Team penning, or Ranch Sorting is not only rewarding but fun. The horses have to perform with burst of speed, twisting and turning which can be stressful on both horse and rider. At many of the Ranch Rodeos in Texas because it seemed Team Penning blew many horses up different versions of Ranch Sorting have been developed. We also have more modifications for the youngsters.
No particular breed of horse is required or preferred as long as they are dependable and the cattle do not excite them. In fact, many gaited horses Team Pen. Any age can participate as long as they can stride a horse and maintain control. There is no special equipment needed for horse or rider. Of course an arena with a portable pen is a requirement for Team Penning but two pens are required in Ranch Sorting. There is also, of course a need for cattle which can be acquired from some local cattle raisers. A rancher may even “rent” out the bovine.
Some Ranch Rodeos in Texas have four members to a team. The United States Team Penning Association requirement is three. Team Penning requires however many team members times 10 for the number of head of cattle needed. For instance, if the team has three members then thirty head will be required. The cattle are numbered in 1-10 three times for the USTPA requirements. Ranch Sorting requires ten head with consecutive numbers and two extra.
Both events can basically be described as identifying, moving and penning the cattle by a team of riders much like the working cowboy does but this is also a timed event so the pace is faster. The identification is the numbering or colored ribbons that are attached to the cattle in various ways. The United States Team Penning Association does have strict requirements and regulations of all aspects of both events. Ranch Rodeos and other events may not.
A number is called out by the judge and the team sorts out the bovine with that assigned number and drives them to the pen at the other end of the arena. Ranch sorting is different. In this event the judge calls out a number and then the cattle from that number to the number ten, then back around to that number are driven in sequence across the line and penned. In both events if any other number crosses the line before all the sorting is completed then the team is penalized or disqualified. The time limit for Team Penning is 60-75 seconds. Ranch Sorting is 90, 75 or 60 seconds.
By Nancy Oliver
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August, 2010
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