ARTICLE 15
RANCH C U T T I N G
A
grouped animal work known as the "herd" work is to be performed
during a 2 and 1/2 minute interval as timed by the show management. During the allotted time, a contestant shall
enter the herd of cattle from a prescribed starting position for the purpose of
cutting out an individual cow and bringing it to the front of the herd. The contestant must hold his/her particular
cow, keeping it from returning to the herd, until such time as the rider finds
the horse to have sufficiently shown its ability at the task. The number of cattle to be cut out by a
contestant during the allotted time is to be determined by the rider.
There
shall be two (2) turnback mounts and two (2) herd-holders allowed per
contestant. The use of herd-holders is
optional. It shall be up to the
contestant to assemble his/her own herd holders and turnback mounts. The responsibility to see that the herd is
settled shall be with the first contestant in each set of cattle.
A. APPOINTMENTS
Horses
shall be shown with stock saddle.
Riders must wear a western hat and boots, and long sleeve shirt. Chaps are optional. For Ranch Cutting classes, horses are to be
shown in a regulation snaffle bit or a rope or rawhide bosal and may be shown
with two hands. A bridle shall have no
nose band or bosal, and hackamores shall be of rope or braided rawhide with no
metal parts. A judge must be able to
freely pass two fingers between the hackamore and muzzle completely around the
horse's nose. Choke ropes, tie downs, wire around the horse's neck, nose, or
brow band, tight nose band, quirt, bat or mechanical device giving the rider
undue control over a horse will not be permitted in the arena. Wire of any kind and on any part of the curb
device is not permissible. A breast
collar may be used, no portion of which may pass over the horse's neck. Breast collars attached to the swell of the
saddle on competing horses will be considered illegal. Chaps and spurs may be worn. A competing horse's tail cannot be tied in
any manner, which would restrict movement of the tail. Any time a contestant is guilty of an
infraction of this rule or any part therein, he shall be disqualified. A judge has the right to have a contestant
report to him if he is suspicious of any infraction of this rule.
Use
of training equipment will not be permitted in the show arena on the day of an
approved ARCHA show, either previous to or during the show.
B. GUIDELINES TO CONSIDER WHEN JUDGING
Cutting horse runs are seldom
identical. A judge can determine the
difference in cutting runs by following these guidelines.
1.Give credit (a) for entering the herd
quietly with very little disturbance to the herd or to the animal brought out
(Rule 1)
(b)
for
taking an animal toward the center of the arena (Rule 2)
(c)
for
driving a cow a sufficient distance from the herd to assure that the herd will
not be disturbed by the contestant’s work (Rule 2)
(d)
for
riding with a loose rein throughout a performance (Rule 3)
for setting up a cow and holding it in a
working position as near the center of the arena as possible (Rule 4)
NOTE:
A herd holder's duty is to assist the Cutter in containing the herd and
group of cattle the Cutter is trying to cut from. This gives the Cutter ample opportunity to demonstrate to the
judges his/her ability to work the herd, drive a cow, and set a cow up in the
middle of the pen. These conditions
allow a judge to give credit to the Cutter under Judging Rules 1. a, 2., and 4. After assisting the Cutter in making a cut,
the herd holder should move to a position toward the arena wall that will
enable him/her to contain the herd, but not distract from the run. Any excessive action by the herd holder will
be dealt with as a reduction in run content.
Although there is no specific major penalty for this action, it does
hinder the Cutter's horse from showing his full potential. Therefore, judges will begin reducing run
content when excessive help from herd holders affects the run, such as: saving
a major penalty from occurring; cutting the pen down; and in fresh cattle,
driving the herd out for the Cutter to cut from. Herd holders should keep in mind they are jeopardizing the
Cutter's score when they give too much assistance to the Cutter.
2. Consider
the degree of difficulty of the run.
Degree of difficulty is determined by the amount of effort exerted by
the cow in its attempt to return to the herd.
A cow that turns quickly and moves rapidly is more difficult to hold in
a working position than a cow that turns and moves slowly. A judge must give credit when a cutter is
able to hold a working position on a tough cow.
3. Consider the eye appeal
of the run. Runs that are attractive
because of the style of the horse and the correctness of the overall
performance shall receive credit.
4. Consider the
amount of courage shown by the cutter.
A judge shall give credit for a cutter staying on a tough cow. Credit
shall be given for a cutter coming off a fence with a cow and then establishing
a working position near the center of the arena before quitting the cow.
NOTE: Coming off the fence in an attempt to set up a cow in the center
of the arena before quitting and staying on a tough cow are high risk
situations. If a rule infraction occurs
in these situations, a judge must call it: therefore, the cutter who shows this
type of courage and commits no rule infractions shall receive credit.
5. Consider
the amount of time that the cutter actually spends working cattle during the 2
1/2 minute run. A cutter shall be given
credit for his/her willingness to exhibit his horse actually working
cattle. Obvious stalling in the herd or
reluctance to cut a cow to allow time to run off the clock will have a negative
influence on the total point value of the run.
C.
SCORING
1. Each
horse is required to enter the herd sufficiently deep enough to show his
ability to make a cut. One such deep
cut will satisfy this rule. Failure to
satisfy this requirement will result in a three (3) point penalty.
