455. TEAM PENNING

(a) A team of three must cut from the herd and pen three head

of cattle with the assigned (same) identity number or colored neckband.

The fastest time wins. Show management may use 60-second,

75-second, or 90-second time limits for each division, but must

advertise accordingly. Youth classes will be held using the 90-second

time limit. A warning must be given the team working the cattle at

30 seconds, prior to a final time being called. In the event a warning

is not given, a rerun may be given at the request of the team. If the

team requests a rerun, the cattle will be settled and a rerun will

immediately be given using the same numbered or color-banded cattle,

with a 60 second penalty.

(b) All cattle will be bunched on the cattle side of the starting line before

the time begins. The line flagman will raise the flag to signal when arena is

ready. Contestants will be given their cattle penning number or color of neckband

when the line flagman drops his flag as the nose of the first horse crosses

the starting line. Riders are committed once they enter the arena. Any delay

will be a disqualification.

(c) Once committed to the cattle, the team is responsible for

their animals. It is the team's responsibility, before working the cattle,

to pull up and call for a judge's decision if, in their opinion, there

is an injured or unusable animal in their numbered or color-banded

cattle. Once the cattle are worked, no excuses are accepted. If an animal

leaves the arena, either over or through the fence, the team can

either be disqualified for unnecessary roughness, or can be given a

rerun, depending on the judge's decision. If a rerun is given, it must

be given at the end of the total go-round. If no fresh cattle are available

for reruns, the cattle to be used will be determined by the show

management and judge. If more than one rerun is given in any goround,

they will be taken in order of occurrence. If cattle are to be

re-used and additional fresh cattle are needed, the used cattle must

be mixed with the fresh cattle and re-numbered or color banded.

Every attempt must be made to insure each team works the same

number of used and fresh cattle.

(d) To call for time, one rider must stand in the gate and raise a

hand for the flag. Flag will drop when the nose of the first horse

enters the gate and the rider calls for time. If an animal is knocked

or cut into the pen after time is called, a no-time will be given. Time

continues until all unpinned cattle are completely on the cattle side

of the starting line. In the event that an animal escapes from the pen

after time is called but prior to the time that any unpinned cattle are

on the cattle side of the line, the team will be judged a no-time. If

an animal escapes as a team is calling for time, they will be judged a

no-time. Escaped animal is one with any part of the animal coming

out of the opening of the pen.

(e) A team may call for time with only one or two assigned cattle

being penned. However, teams penning three head of cattle place

higher than two, and two higher than one, regardless of time. In

multiple go-round contests, teams that pen in each go-round will

beat teams that fail to pen in a go-round, regardless of the number

of cattle penned or time. In a multiple go-round contest, in the event

that teams pen their cattle in only one go-round, the fastest time

wins, regardless of which go-round. In multiple go-rounds, times are

accumulated to determine placings.

(f) A team calling for time with any wrong numbered or colored

neckbanded cattle in the pen will be judged no time.

(g) Contact with cattle by hands, hats, ropes, bats, romal or any

other equipment is a disqualification. A team exhibiting any unnecessary

roughness will be judged no time. No hazing with whips, hats

or ropes allowed. Romals or reins may be swung or popped on chaps.

A five-second penalty per exhibitor will be assessed if the hat or helmet

is not on the exhibitor's person until completion of the run. All

penalties incurred will be added to a qualified run, even if the penalty

time exceeds the 90-second time limit.

(h) A team will be disqualified by the judge for any action he feels to be

unnecessary roughness to the cattle or horses, or unsportsmanlike conduct.

(i) Fall of horse and/or rider shall not eliminate the entry; however,

any attempt by a dismounted rider to work cattle before

remounting will result in an automatic disqualification.

(j) If five or more cattle are across the starting line at any one

time, that team will be judged no time. Any part of the fifth animal

that crosses the line will invoke a no time.

(k) Points will be awarded based on the number of teams

entered. For every five teams there will be a point awarded to each of

three winning team members.

(l) Disqualification of a team member will result in disqualification

of the entire team.

(m) In the event of a tie affecting the placings, each team will be allowed

to pen one numbered or color banded animal. Fastest time breaks the tie.

(n) If for any reason a team does not participate after the order

of go has been drawn, their cattle number will be drawn in the order

the team would have run. The drawn number or colored band will

not be used in that set of teams. This will avoid changing the order

of go for the other contestants.

(o) Numbers must be a minimum of 6 inches (15 cm) tall and colored

neckbands be a minimum of 6 inches (15 cm) wide. Numbers must be

applied to both sides of the animal, high up on its side, with the top near the

midline of the animal’s back between the shoulder and the hip. The numbers

or colors and working order will be drawn for by the judge and show management

before the start of the contest.

(p) If a team is given a number or colored neckband that has

already been used within a given herd, a rerun must be given immediately,

using the correct number or colored neckband within that

same herd. Should the error be discovered after the herd has been

removed from the arena, then the rerun will be given at the end of

the total go-round using the same herd.

(q) The optimum number of cattle per herd is 30; however, a

maximum of 45 are allowed and a minimum of 21 per herd is

required even if there are less than seven teams. All cattle within a

herd must be numbered in groups of three.

(1) There must be three head of assigned (identical numbers or colored

neckbands) cattle per team in the herd as each new team begins a run.

(2) There must always be the same number of cattle in

each of the herds used in a go-round.

(3) In the event more or less than three assigned (identical

numbers or colored neckbands) cattle are discovered within a herd,

the team(s) with more or less than three assigned cattle must have a

rerun at the end of the total go-round. Times for all other teams

within such a misnumbered herd will remain the same.

(4) Cattle cannot be reused within a go-round of a division

except as specified in rule (3) above for reruns.

(r) There shall be two flagmen, one at the entrance to the pen

and one at the start/foul line. The judge must be located at the

start/foul line, and may or may not actually flag the contest at his/her

discretion. There shall be at least two timekeepers. The first timer

shall be the official time and the second timer shall be the back-up

time, in the event the first timer misses the time or his watch fails.

The starting and foul line must be designated by markers located on

the arena fence, and easily viewed by the line judge and the

exhibitors. The start line shall be between 30% and 60% from the

cattle end of the arena and same shall be set and advertised by show

management. The pen shall be situated 25% from arena back wall.

(s) Three divisions, all-age youth, all-age amateur and all-age

open may be offered.