It's here!  Now you can show your American Quarter Horses in the widely popular Ranch Sorting event!  If you have any questions about Ranch Sorting or to find a Ranch Sorting event near you, call AQHA at (806) 376-4811.

Ranch Sorting is an event with its roots in the cattle industry. “Sorting is a necessary element when cattle are handled for weaning, branding,and marketing.” This event is intended to be family friendly, and to cross all divisional barriers.

TEAMS

1) A Team will consist of 2 NFQHA horses and riders.

2) Each contestant may ride up to 2 horses.

3) Each horse may compete on 2 different teams with different riders.

4) Each team will compete in 2 - go rounds (2 runs).

SETTLING THE HERD

Move the fresh cattle into the 1st pen to the 2nd pen three times, then settle side to side and pen to pen. This will help the cattle work off both ends of the pen. Ideally the cattle are sorted from the 1st pen

to the 2nd pen, then back to the 1st pen. If facility layout and holding pen location make this impossible, or inequitable cattle may be worked from the same end for every team.

PEN

1) Recommended pen configuration is 2 50-70 foot diameter round pens with a minimum of a 12 foot “gate” connecting them. (Figure 8 with a hole in the connecting circle)

2) Gate opening must be padded on both sides.

3) Pen size and shape is flexible dependent upon facility and panel availability.

4) All competitors must work in the same pens at each event (no running 2 arenas). Each pen must be uniform in size and shape or cattle must all be worked from same pen.

5) The Start/Foul line will be at the connecting “gate”.

6) The cattle must be sorted from the pen they are in when the riders enter to the empty pen.

RULES

1) 90 second time limit with a 30 second warning called at 60 seconds.

2) The cattle will be bunched back in the center end of the sorting pen before the run begins.

3) Herd consists of 10 head clearly numbered 0-9.

4) Cattle to be changed at the end of the first go round or when sorted 10 times (each number has been the starting number for a team).

5) Cattle will be sorted in numerical order beginning with a randomly drawn cow. For example 3 is the drawn number, the cattle are to be sorted in the order of 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0,1,2.

6) Show secretary will randomly assign start cattle 0-9 without re-using any numbers. When all numbers have been used, herd change needs to be marked on the announcer’s sheet. The secretary will follow those steps until all teams in the 1st go have been assigned a number.

7) 2nd go will run in reverse order from first go, last to work will become first to work.

8) Announcer is responsible for announcing drawn cow number when team enters empty pen. If a cow is called that has already been started in that herd, it is the exhibitors discretion to call for a different start National Foundation Quarter Horse Association - 2006 Rule Amendments cow PRIOR to entering the sort pen.

9) Time begins when the first horse’s nose crosses the Start/Foul line. Official Flagger (may be a judge but does not have to be) shall drop the flag to signal beginning of time. Announcer and or scorekeeper will be the official timer. Flagger should also be the 2nd (backup) timer. Score Keeper must verify number of cattle sorted and time at the end of each run. If there is a discrepancy in times, the times shall be averaged unless due to a known malfunction (watch doesn’t start, etc.).

10) Cow is considered sorted when it completely crosses the start/foul line.

11) If any part of a sorted cow re-crosses the foul line it is a no time for the go.

12) If any part of any cow not sorted in order crosses the foul line time is stopped and only cattle sorted in order will be counted. Example: If 1-4 have been sorted and 6 crosses the foul line time is stopped and only 1-4 shall count. In the case that all cattle are sorted in the correct order before the 90 second limit, time is stopped when the tail of the last cow to be sorted crosses the foul line.

13) Placing is determined by the team sorting the most cattle in the shortest time in both goes wins. Time is the tie breaker.

14) If the sorting is all done from the same pen, the finished team shall wait for the flagger and scorekeeper to verify count and time, then move the herd back to the sorting pen for the next team.

15) The Flagger must maintain the same place outside the pen for all runs.

16) It is show management’s duty to make sure the flagger knows all the rules and is qualified to flag and make fair judgments.

17) Show manager or NFQHA carded Judge must be present at arena to make calls on cattle, abuse, and general rule violations.

18) It is the Flagger’s responsibility to make line calls.

19) It is the show manager, secretary or NFQHA carded judge’s responsibility to make sure the times and cattle counts are correct.

20) Management may grant re-runs with the same time on the clock and same number of sorted cattle in the already sorted pen if:

A) A non-sorted cow escapes the sorting pen.

