Official rules sanctioned by Western Evasion a.t.p.i. based on the official rule book from USTPA, United States Penning Association, Ft Worth Texas. The additional points from n° 20 are inspired from the Team and Cattle Penning rules sanctioned by Western a.t.p.i. , in order to give further details in terms of security and how the competitions are run. The event producer and the judge may allow the possibility to bring necessary precisions or changes to the rules if required.

1. The basic concept of Ranch Sorting is to have ten numbered head of cattle, 0-9, and two unnumbered cattle which makes up to a herd of 12 heads in total. At the beginning of a run the herd is behind the foul line with the team mounted on the other side.
2. Ranch Sorting may be either 2-man or 3-man, following the event producer’s decision.
3. Ranch Sorting will take place between two pens of approximately equal size. The event producer's and the judge’s option of working cattle back and forth or only one way.
4. If cattle are to be worked back and forth then they need to be moved to the opposite pen and back before each new herd entering the arena is worked.
5. All cattle must be identified ( except for two) with Western a.t.p.i. approved number tags and applied on the two flanks of the animal, the upper side in the middle of the back between the shoulder and the hip. Neck collars are not acceptable.
6. Recommend sorting area to be 15-20 meters in diameter with no 90 degree corners, i.e. round pen or octagonal form structure.
7. The recommended start/foul line will be a 3 meters to 5,3 meters opening between the two pens. Having mentioned this, the opening is to be decided by judge and the event producer, before the beginning of the competition.
8. There will be either a 90, 75, or 60 seconds clock for each class, at the option of the event producer, before the beginning of the competition.
9. For all Ranch Sorting event it is compulsory to use an electronic display clock. The event producer and the judge may decide to replace the electronic display clock with 2 persons at least that will take the time. The first timer will give the official time, the second will assist as deputy, if the first clock gets out of order.
10. Time will continue until all cattle are sorted or the official time limit has been reached.
11. All cattle will be bunched on the cattle side of the gate within the designated area before the time begins. Judges will designate the need to bunch cattle.
12. The judge will raise the flag to signal when the arena is ready. The flag will drop when the nose of the first horse crosses the start/foul line and the speaker will provide the number to be sorted first. The riders will be given their number instantly. Any delay in crossing the foul line may result in a “no-time” for the team.
13. The cows are sorted in order; if a numbered cow or a blank cow crosses the foul line prior to its correct order, the clock will be stopped when the nose of the “wrong” cow crosses the line. If an already sorted cow re-crosses the foul line, the team will be judged no-time.
14. The order of sorting is determined by the Speaker who picks up a random number. The cow wearing that number must be sorted first; for instance if 5 is drawn, cow number 5 is sorted first, then the cow number 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, 1 and so on.
15. A cow is considered to be sorted when its tail has crossed the foul line.
16. A rider can ride three times per class and must change at least one rider on each team.
17. The minimum number of runs shall be 100% to the first go-round; 30% to 50% to the second go-round; and the Top 10 to the finals. If over 100 teams participates, 30% to 50% to the second go-round and Top 20 to the finals. All finals at any Western Evasion a.t.p.i. sanctioned sorting will have their running order determined by draw
18. Teams sorting in three go-round (following the unfolding of the competition), place higher than teams sorting in two go-rounds; teams sorting in two go-rounds place higher than teams sorting in one go-round, no matter how many cattle were sorted or time accrued.
19. The event producer must have enough cattle that no herd is re-sorted during the first go round of the Open Sorting Class.
20. The Team shall be given a 30 seconds warning before the time limit is reached.
21. When they have started to charge, the riders are responsible for the cattle. It is of the responsibility of the team, before they work the cattle (“committing to the cattle”) to notify to the judge any observed as injured or unfit animal. When they are “committed to the cattle” and crossed the foul line, no excuse is acceptable. If an animal leaves the arena by leaping over or crossing through the fences, either the team 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 at the end of the go-round. 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 more than one rerun is given in any go-round, re-runs will be given in 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.
22. The clock is stopped when the tail of the last animal ( the tenth in the correct order) has crossed the start/foul line.
23. The team that sorts in the correct order all the 10 head of cattle places higher than another team that has sorted less. Only in the case when the same number of cattle is sorted, the fastest time is determinating. In a multiple go-round contest, in the event that teams sort their cattle in only one go-round, the fastest time wins regardless of which go-round. In a multiple go-round contest, the teams that sort in each go-round will beat teams that fail to sort in a one or more go-round, regardless of the numbers of cattle sorted or time. In a multiple go-round contest, the accumulated time is determinating for the final rating. If a team waive a run, it cannot be placed before a team that has executed all the runs in the go-round.
24. A contact with the cattle with the hands, hat, ropes, bats , romal or any other equipment will result in a disqualification. A team 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.
25. A team can be disqualified for any action the judge considers to be unnecessary roughness to the cattle or horse or an unsportsmanlike behaviour.
26. 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 if all riders are not on horseback.
27. If one or more riders loose their hat, 5 seconds penalty per hat will be added to the final time.
28. The disqualification of one team member causes the disqualification of the entire team.
29. The number tags shall at least measure 15,5 cm in 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 judges and the event producer before the beginning of the competition.
30. There shall be 1 flagman. The judge must be on the foul line and may handle the flag himself. The foul line is indicated with clear guide marks on the flank of the arena, easily visible for the judge and the contestants.
31. 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.
32. 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.

Arena Arrangement RS

Conçu par EL.Infopassion. Tous droits réservés.

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