What’s the difference between Team Penning and Ranch Sorting?

Team Penning uses three riders to cut three numbered cattle from a herd and pen them within a time limit. Ranch Sorting uses two riders to move cattle in numerical order between two connected pens within a time limit.

What kind of horse works best?

Catty, responsive, forward horses with good stop, rollback, and cow sense. Size is less important than agility, bravery, and steering off light cues.

How do beginners get started?

Audit a local event, take a lesson with a sorting coach, start in beginner classes, and practice slow, correct cattle handling before adding speed.

Most clubs use 60–90 seconds. Check local rules for exact times, pen sizes, and cattle counts.

Mastering the Art of Team Penning & Ranch Sorting: An Insider's Guide to Equestrian Sports

December 21, 2023

Western Sports Guide

Cowboy Skills Reimagined: Exploring the Excitement of Team Penning and Ranch Sorting

Born from real ranch work and sharpened into fast, strategic competition, these sports showcase timing, teamwork, and a horse that loves to read a cow. Here’s how they work—and how to ride them smarter.

Jump To:

Origins
Team Penning (How it Works)
Ranch Sorting (How it Works)
Skills that Win Runs
Horse Prep & Gear
Simple Drills
Etiquette & Safety
FAQ

Where They Came From

Sorting cattle for doctoring, branding, or shipping is daily ranch business. Over time those skills turned into timed events—same fundamentals, just in a controlled arena with clear rules and a clock.

Team Penning (How it Works)

Teams: Three riders.
Herd: Cattle are numbered; announcer calls your number at the buzzer.
Objective: Cut out the three matching numbers and only those cattle, then pen them within 60–90 seconds (varies by club).
Penalties/DQs: Wrong-number cattle entering the pen, roughing cattle, or unsafe riding.

Ranch Sorting (How it Works)

Teams: Two riders, two pens connected by an opening.
Herd: Ten cattle numbered 0–9 start in one pen; a number is called.
Objective: Move cattle through the gate in ascending order starting from the called number (wrap after 9 to 0) within ~60 seconds.
Penalties/DQs: An out-of-order cow crossing, or letting the wrong cow slip the gate.

Skills that Win Runs

For Riders

Clear roles: cutter, turn back, gate (penning) or gate/peeler (sorting).
Quiet hands, fast decisions—speed comes after control.
Body position: hip toward the cow, eyes on the shoulder, own the line.

For Horses

Catty stop & rollback; forward when asked, wait when not.
Shoulder control to hold the bubble without pushing cows through.
Brave in traffic, but calm around the gate.

Horse Prep & Gear (Simple & Effective)

Warm-up: Lope circles, lateral work, stops/rollbacks, short rests.
Leg care: After-the-run support with Draw It Out® Liniment Gel on tendons/ligaments to keep horses comfortable post-work.
Skin care: For scrapes or rubs, Rapid Relief Restorative Cream fits easily in the gear bag.
Hydration: Offer water before/after; electrolytes for heavy sweaters, especially in heat.

Simple Drills to Sharpen the Team

Bubble Control

Work one cow at a walk/trot. Hold distance on the shoulder; practice yielding the forehand/hind to keep the cow off the gate line.

Gate Timing

Two riders practice “peel and seal”: one peels the correct cow, the other floats at the opening, closes only when the line is clean.

Role Rotations

Run short sets rotating cutter/turn-back/gate so everyone reads cattle and communicates the same way.

Etiquette & Safety (Don’t Be That Team)

Keep it quiet at the herd—no chasing or yelling into cattle.
Protect the gate rider’s space.
If a wrong cow leaks, reset—don’t force it.
Thank the cattle crew. You’ll see them again next weekend.

Post-Run Care: Draw It Out® Gel Skin Support: Rapid Relief Cream

Quick FAQ

Do I need a “cow-bred” horse? It helps, but a responsive, brave, well-broke horse can learn the job. Start slow.

What’s the fastest way to improve? Fewer hero runs, more clean runs. Control first, speed later.

How many runs should I do in a day? Quality over quantity. Watch your horse’s recovery, legs, and attitude.

My horse had a huge hematoma I spent months trying to get it to heal. The vet ended up lancing it but it was still having issues draining due to swelling. I had done just about everything I could; poultice 12on/12off, cold hose twice a day, bute, and antibiotics. I felt like I couldn’t stay on top of it. ONE day of using this liniment the results showed immediately. The swelling decreased by 50% and he overall looked a lot more comfortable. A few days later it was healed up and scabbed over.

Christine, thank you for taking the time to share this. That kind of long, frustrating situation is exactly why we built Draw It Out® the way we did. When you’ve tried everything and nothing seems to move the needle, even small progress matters.

We’re grateful you gave the 64oz High Potency Gel a chance and even more grateful it helped your horse finally turn the corner. Stories like this don’t happen overnight and they don’t happen by accident. They happen when care is consistent and the formula does its job quietly.

Thank you for trusting us with your horse. That means everything to us.

— The Draw It Out® Team

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