Saskatchewan Reined Cowhorse
Association (SRCHA) Rule Book – 2010
Section Four – Article 15 – Herd Work /
Ranch Cutting
ARTICLE 15 – RANCH CUTTING or HERD WORK
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 or helmet, and boots, and long sleeve
shirt. Chaps are optional but recommended.
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 SRCHA show, either
previous to or during the show.
B.
Judging Guidelines: Ranch Cutting / Herd Work
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;
(b)
for taking an animal toward the center of the arena;
(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;
(d)
for riding with a loose rein throughout a performance;
and
(e) for setting up a
cow and holding it in a working position as near the center of the arena as
possible.
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. 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.
Judging will begin at the time line. The
contestant shall approach the herd with no hesitation, weaving or reluctance on
the part of the horse to enter the herd sufficiently deep enough to show his
ability to make a cut. The horse shall work quietly, but alertly, causing very
little disturbance to the herd or the animal brought out. Credit will be given
for driving cattle, clearing the herd by a sufficient distance and setting up a
cow while holding it in a working position as near the center of the arena as
possible. The degree of difficulty, eye appeal and the amount of courage in
staying on a tough cow will be taken into consideration. The amount of time
actually spent working cattle in the 2 1/2 minute period will have a positive
effect on the total score. The horse should show a great deal of expression but
no ill will toward the animal. Judging will end at the whistle. If an exhibitor
is taking an excessive amount of time to get to the herd after their number is
called the following will occur: the Director of Judges (if the Director of
Judges is not there, then a designated judge) will contact the announcer and
the announcer will give the exhibitor a “second call”. If the exhibitor still
is not starting to the herd, a 15 second call will be given and then the time
clock will be started. Special consideration will be given to exhibitors who
helped the previous exhibitor in the herd.
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
(c) 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 zero (0) points will be given.
8. Spurring behind
the shoulder shall not be considered a visible cue. A five (5) point penalty shall
be assessed each time a horse is spurred in the shoulder.
9. 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.
10. If a horse lets an animal that he is working
get back in the herd, he will be penalized five (5) points.
11. If a
rider changes cattle after visibly committing to a specific cow, a five (5) point
penalty will be assessed.
12. 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.
13.
Unnecessary roughness, such as a horse actually pawing, kicking or biting cattle
or disobedience such as bucking, rearing or striking will be penalized five (5)
points.
14. 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 contestant
quitting the cow under any other circumstances is a hot quit incurring a 3 pt
penalty.
15. If a horse
quits a cow, a penalty of five (5) points will be assessed.
16. 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.
17. When
a contestant is thrown from a horse, or horse falls to the ground, an automatic
score of (0) zero will be given.
18. 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.
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. Ranch Cutting / Herd Work
Penalty Points
Herd work- Penalty Points from NRCHA
2009 Rulebook:
1 point penalties:
A.
(Miss) Loss of working advantage.
B. Noise directed by contestant toward
cattle.
C. Working out of position.
D. Toe, foot, or stirrup on shoulder.
3 point penalties:
A. Hot quit.
B. Cattle picked up/running into or
scattering herd.
C. Failure to make a deep cut.
D. Back fence.
5 point penalties:
A. Horse quitting a cow.
B. Losing a cow.
C. Changing cattle after a specific
commitment.
D. Failure to separate a single animal
after leaving the herd.
E. Blatant disobedience, defined as
kicking, biting, bucking, rearing, striking, or obviously insubordinate.
F. Spurring or hitting in front of the
cinch at anytime.
-0- score:
A. Horse turns tail.
B. Using two hands on the reins in a bridle.
(Except in Youth & Novice Non Pro classes)
C. Fingers between the reins in a
bridle.
D. Illegal equipment.
E. Leaving working area before time
expires.
F. Fall of horse or rider.
NOTE: A judge may blow his/her whistle
at anytime to terminate the work. A score of zero will be given if the work is not
complete at that time.
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