What is Team Penning?
Team Penning evolved from the common ranch work of separating cattle and herding them into pens for branding, transport, etcetera…
Today, it is a fast-paced event that gives a team of three riders 90 seconds to cut out and pen three cows from a herd of 20 or more. The cattle wear either coloured collars, numbers or no collar, with each set of three cows being identified by this.
Contestants will be given a colour or number of collar (or blank) by the flagman as the nose of the first horse crosses the starting line. The cattle are grouped at the opposite end of the arena to the pen and the contestants must attempt to cut out and pen the designated cattle.
Once the designated cattle are penned, one contestant must ride into the pen, to the horse's shoulder only (or disqualification may result), and raise their hand.
The judges will give a warning signal at 60 seconds to let the contestants know that they have 30 seconds left. If a contestant doesn’t raise their hand before the 90 second limit is up, the time keepers or judge will call time and no score will be recorded.
No more than 5 head of cattle can be over the centre line at any time; otherwise the team will be disqualified. A team calling for time with any wrong numbered cattle in the pen will be judged no time.
If a team calls for time with only one or two of their cattle in the pen, the remainder of their designated cattle DO NOT have to be on the cattle side of the starting line.
Undesignated (trash) cows must be on the cattle side of the arena prior to rider calling time.
A team may call for time with only one or two assigned cattle being penned. However, teams penning three head of cattle place higher than two, and two higher than one, regardless of time.
Contact with cattle by horse, hands, hats, ropes, bats or any other equipment is a disqualification.
A team will be disqualified by the judge for any action he feels to be unnecessary roughness to the cattle or horses, or unsportsmanlike conduct.
Fall of horse and/or rider shall not eliminate the entry; however, any attempt by a dismounted rider to work cattle before remounting will result in an automatic disqualification.
Facing your back to the cows (tail turns) may result in disqualification.
Events are held in Youth, Class 6, Class 9, Class 11 and Open or at the judge’s discretion.
All Contestants are given a rating of - 1 (lowest) to 6 (highest).
Total of the rating numbers of the three riders must not exceed the class number.
Example: A number 6 rated rider may ride with a number 3 rated rider and a number 2 rated rider in Class 11.
*Dress Code:
Collared shirt, jeans/riding pants, approved riding boots (NOT work boots), hat/helmet (under 18's must wear a helmet)*
Click here for Team Penning dates
Click here for Membership form
Today, it is a fast-paced event that gives a team of three riders 90 seconds to cut out and pen three cows from a herd of 20 or more. The cattle wear either coloured collars, numbers or no collar, with each set of three cows being identified by this.
Contestants will be given a colour or number of collar (or blank) by the flagman as the nose of the first horse crosses the starting line. The cattle are grouped at the opposite end of the arena to the pen and the contestants must attempt to cut out and pen the designated cattle.
Once the designated cattle are penned, one contestant must ride into the pen, to the horse's shoulder only (or disqualification may result), and raise their hand.
The judges will give a warning signal at 60 seconds to let the contestants know that they have 30 seconds left. If a contestant doesn’t raise their hand before the 90 second limit is up, the time keepers or judge will call time and no score will be recorded.
No more than 5 head of cattle can be over the centre line at any time; otherwise the team will be disqualified. A team calling for time with any wrong numbered cattle in the pen will be judged no time.
If a team calls for time with only one or two of their cattle in the pen, the remainder of their designated cattle DO NOT have to be on the cattle side of the starting line.
Undesignated (trash) cows must be on the cattle side of the arena prior to rider calling time.
A team may call for time with only one or two assigned cattle being penned. However, teams penning three head of cattle place higher than two, and two higher than one, regardless of time.
Contact with cattle by horse, hands, hats, ropes, bats or any other equipment is a disqualification.
A team will be disqualified by the judge for any action he feels to be unnecessary roughness to the cattle or horses, or unsportsmanlike conduct.
Fall of horse and/or rider shall not eliminate the entry; however, any attempt by a dismounted rider to work cattle before remounting will result in an automatic disqualification.
Facing your back to the cows (tail turns) may result in disqualification.
Events are held in Youth, Class 6, Class 9, Class 11 and Open or at the judge’s discretion.
All Contestants are given a rating of - 1 (lowest) to 6 (highest).
Total of the rating numbers of the three riders must not exceed the class number.
Example: A number 6 rated rider may ride with a number 3 rated rider and a number 2 rated rider in Class 11.
*Dress Code:
Collared shirt, jeans/riding pants, approved riding boots (NOT work boots), hat/helmet (under 18's must wear a helmet)*
Click here for Team Penning dates
Click here for Membership form
First Photo of MID NORTH COAST Team Penning Event!
