West Arts
Besides Being a showman, Loop Rawlins has been recognizeD as one of the most technical & smoothest western performers in the world. Loop Rawlins has been inspired and trained by the best in the business.
Loop Rawlins' Wild West Arts reel created by Paolo A. Santos. This video was made to display the magnificence of the Wild West Arts.
History
THE ART OF TRICK ROPING
Roping originated with the raising of cattle & livestock man's oldest occupation. Before the cowboys could get their hands on ropes, it is documented that in 480 B.C. the Sargatians, men in the ancient Persian calvary, were expert ropers. In war they would encircle their opponent pulling them off their horse. We apologize that Loop does not demonstrate this in his show. ​​
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When spain colonized to America they taught the settlers how to rope. But the first account of Trick Rope Spinning was in a book written in the early 1800's on Ranch life in Mexico. The book stated, 'that in the hands of certain vaqueros (cowboys) the rope could be made to do strange and wondrous things'. Maybe that is why Loop Rawlins was so fascinated when he saw rope spinning for the first time. In photos from the 1880's you can see performers in Buffalo Bill's Wild West spinning ropes. Trick Roping transformed into an entertaining art that is challenging and visually stunning.
THE ART OF GUN SPINNING
Gun spinning doesn't date back as far as Ropes or Whips but it does come directly from the Wild West. When the Colt Peacmaker was Created by Samuel L Colt it was revolutionary. It was the gun that 'Won the West' and was the firearm that many cowboys heroes, legends, and villains used.
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The fact that the gun was so well balanced and the trigger guard was so smooth it is safe to say a cowboy probably spun his gun. But gun spinning became popular in Western movies where a cowboy would be in a gunfight and after he would spin his pistol back into his holster. One of the most popular scenes of gun spinning is from the movie Tombstone with Johnny Ringo in the Saloon. Gunplay began to evolve into a competitive art form. Loop was inspired by World Champion Gun spinner Joey Dillon, who modernized & revolutionized the gun spinning style.
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(Seen Left) Armed Arizona Cowboys 1885-95.
THE ART OF WHIP CRACKING
Whips have been around in one form or another for as long as recorded history. Look at some reproductions of hieroglyphics and you’ll see that many depictions of rulers show them with their arms crossed across their chests holding in one hand a staff or religious symbol and in the other a whip. Not the kind of whip we know today as the Bullwhip. Bullwhips were used for herding cattle.
When a whip cracks the end of the whip called the cracker travels around 750-900 mph. Breaking the speed of sound (a sonic boom). Cowboys used the sound of the whip to move cattle. Later whip cracking transformed into an art form with different tricks and techniques. And to this day they hold championships in whip cracking. Loop Rawlins Won the Single whip routine World Champion for Style & Technique Competition at the WWAC contest.