More Team Penning (2)

Next post... My baby Sister Marilyn.  Prejudice of me to dedicate one (or more) posts to just one rider?  YES... BUT she is my baby sister and I own the blog!

All complaints or comments welcome.

More Team Penning (1)

I took many photos of many different people during my two days at the Team Penning competition.  The next two posts are photos I took and wish to share, in an attempt to ensure I didn't miss anyone.  If your photo is not here I appologize.  I tried my best to get everyone, but I am certain there will be some that I missed.

This young lady lost her hat during her penning run,  I'm not sure what the rules are about that.  As stated earlier the western attire is important.  Lets think, in the past could a cowboy/girl be a cowboy/girl without a hat?

And now more photos...

More to come in the next post.

Outside the Ring Action (2) - Team Penning

Here are more photos of the teams waiting to enter the ring.

Best I let the photos speak for themselves.

Next post Misc. Photos of Team Penning.

Again should you wish an original copy of any of the photos here (that are of you or your children) just emal me at frostgd@hotmail.com

Comments are always welcome.

Action Outside the Ring - Team Penning

While everything is taking place inside the ring, much is taking place outside as riders either wait their turn or cheer on the participants.

Here is a Mom that just couldn't do two things at once.  Cheer, take photos, cheer, take photos.  Decisions! Decisions! Decisions!  Very hard to stay still as your children are penning.

Now, as I mentioned earlier, part of this sport (and they take this very seriously) is, you must wear western attire.  I question the western outfit this Mom was wearing.  Being new, and treated very nicely by all whom I met, I thought better of going and pointing this out to the judges.  I would think if your children are in the competition, then it would behove the parents to dress the part as well.  Even if they aren't in the Ring.

Also, like I said earlier, everyone is involved.  She could hardly stay still while her girls were competing.

Here are more photos of the camaraderie between competitors.  This was much like going behind stage at a broadway production and seeing what goes on prior and after the show.  The difference is, here it is open for all to see and partake in.  I was welcomed as though I was a long time member of the club.

More sideline photos next post.

The Action - Team Penning

Now, I must state, for full disclosure, I know NOTHING about Team Penning and this was only my second time watching my Sister and Brother-in-Law participate.

Having stated that, here is my take on this sport...   30 head of cattle are brought into the ring, they are numbered from 0 to 9 and there are 3 cows that wear each number. 

Three team members, on horses, enter the other end of the ring.

The Horsemen/women have no more than 90 seconds to enter the heard, cut or seperate the cows bearing the number assigned for them to find.  Once the rider finds a cow with their assigned number they and their horse must break this cow from the heard and send it to the other end of the arena.  While keeping that cow at that end of the arena, they then must find the remaining two and cut them out.

Once all three have been seperated from the heard the riders then must force these specific 3 cows into a pen, hence the name Penning.

The team with the fastest time wins!

To the Novice Viewer (that would be me) action is a funny word to be using for most of this 90 second event.  From what I can tell, the object is to casually enter the heard without upsetting it, and then separate your designated cow from the remainder.  Once separated, then the fun starts as they chase that cow to the other end.  I say this because, a lot of my "action" photos just look like a horse and rider just walking amoung a heard of cows, but there is some very real stratagy and skill taking place between the team members and between rider and their horse.

For more specific and technical information on the rules and procedures I encourage you to visit the Ottawa Valley Team Penning (OVTPA) website at:  click here

Further I encourage you to visit the OVTPA website for more photos and dates/places of upcoming events. Click here  It is a great way to spend a day with the family.

More Photos to come. 

Comments or corrections on what I have said above, about how this event takes place, are always welcome and encouraged.