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Ranch sorting

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Ranch Sorting is performed in two pens that are fifty feet long with a twelve foot opening between them.[1] At the beginning, there are eleven calves at the end of one of the pens with numbers on their sides for identification.[1] The judge raises the flag and when the riders cross the gap between the two pens the clock starts and the competition begins.[1] Two horsemen practice the western equestrian sport of Ranch Sorting at the Play Pen Arena in Ponca City, Oklahoma on October 11, 2008. Photo: Hugh Pickens.
The team of two riders have to move the cattle one at a time from one pen to the other in numerical order, starting with a random number that the judge yells out.[1] Generally one of the horsemen will guard the gate allowing only the correct calf to go through the gate while the other hoseman herds the cattle. Photo: Hugh Pickens.
Once the correctly numbered calf goes through the gate the team moves on to the next calf. The fastest time to get the eleven calves from one pen to the other wins.[1] Photo: Hugh Pickens.

Ranch Sorting is a western equestrian sport that evolved from the common ranch work of separating cattle into pens for branding, doctoring, or transport.

Ranch Sorting is a fast-paced and exciting event that pits a team of two riders on horseback against the clock.[2] Teamwork is the key with both riders working in harmony to cut out the correct cattle and drive them to the pen while keeping the wrong numbered cattle back.[2] There are several variations of ranch sorting with one, two or three riders on the team but all require sorting the cattle from one pen to the other in the correct order.[2]

Pens

Ranch Sorting is performed in two pens that are fifty to sixty feet long[3] with a twelve to sixteen foot opening[3] between the pens.[1] The corners of the pens are cut at 45 degrees.[3] Both pens are the same size and sorting can place place from either pen to the other.[3]

Rules

At the beginning, there are eleven calves at the end of one of the pens with numbers on their sides for identification.[1] The judge raises the flag and when the riders cross the gap between the two pens the clock starts and the competition begins.[1] The team of two riders have to move the cattle one at a time from one pen to the other in numerical order, starting with a random number that the judge yells out.[1] The fastest time to get the eleven calves from one pen to the other wins.[1] If a calf gets from one pen to the other out of order, then the trial is disqualified.[1]

Levels

Ranch Sorting contestants are rated from a #1 (Beginner) to a #9 (professional) based on their ability level.[3] Classifications of #1 are Beginners, #2 are Rookies, #3 and #4 are for participants of Novice ability, classifications of #5 and #6 for amateur participants and classifications of #7, #8 and #9 are for Open or Professional participants.[3]

Sport Regulation

The sport of Ranch Sorting (and its sister discipline, Team Penning), is regulated by the United States Team Penning Association (USTPA), headquartered in Ft. Worth, Texas.[4] The USPA was founded in 1993 in Fort Worth with the purpose of attracting more participants and educating them to the sports of Team Penning and Ranch Sorting.[4]

  • Team Penning - A similar sport except that a team of three riders on horseback have from 60 to 75 seconds (depending on the class or the sanctioning of the event) to separate three same-numbered cattle from a herd of 30.
  • Cutting (sport) - A sport where a horse and rider are judged on their ability to separate a calf away from a cattle herd and keep it away for a short period of time.
  • Campdrafting - A sport where a rider on horseback must "cut out" one beast from the mob of cattle in the yard or "camp" and block and turn that beast at least two or three times to prove to the judge that they have the beast under control.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Ponca City, We Love You. "Ranch Sorting at the Play Pen Arena" October 11, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c Play Pen Arena. "What is Ranch Sorting?"
  3. ^ a b c d e f Ranch Sorting National Championship Rules. 2008.
  4. ^ a b United States Team Penning Association. "Setting the Standard"
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