In the world of cattle ranching, a lariat is a length of braided leather rope used to wrangle or capture livestock, generally by forming a loop and snaring the animal's legs or head. A typical lariat used by working cowboys on a cattle ranch would be between 40 to 50 feet (12.2 to 15.2 m) in total length, and would have a metal eyelet or braided loop on one end in order for the user to create a slip knot or sliding noose. A lariat is often used in rodeo competitions to snare sheep or young cattle released from special pens into a ring.
The word lariat is actually an American corruption of the Spanish la reata, meaning "the rope." American cowboys misinterpreted the original Spanish phrase, converting it to the singular lariata and finally to lariat. Although the words lariat and lasso can be used interchangeably to describe a coiled rope, lariat is generally considered a noun and lasso is used as a verb. A cowboy would not use a lasso to secure his horse; he would use a lariat to lasso the animal.
A traditional lariat is carefully braided from long thin strips of conditioned leather through a labor intensive process. A lariat maker skillfully attaches new sections of leather to the rope until it reaches the desired length. A ranch hand or cowboy coils the rope and attaches it to the saddle on his dominant throwing side. In order to snare an errant animal, the cowboy forms a large loop of rope and throws it just ahead of the target's forelegs. The animal should step into the loop and become entangled as the slip knot or noose tightens.
A lariat can also be used for various rope tricks, such as a spinning loop which travels the length of the cowboy's body. A skilled lariat handler can also jump through a large loop of spinning rope or snare small moving targets from a distance or on horseback. Some performers can use a traditional lariat for stunt work, but others use specially modified lariats for their routines.
There is also a style of jewelry known as a lariat necklace. A lariat necklace is a long length of chain worn loosely around the neck or closed with a special clasp that creates a bolo tie or lasso loop appearance. The two ends of a lariat necklace are designed to hang freely from the wearer's neck, much like a lariat's loop.
