How to Compete in a Team Penning Event

Team penning requires teamwork, well-trained horses and a love of speed.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Spurs
• Jeans
• Long-sleeved Shirts
• Western Saddles
• Riding Boots
• Saddle Pads

1. Get a team together. You'll need three riders and three horses.

2. Ride a well-trained horse. Team penning horses will generally be of stock type, but any horse can pen.

3. Count 30 head of cattle in a herd. Each cow is numbered 0 to 9 on its back. There are three cows of each number.

4. Start at one end of the arena. When the judge says the timer is ready, all three riders will ride toward the herd at the opposite end of the arena.

5. Pass the start line and the announcer will call out a number, 0 to 9.

6. Know that in team penning, the idea is to take three cows with the number called out by the announcer, then separate them from the rest of the herd and move them into a pen at the other end of the arena.

7. Get all three cows with that number and bring them back to the pen within 2 1/2 minutes.

8. Don't let more than five cows of other numbers cross the start line or your team will be disqualified.

9. Realize that if you get any cows in the pen other than those with the called number, you'll have to remove them and send them back to the other side of the start line before time stops.

10. Receive a time for penning only two cows, but any team penning three cows, even with a slower time, will be ahead of you.

11. Understand that if your team pens no cows in the allotted time, you'll receive no score.

Tips & Warnings

• Teamwork is imperative for a successful run. Riders should communicate with each other while riding.