Class Descriptions
Cutting
Judged on the horse’s ability. Open and Amateur: A single numbered cow is cut from the herd and held to show sufficient control. A second cow is then cut and held with a 2 minute limit. Novice & Youth: A single numbered cow is cut from the herd and held to show sufficient control within a 1 1/2 minute time limit.
Ranch Cutting
The objective is to cut a single numbered cow from the herd and demonstrate a horse’s ability to cut and work a cow, after which the cow is driven to and penned at the far end of the arena. The total time is limited to 2 ½ minutes, while striving to keep the cow as quiet as possible.
Working Cow Horse (Open Division)
Shows a horse’s ability to be willingly guided through one of two reining patterns and then work a cow. The cow work consists of holding or boxing a cow at the end of the arena to show control, taking the cow down the fence and turning each direction, and then circling the cow in the middle of the arena in both directions. This class is similar to the AQHA class, but with a three minute time limit on the cow work.
Ltd. Working Cow Horse (Amateur Division)
Shows a horse's ability to be willingly guided through one of two reining patterns and then work a cow. The cow work consists of holding or boxing a cow at the end of the arena to show control, driving the cow down the fence, and releasing it again to hold or box at the opposite end. This class is similar to the AQHA class, but with a 1 minute 45 second time limit on the cow work.
Boxing (Novice-Amateur, Sr. Youth & Jr. Youth Divisions)
Shows a horse’s ability to be willingly guided through one of two reining patterns and then box a cow. The cow work consists of holding or boxing a cow at the end of the arena to show control through a 50 second time period. It is an introductory version of Working Cow Horse.
Ranch Roping
The objective is to catch the cow with minimal chase (walk or trot only). The rider sorts out the designated numbered cow from the herd and ropes it with a breakaway rope. Legal catches must go over the head or include the horns. The rope must be dallied to the saddle horn and come tight to break the breakaway Honda.
Ranch Riding
Designed to show a horse with the versatility, attitude, and movement of a working horse. The horse’s performance should simulate a horse riding outside the confines of an arena and that of a working ranch horse, with good manners and responsiveness. The judge selects from five established patterns for individual work, with horses judged from an average score of 70.
Ranch Horse Pleasure
Designed to show a horse that is a pleasure to ride. Horses are required to work both ways in the arena at the walk, trot and lope with purpose to their strides. The walk is intended to cover ground, the trot should be faster than the walk, the extended trot is truly extended and the lope is a true 3-beat gait.
Ranch Trail
The Ranch Trail class contains a course with a minimum of 8 obstacles from the approved list to show a horse's ability and willingness to perform several tasks that might be asked of him during the course of a normal day's ranch work.
Yearling In-Hand Trail
The yearling in-hand class contains a course with a minimum of 6 obstacles from the approved list to show a horse's ability and willingness to perform several tasks that might be asked of him during the course of a normal day's ranch work. This class is available to yearlings with the intention of preparing them for a performance career.
(The yearling can be shown by an exhibitor from any division. However, the class is offered as a single class and will not be divided into divisions. A handler is limited to two entries in the class)