2025 Early Californios Skills of the Rancho
Sorting Class

Judges’ Criteria:

Mishandling stock or unnecessary stress to stock will result in major deductions and could result in a disqualification.
Pros are not judged. Participants will be judged on how they listen and respond to the instructions given by the Pro.
Time in this event is kept only for the purpose of tie breakers. Participants who exceed the maximum allowable time will be excused by the judges as we need to keep on schedule. In that case, total score will reflect the work completed prior to time expiring. There are no bonus points for speed, in fact speed may invoke deducts in horsemanship and stockmanship if used incorrectly.:

There will be two small, connected round corrals separated by a gate. One corral will contain the herd and the other will be empty. The judge will assign a cattle number and that will be the first head to be sorted out of the herd and put through the gate. Each head will be sorted in ascending order.
Time starts when Participant and Pro enter the herd. This event will be judged on efficiency of stock handling, horsemanship and number of head successfully sorted through the gate.
Each head correctly sorted will receive a score of 5. There will be up to + or – 10 points available each for horsemanship, stockmanship and teamwork, as well as up to + or – 10 points as Judge’s Discretionary points.
A qualified run will be when the designated number of cattle are sorted and held. Failure to sort all designated cattle will NOT result in disqualification, Participant will accrue points for correct work completed.
A “dirty” cow is defined as a cow incorrectly sorted into the opposite pen. Dirty cows incorrectly sorted will result in a disqualification and the run will end.

GREEN YOUTH/JUNIOR / GREEN NOVICE
10 head total, 5 minutes maximum.

YOUTH (age 6-11) / JUNIOR (age 12-17) / NOVICE
10 head total, 4.5 minutes maximum.

INTERMEDIATE
10 head total, 4 minutes maximum.

ADVANCED
10 head total, 3 minutes maximum.