Photography by: Coralie Nairn, Connie Ellis and Photos by Jess
Classes
* Please Download Full Rule Book to read the complete list of rules, regulations and classes that apply to The Skills of the Outfits or any other Canadian Bridlehorse Association event.*
The following classes have been selected as a way to showcase a rider's understanding of stockmanship, horsemanship and their ability to communicate with their teammates, their horse and the livestock. All classes will be listed with the corresponding eligible divisions as well as the class variations for each level of rider.
Team Sorting (Intermediate/Open)
Team Sorting
Youth & Novice
Photo by: Jess
Open to all divisions. 6 minutes will be given to complete the three head sort. Difficulty of the sort to be determined by the judge in respect to the level/division of rider competing. - Livestock will be handled with respect and as smoothly as possible. - Extra points for good stockmanship. - Time starts when judge calls out designated cattle. - Time stops when last cow is past turnback riders. - Lead rider chooses two turnback riders for his/her “crew”. (Only lead rider is judged) **The lead rider cannot be judged on what their team completes for them. Participants should keep this in mind when directing their turnback riders.
Team Sorting
Intermediate & Open
Photo by: Christa Miremadi
Open to Intermediate and Open divisions only. Three rider team, representing their outfit. 6 minutes will be given to complete the task. - Lead chooses two turn-back riders. Only the lead rider is judged. - Lead rider enters the herd and parts off 3 critters of the designated # in sequence, the first to be designated by the judge. - Two herd holders chosen from the pool of Open and Intermediate riders division hold the rodear line and can assist with turnback. - Time starts when lead rider crosses the rodear line. - Time stops when the third critter crosses the rodear line. - Disqualification results if parting off is not in sequence and team fails to start over. ** Example – If the team gets #1 and #2 across the rodear line and #2 runs back to the herd, then #2 must be sorted out prior to #3. If #1 runs back to the herd the sort must begin all over.
Photo by: Christa Miremadi
Ranch Roping
(Live or Dummy)
Open to Youth, Novice Divisions. 6 minutes will be given to complete the task, 3 loop max. Judge will use their discretion as to live or dummy roping and this will be determined in respect to the level/division of the rider competing. - Lead rider picks two turnback riders.(Only lead rider is judged**) - Time starts when judge calls out designated cattle. - Lead rider enters the herd and ropes the designated cow. - Rider is to expose the roped critter from the herd before breakingaway. - Once the rider breaks away they can use one turnback rider to help them complete the task of taking their exposed cow around the barrel and back to the herd. - Time stops when the designated cow crosses back across the rodear line. **Riders roping the dummy rather than roping live will complete the sort, same as above, sorting the designated cow, exposing them from the herd, taking them with one turnback rider for support around the barrel and back to the herd. Then they will proceed to rope the dummy. Time stops when the job is complete.
Two-Man Doctoring
Intermediate & Open
Photo by: Coralie Nairn
Two-Man Doctoring – Open and Intermediate divisions only – The individual participant being judged will choose their team from a pre-determined pool of experienced riders. Only one rider will be judged. This rider may be judged as either header or heeler or depending on their division, they may be asked to demonstrate both. More points will be give for heading than heeling. 6 minutes will be given to complete each task. Only lead rider will be judged. - Open competitors will have a Two Head Run, live and hard roping only. - Intermediate competitors will have a single head run, live and hard roping. - Only one rider is judged. - Rider being judged will choose two riders to assist who can live-rope. - Judged rider will enter the herd and rope a critter of designated number and expose it from the herd with the help of the other two herd holders. - Herd holders can take turns shooting until heel catch is made. - A ground crew will set the ropes. - Time begins as lead rider crosses rodear line. - Time stops after ropes are set and both ropers are in the saddle.
Ranch Horse Pattern
(All divisions)
Photo by: Jess
Open to all divisions. (Youth and Novice divisions to be allowed to trot rather than lope and can dismount to open/close gates. Intermediate and Open divisions will lope and open/close gates while mounted) 6 minutes will be given for each horse/rider team. Rider will be expected to guide their horse through a series of movements and patterns which could be required of any ranch horse. These movements will include opening/closing gates, large circles with changes of lead, stops, turns, backing and side passing. The pattern will be made available to all riders before the class begins. - Focus is on showing your horse smoothly. - Consistency of gate, evenness of rhythm, circle size, smoothness of transitions and straightness as well as willingness of horse will all be considered in judging. - Time starts when rider opens the gate. - Time stops with salute upon completion of the run. - If the rider chooses to open/close the gate on foot rather than mounted, some points may still be given for horsemanship.