When Paula Cordova of Santa Fe says goodbye to her husband, Lawrence Cordova, before he goes off to compete in a roping competition, she gets a feeling he's going to win.

"I don't tell him, but I do," Paula Cordova said with a laugh.

Her feeling didn't fail her on the weekend of Aug. 19-22 when Lawrence Cordova and his partner, Fernando Gonzales of Questa, headed off to compete in the United States Team Roping Southwest Regional Championship Finals at Tingly Coliseum in Albuquerque. The team won $10,000 and custom Martin trophy saddles.

Cordova and Gonzales were the winners of the No. 9 Shoot-Out division. They defeated 115 teams as they roped four steers in 43.05 seconds.

According to a news release from the United States Roping Team Championships, in team roping each team consists of two people — a "header" (who catches the steer with a rope around the horns) and a "heeler" (who then ropes the steer with a rope around both hind legs). The event is timed and the clock stops once each team member has completed his or her job and their horses are facing each other.

The release likened the sport to that of golf, where athletes have a handicap or are classified based on their skill level. In roping, the classifications are from No. 1 to No. 10, depending on their ability, with 10 being the highest.

Lawrence Cordova, 41, who works for the state Department of Transportation, said roping his hobby. He is the header of his team.

He got involved with the sport 15 years ago when he would work with his grandfather and his horses in Tierra Amarilla.

"I just enjoyed the horses," Lawrence Cordova said.

He started competing with Gonzales in June, and the pair practice separately and then come together for competitions.

"He's a good heeler," Lawrence Cordova said.

He tries to compete as often as possible, or as often as he has the funds to pay the entry fee. It's riding the horses that keeps him hooked.

Paula Cordova said her three daughters, ages 5, 9 and 11, have all been around horses most of their lives. Lawrence Cordova said he enjoys showing them how to ride.

"All three of my girls were on horses when
they were about 2 months old with him," she explained. "They love it. They love spending time with him."

Lawrence Cordova said before each competition, he likes to pump himself up with some country music — especially George Strait.

The couple doesn't have any plans for the prize money, yet. Maybe, Lawrence Cordova said, he might use some of it for another competition.