Wilsall Ranch Rodeo Rules (as of March 1, 2008)
OVERALL RULES
A team is made up of 4 People, one of which must be a female or person under 15.
The same four horses must be used for all events.
If a horse is injured it may be replaced, but the injured horse is out of the competition and may not return.
A person may only enter one time, on one team.
A 10 point system will be used: 10 pts for first, 9 pts for second, etc. through 10th place.
No training on horses while in the arena.
Any unnecessary roughness, or abuse of any animal in any event will result in disqualification of that team in that event.
The judge’s decision is final. No Exceptions.
Western dress rules apply.
No dogs allowed.
Penalized time may exceed time limit.
RANCH HORSE CLASS
One animal will be turned into the arena. Horse and rider must box the cow at the same end of arena to show horse’s cow sense.
Team member will then allow cow to run at least 2/3 length of arena, either side of arena is OK. Make one good turn each way on the fence.
Rider will drive animal into the pen.
Rope can be taken down and loop built anytime after second turn on the fence and rider has declared himself to be pushing the cow towards the pen.
Only two loops allowed.
After releasing cow from the pen, the rider will rope animal around the neck or around the neck with one front foot, then dally and stop cow and have cow face the horse. Time will be called in the event of an illegal catch or if 2nd loop fails to catch.
The rider with rope still on, returns the animal to the catch pen.
There will be a 4 minute time limit with a 30 second warning called.
Judges will score 1-10 points for each of the 5 skills: Boxing, Fence work, Penning, Roping and Returning. If any skill is not completed, no points will be awarded on that skill.
If a rider is separated from his/her horse, it will result in no score.
Rider may call for a new cow within 15 seconds of start, but only one time.
Hackamore or ring snaffles can use two hands, all others must use one hand on the reins.
No Tie-downs or Mechanical Hackamore Bits allowed in the arena for the Ranch Horse Class. Solid Jawed Bit, Snaffle Bit, Loose Jawed Snaffle Bit, or Hackamore only can be used. If there are any violations, the team which that person belongs to will be disqualified.
Judges will inspect bits prior to the ranch horse class starting.
WRR TEAM BRANDING
Each team will consist of a four person crew; two will rope the first two calves, the other two on the ground. Teams will then exchange places for the last two calves.
Each team will be required to brand 4 calves.
Time starts when team is ready, there will be a 8 minute time limit.
Calf must be heeled in one minute. Ground crew may assist after one minute and set the ropes. A 30 second penalty will be assessed for the assist. Timers will call one minute.
A one minute penalty will be assessed if calf is choked down.
Ground rules:
Only legal catch is around the head, or head with one front leg. For all other catches, the rope must be removed, and the animal must be roped again.
All four feet must be within the stretch ropes; if a foot is lost, it must be replaced in the rope.
Both front and hind feet are the only legal stretch allowed before the calf is branded.
Ground crew can pick up a dropped head rope for the ropers without a penalty if the ground crew is back in the circle by the time the calf is heeled.
After the calf is heeled a dropped head rope can be picked up without the ground crew going back to the circle.
After each animal has been branded, the animal must be up on 4 feet before the next animal can be roped.
While working on the calf, iron must be in the bucket.
Location of the brand will be announced. A misplaced brand will result in “no time”.
On the last calf, calf has to be on his feet and free of ropes, and the iron back in the pot and ground crew in the circle before judge signifies final time. It is the team’s responsibility to see that all cattle are up and free of ropes before they call for time. Time will be called when the iron is returned to the bucket after the last calf is branded.
No persons but team members, judges and/or WRR officials will be allowed in the pens.
No more that two horses in the pen at a time.
Once the contest has started, there will be no discussion with the judges.
If a fence goes down, or time stopped at anyone’s pen, all 3 watches are stopped. Time will be recorded, all 3 watches cleared and restarted. That time added to the first time.
If any roper falls from his/her horse, ground crew can grab rope to avoid accident. Calf then has to be released, and, if roper is able to remount with no equipment failures, then may re-rope his/her end and team can complete run.
If a calf is roped that is already branded, ground crew can assist in removing the rope.