B) A cow’s life or health is in jeopardy

C) A cow loses it’s number or it becomes unreadable

D) An official or mechanical error.

E) If horse or equipment contact with a cow causes equipment failure on a horse the rider may call for a stop of time to the flagger to quickly repair or replace. Show management reserves the right to determine how long competitors have to fix or replace the broken equipment. Time must be equal for all competitors at that competition. If any of the above occur, the team has the following 2 options:

A) Take the number of cattle sorted and a 90 second time.

B) Ask immediately for a re-run.

21) If staff or competitors realize a cow is injured, unworkable, or unidentifiedable, the cow will be replaced or renumbered prior to next run. All previous runs on the same herd will remain as they were recorded.

22) All cattle roughing calls shall be made by show management, flagger, or NFQHA carded judge.

ENTRIES

All entries and/or changes must be made prior to the first run of the first go, unless approved by the show secretary. It is at the show secretary’s discretion to allow late entries or changes, but must be fair and equitable for all competitors.

Breed Class continued

Failure to have proper paperwork on file with the office may result in a disqualification or removal of points earned. As this is a timed event show managers, secretaries, and scribes/ring stewards are eligible to compete. If show manager competes, an NFQHA carded judge must be designated to make final judgment calls stated in the above rules.

Two mounted contestants sort out one or two cows from a group of five, drive the cattle through a pre-set pattern, and then re-pen the cattle in another pen. Entry with the fastest time wins.

HISTORY OF THE COW CATCH EVENT©

The sport evolved as team penning clubs and producers in the southeast United States faced difficulties in acquiring cattle at reasonable prices.

Joe T. Barnett, former USTPA Vice President and team penning producer developed a formal set of rules and formed a sanctioning body.
 

Available cattle should be sorted equally in holding pens 1, 2, & 3, etc. with a maximum of 10 head per pen. Using cattle from one pen first, two second, and three third, etc., a five head count of current working cattle will be maintained at all times in the sorting pen referred to as pen A. As contestants cut cattle out of pen A, the cattle will be replaced by show management from holding pens 1, 2, & 3, etc. for use of next entry.

The two-man team will enter the arena and await announcement to start run. At announcement a contestant or contestants should proceed to the gate of sorting pen A. Time will start when one of the two man contestants opens the gate of sorting pen A. One animal will be sorted out of pen and into the arena. Gate must then be closed and latched by one of the contestants. Animal shall be hazed, driven, or controlled in required direction of travel around one or more obstacles positioned in the arena in a figure eight, or wrap around pattern.  

In cases where two animals are released from the sorting pen into the contest arena, both animals have to be controlled through the designated pattern. A four second credit will be given if two head of cattle are brought out of the sorting pen and successfully controlled through the pattern. If more than two are released, contestants are immediately disqualified.

After completion of pattern, the livestock are then driven into the sorting pen B on the opposite end of the arena. Time will stop when sorting pen B gate is shut upon completion of run. Note: Gates on both sorting pens must be closed before clock is stopped.

Cattle used out of pen 1 on first end of arena, shall be re-penned from sorting pen B into holding pen 1, etc. on opposite end of arena. This will allow for more even rotation of cattle.

This event is considered a cowboy heritage sport and western attire will be the required dress code. (The Flying M is waiving this rule for the introductory practices.)

At the producer’s discretion contestant substitutions may be made in case of injury, illness or death of family member. Any fees or winnings will be handled between contestant and substitute.

PEN

Arena will have one sorting pen and a minimum of 3 holding pens across each end of the arena. Width of sorting pen will be no less than 30 feet.

Pens on each end of arena will be identical. There will be a gate located to enter the arena from the sorting pen in a location no less that 60% of the distance from pens 1, 2, 3, etc. to the opposite end of catch pen. This pen arrangement will allow livestock being used in the contest to have ample resting time between when they are used in the contest runs.

The length of the sorting pen, the width of the gate, and the location of the gate will add or lessen difficulty in competition. In arenas that are large enough to accommodate identical pens on each end of the arena, as in pattern one, the game can run continuous starting from either end of the arena. In this case, location of obstacles (round bale of hay, caution cone, etc.) will be located with equal distances on each side. This will allow equal opportunity from either end of the arena.

This is one of three patterns used in the sport. What changes between patterns  is actually the configuration of pens. The 'route' of the cattle remains the same.  The Flying M's pen layout may vary from what's shown above.