(a) A horse should be given credit for his ability to enter the herd
quietly with very little disturbance to the herd or to the one brought out.
2.
When
an animal is cut from the herd, it is more desirable that it be taken toward
the center of the arena, and credit will be given for same. Additional credit
will be given to the horse, which drives its stock a sufficient distance from
the herd to assure that the herd will not be disturbed by his work, thereby
showing his ability to drive a cow.
3.
Credit will be given for riding with a loose rein throughout the
performance.
4. Credit
will be given for setting up a cow and holding it in a working position as near
the center of the arena as possible.
5. If
the cutting horse or his rider creates a disturbance at any time throughout his
working period, he will be penalized.
(a) Any noise directed by the contestant toward the cattle will be
penalized one (1) point.
(b)
Each
time a horse runs into the herd, scatters the herd while working, or picks up
cattle through fault of the horse, he will be penalized three (3) points
© The judge shall stop any work because of training or abuse of
his horse by the contestant or disturbance of the cattle.
6. A
horse will be penalized three (3) points each time the back fence actually stops
or turns the animal being worked within one step (3 feet) of the fence, to be
agreed on and designated by the judge or judges before the contest starts,
meaning the actual fence only, no imaginary line from point to point to be
considered. If any of the contestants
voice any objection before the contest starts, the judge or judges shall take a
vote of the contestants, and a "back fence" acceptable to the
majority will be designated and used.
7. If
a horse turns the wrong way with tail toward the animal being worked, an
automatic score of sixty (60) points will be given.
RANCH
CUTTING
NOTE: Spurring behind the shoulder shall not be
considered a visible cue. A three (3)
point penalty shall be assessed each time a horse is spurred in the shoulder.
A
toe, foot, or stirrup on the horse's shoulder is considered a visible cue. A one (1) point penalty shall be charged for
each occurrence.
8. If
a horse lets an animal that he is working get back in the herd, he will be
penalized five (5) points.
9. If
a rider changes cattle after visibly committing to a specific cow, a five (5)
point penalty will be assessed.
10. When
a horse goes past an animal to the degree he loses his working advantage, he
will be penalized one (1) point each time he does so.
11. Unnecessary
roughness, such as a horse actually pawing, kicking or biting cattle will be
penalized three (3) points.
12. A
contestant may quit an animal when it is obviously stopped, obviously turned
away, or is obviously behind the turnback horses and the turnback horses are
behind the time line. A penalty of
three (3) points must be charged if the animal is quit under any other
circumstances.
13. If
a horse quits a cow, a penalty of five (5) points will be assessed.
14. If
a horse clears the herd with two or more cattle and fails to separate a single
animal before quitting, a five (5) point penalty will be charged. There is no penalty if time expires.
15. CCHA
Rule 16 is covered under Appointments.
16. When
a contestant is thrown from a horse, or horse falls to the ground, an automatic
score of (sixty) 60 will be given.
17. Any rider who allows his/her horse
to quit working or leave the working area before his/her allotted time is up
will be disqualified for that go-round with no score.
18. A contestant will be awarded a
complete rework if in the judge or judges' opinion two and one-half (2 1/2)
minutes time was not allotted for the work or if excessive disturbances had
been created by factors other than those caused by the contestants or their
help and the judge or judges have stopped the time. Such factors would include gates coming open, fences falling down
and objects entering or falling into the working portion of the arena, but
would not apply to cattle scattering through wildness or normal arena
activities. Any rework must take place
within the group of cattle drawn by the contestant and must occur before a
change of cattle is executed. At the
contestant's option, the rework may occur immediately or as the last work in
that set of cattle. No rework shall be
granted if the contestant involved had incurred a three (3) or five (5) point
(major) penalty prior to a disturbance.
After the cutter has completed his 2 1/2 minutes work, if in his/her
opinion a situation has occurred of sufficient seriousness so as to warrant a
rerun, he/she may immediately make a request for the same to the designated
equipment judge who shall report this fact to show management before the next
horse is called to work. Show
management shall make such facts as are available known to the judge(s) and if
the majority are in agreement that due cause did exist, a re-run may be granted
provided the original work was free of a three (3) or a five (5) point (major)
infraction.
19. A
judge marks from 60 to 80 points. One-half points are permissible.
20. When
the judge is in doubt about a penalty, the benefit always goes to the
contestant.
D. CUTTING SUMMARY
RUN CONTENT:- Herd work - Driving a cow
-
Setting up a cow - Loose reins
-
Working center of arena - Degree of
difficulty
-
Amount of working time - Amount of courage
-
Excessive herd holder help - Time
worked +/-
PENALTIES:
1 point -
(a) (Miss) losing working advantage
-
(b) Noise directed to cattle
-
(c) Toe, foot or stirrup on the
shoulder
3 points -
(a) Hot quit
-
(b) Cattle picked up or scattered
-
(c) Spur in shoulder
-
(d) Pawing or biting cattle
-
(e) Failure to make a deep cut
-
(f) Back fence
5 points -
(a) Horse quitting a cow
-
(b) Losing a cow
-
(c) Changing cattle after a specific
commitment
-
(d) Failure to separate a single cow
after leaving the herd
60 score -
Horse turns tail
-
Horse falls to ground
0 score -
Illegal equipment
-
Leaving working area before time expires