Lassoing Demonstration

I went for a very pleasant woodland ride with my chum Ariel yesterday.  I haven't seen much of him lately because he has been away a lot learning how to wear ropes. 

As far as we can tell, the purpose of these ropes is to be unravelled into a long length so that Ariel can stand on the pavement while his rider goes into the local store to buy newspapers and chocolate.

Ariel arrived resplendent in a new western saddle with extra ropes attached.  He had been away on a Western weekend learning how you might rope calves, etc.  We were just moseying along in the woods when Ariel's rider decided to give us a lassoing demonstration.  We stood with bated breath anticipating the zing as the rope cuts the air and flies to capture some remote object.  Actually, it fluttered for a few seconds and then flopped to the ground in front of us.  As Ariel moved forward for the retry, the noose caught fast on a tree stump and tightened up so much that it took a lot of manoeuvring to release it. 
She enjoyed this demonstration hugely.