Cattle Penning is
similar to Team Penning, apart from the fact that only one rider (instead to
one team) works and pens one head of cattle ( instead of 3).
The time limit is 60
seconds ( 1 minute) for all Open classes. For the Amateur and Youth classes it
is 90 seconds.
Within this time limit, the rider shall cut out and pen one head of cattle,
identified by its number or its colour of neck band.
The contestant that
achieves the fastest time wins.
The rider shall be given
a 30 seconds warning before the time limit is reached.
If the contestant has
not been forewarned, he/she can ask for a rerun. It will be performed straight
away.
All cattle will be
bunched on the herd side of the foul line, within the designated area before
the time begins. The flagman will raise the flag to signal when the arena is
ready. The contestant will be provided with the number or neck colour of
his/her assigned head of cattle when the flagman drops his flag, at the very
moment the nose of the horse crosses the foul line.
The rider is considered
engaged in the competition as soon as he/she has entered the arena. Any delay
will be subject for disqualification.
When the rider has
started to charge, he/she is responsible for the cattle. It is of the responsibility
of the contestant, before he/she works the cattle (“committing to the cattle”)
to notify to the judge any observed as injured or unfit animal. When the work
is performed, no excuse is acceptable. If an animal leaves the arena by leaping
over or crossing through the fences, either the contestant can be judged for
unnecessary roughness to the cattle, or either be entitled to rework a cow at
the judges’ discretion. If a new rerun is ordered, it shall take place after
all the other contestants. If there is no fresh head of cattle for the new
reruns the cows shall be selected by the event producer and the judge. If one
rerun should take place after that all the contestants have run. If there is no
fresh cattle for the reruns the cattle will be selected by the event producer
and the judge. If more than one rerun has been judged, they will be performed
in the order of occurrence. If the cattle has to be reused and fresh heads are
necessary, the reused cattle shall be mingled with the fresh ones, renumbered or
neck colours changed. All shall be done in order that each rider see
himself/herself allowed to work the same number of fresh and reused quantity of
animals.
The clock is stopped
when the nose of the horse enters the pen and that the rider raises his hand
and calls for time. At this moment the horse is not allowed to penetrate
further into the pen than to the level of the stirrups. If the horse enters up
to his rear legs, the contestant will be judged no-time.
A 10 seconds penalty will be given for
each non assigned animal that is not on the herd side of the foul line.
If 5 head of cattle or
more, are across the foul line (on the pen side) at the same time, the rider
will be judged no-time.
If a contestant calls
for time with a wrong numbered / neck coloured animal or with more than one cow
in the pen, he/she will be judged a “no-time”.
In a competition with multiple go
rounds, a rider that has penned his/her cow in each run, will place higher than
one contestant that has only penned once, regardless of achieved time. In a competition with multiple go rounds, the accumulated time will determine
the rating.
Any contact with the
cow, with the hands, hat, ropes, bats , romal or any other equipment, will
result in a disqualification. A rider showing unnecessary roughness will be
judged “no-time”. Hazing with a whip, a hat or a rope is not allowed. Romals or
reins may be popped on the chaps
A contestant can be disqualified for
any action, the judge considers to be unnecessary roughness to the cattle or
horse or for an unsportsmanlike behaviour.
A fall of the horse or /and the rider
is not eliminatory however any attempt to work the cattle on foot will
automatically result in a disqualification. The time cannot be called as long
the rider is not on the horseback.
In case of an equal result, each rider
will have to pen a given animal. The fastest wins.
For any reason a rider
does not participate after that his/her running order has been drawn, the
assigned cow will be drawn in the order it was foreseen. This number or neck
colour will not be used to avoid the change in the order of runs for the other
contestants.
The number tags shall
at least measure 15,5 cmin height and the neck colours at least 15,5 cm large. The number tags shall be applied
on the two flanks of the animal, the upper side in the middle of the back
between the shoulder and the hip. The numbers or neck colours and the order of
runs will be drawn by the judge and the event producer before the beginning of
the competition.
The optimal quantity of
heads for each herd is 20. Still the herd can count up to, maximum 25 head of
cattle. The minimum compulsory is 15 heads, even if there is less than 7
contestants. All the cattle in the herd shall wear a number or neck colour.
The quantity of cows in
respective herd in one go-round shall be constant.
There shall be 2
flagmen, one flagger at the entry to the pen and one stationed on the foul
line. The judge must be on the foul line and may handle the flag himself. At
least 2 persons will take the time The first timer will give the official time,
the second will assist as deputy, if the first timer makes an error or the
clock gets out of order. The foul line is indicated with clear guide marks on
the flank of the arena, easily visible for the judge and the contestants.
If the rider looses
his/her hat, 5 seconds penalty will be added to the final time.
Equipment: Is allowed
all usual equipment in western riding i.e. Bosal Bridle meroth style, snafle bit
etc…, with which the rider holds the reins with one hand. There are no
obligation regarding the bit for horses which are 6 years old and more. In the
Youth class, only snaffle bit are allowed. Helmet is compulsory with the young
riders. An exemption is possible with the written and signed consent from the
parents or legal guardian. The final decision concerning the equipment comes to
the Judges’ discretion.
It is not allowed to
talk to the judge during the sport event. In case this is not respected the
judge may exclude the persons from the event or disqualify the rider.