WRR Team Branding Penalties:
30 seconds - for loping or charging into the edge of the herd for each calf.
60 seconds - for calf choking down.
30 Seconds - for a one minute assist after heading calf
30 seconds per incident - if the ground crew leaves the designated area before the calf is headed & heeled.
30 seconds - If calf slips foot - iron must be handed to the judge until ropes are reset.
30 seconds - if the calf (after being branded) does not stand on all 4 feet before the next calf is roped.
90 Seconds – for undue roughness with the calves.
Disqualification – for a second incident of roughing the cattle.
Disqualification – for failure to properly rectify or remedy an illegal catch.
TEAM PENNING
Four (4) person team.
A herd of numbered calves will be held behind a line 60 feet from the end of the arena. As riders approach the line, the announcer will call a number which has been drawn for them.
Time begins when first rider crosses the line. All of them may cross the line, and anyone may cut out the cattle. One person designated to hold the herd—team is liable for herd at the north end of the arena.
Without loping into the herd, the team has 2-1/2 minutes to cut out three (3) head of cattle bearing the designated number and pen them in portable pens at the opposite end of the arena. 30’ penalty for loping into the herd.
No more than 4 head may cross the line. Wrong numbered animals must be back across the line before time is called.
No more than three (3) head may be penned. Any wrong number cattle penned disqualifies the team.
The team with the fastest time and correct numbered animals penned wins.
A team may call for time on two (2) head, however
a. Three head of cattle places higher than two regardless of time.
b. No points awarded for one head.
9. 2.5 minute time limit with a 30’ warning called.
TEAM DOCTORING
Four (4) person event.
Five minute time limit
Two barrels will be placed at about 1/3 of the arena.
Time starts when the first rider crosses the line.
No more than three loops may be used.
Riders will cut ONE of the designated numbered cattle out of the herd.
No more than 2 cows may can between the two barrels. The second cow must be turned back across the line before designated cow can be roped.
Only one person in the herd at a time.
Header cannot throw a loop until cow has passed though the barrels.
Designated cow may not return to the herd once it has passed through the barrels, if the cow returns past the barrels, no time is called, unless the cow is roped and it is not a dropped rope.
Legal head catches only (neck or neck and one front foot, figure eight is OK on one, not two front feet). Illegal head catch may not be dallied and can be removed, still counting as one loop used.
The designated cow is then heeled at the end of the arena.
After the cow is headed and heeled (either one or two heels) and stretched, other person will set the ropes and both front and hind feet (if necessary).
The vet leaves his horse with the vet bag after ropes are set and places a mark on the cow between its eyes.
The vet will raise both hands to signal end of time.
You will be flagged out for any unnecessary roughness.
WILD COW MILKING
A four (4) person event, consisting of one roper, three (3) muggers.
Two minute time limit.
Only two loops allowed.
Only roper will be horseback.
Roper and team will be let in at the south end of the arena, but must stay behind start line until flag is dropped.
Cow will be released from NE corner of arena. When cow clears the gate, leaving the pen, flagman will drop his flag, and time will start.
Rider will be disqualified for passing the start line before the flag is dropped.
Cow's head must pass through the loop—neck or neck and front leg legal only, no deep loops.
Rope must be off the saddle horn before the milking commences and off the cow before time is flagged.
The muggers hold the cow while a milker milks into a standard 12 oz. longneck bottle. Any member of the team may milk the cow.
The milker may pass the bottle to another man to run to the judge.
Runner must hand the bottle to the judge, and THE JUDGE WILL POUR THE MILK OUT. If the milk will not pour, the team receives a "No-Time".
Team with fastest time wins.
Cow must be on its feet to be milked.
HERD COUNTING
Four person team will enter arena and face away from a group of cattle being let into the arena at the opposite end.
5 minute time limit is started by the announcer.
The team shall go to the group of cattle, count them through two barrels in the arena.
Time will stop when the last cow passes through between the barrels.
All animals must pass between barrels on the first attempt, if all animals don’t pass between barrels, no time will be called.
If a cow goes around a barrel, team will be flagged out.
Designated counter then tells the judge the count .
Any wrong number results in a no time.
Correct number will be announced after each run.
Fastest time with correct number wins.