Miniaturized steer roping practice apparatus

A miniaturized steer roping practice apparatus having a forward direction and a rearward direction, the apparatus comprising:

• a mobile base comprising a frame having a front and a rear, an axle rotatably mounted on the frame to rotate about a rotation axis in a forward rotational direction associated with forward movement of the frame and a rearward rotational direction associated with rearward movement of the frame, and a pair of drive wheels mounted on the axle;
• a pair of legs pivotable with respect to the base;
• a leg actuation assembly configured to move the at least one leg in conjunction with rotation of the at least one drive wheel in the forward rotation direction;
• a cover mounted on the mobile base and having an exterior surface with a resemblance to a steer;
• and
• a motivating assembly configured to drive the axle in the forward rotational direction using stored energy, the motivating assembly being configured to store energy by rotation of the axle in the rearward rotational direction, the motivating assembly comprising:
• a spool mounted on the axle;
• a clutch structure mounting the spool on the axle to permit selective rotation of the spool with respect to the axle;
• and
• a tension structure configured to rotate the spool to rotate the axle, the tension structure comprising:
• a tension member connected to the spool to apply a rotational force to the spool, the tension member comprising a flexible member having a first end and a second end and a length between the ends, at least a portion of the length being wrappable about the spool, the first end being attached to the spool, the second end being mounted on the frame;
• a tension arm mounted on the frame to pivot between a tension position and a release position and engaging a portion of the tension member;
• and
• a biasing member configured to apply a biasing force to the tension arm, the biasing member being attached to the tension arm and to the frame to urge the tension arm toward the release position.