2024 Early Californios Skills of the Rancho
Alley Sort 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.
Scoring:
Each Division will have a designated number of cattle to sort out of a pen and either past the alley gate (BY) or down the alley (IN). Each head will have a score of 0 to 5 with 0 being uncompleted (no sort) and 5 being the highest quality sort. 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.
When performing the sort, Participant must call out either IN or BY to their Pro at the alley gate (based upon designation by Judges). As in typical ranch sorting, the rider making the sort calls out the designation of where that sort is to go.
A qualified run will be when the designated number of cattle are sorted and penned. 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 designated holding area or the alley. Dirty cows incorrectly sorted will NOT result in disqualification but will be scored as a -10 if not cleaned up by Participant before time runs out.
GREEN YOUTH/JUNIOR / GREEN NOVICE
Twenty head of cattle will be in a pen outside the alley. Pro will be at the alley gate. Participant will sort off five head as designated by judge either past the Pro at the alley gate into the designated holding area (BY) or down the alley (IN). 5 head total, 5 minutes maximum.
YOUTH (age 6-11) / JUNIOR (age 12-17) / NOVICE / INTERMEDIATE
Twenty head of cattle will be in a pen outside the alley. Pro will be at the alley gate. Participant will sort off five head as designated by judge either past the Pro at the alley gate into the designated holding area (BY) or down the alley (IN). Participant and Pro will then switch positions and sort/pen another 5 head. 10 head total, 5 minutes maximum.
ADVANCED
Twenty head of cattle will be in a pen outside the alley. Pro will be at the alley gate. Participant will sort off five head as designated by judge either past the Pro at the alley gate into the designated holding area (BY) or down the alley (IN). Participant and Pro will then switch positions and sort/pen another 5 head. 10 head total, 3 minutes maximum.