But once they have left the arena, participants are just like everyone else at the ranch, swapping stories and laughs while comfortably sitting on their horses.
There were plenty of stories to be told Friday afternoon as a team penning competition kicked off the Driscoll Ranch Rodeo that took place over the weekend.
 Russell Bias, left and George Alviso were able to move three cows from one end of the arena to other Friday. |
For the participants, it’s almost like a day of work.
“We get to work with horses,” said George Alviso of Porterville. “For us, that’s fun.”
The sport might not be well known, there are several Web sites available. In addition, there is a national team penning championships. The Web site teampenamerica.com maintains that team penning is the fastest growing Western horse sport in the United States, Canada and Europe.
The rules are relatively simple.
The sport requires three-member teams to go from one end of a rodeo arena to another, look for three cows with numbers that have been called out, and move only those three to the other side of the arena within a pre-determined time period. A warning is given 30 seconds before the time runs out.
While looking for those cows, cows without the corresponding numbers must be kept on the other side of the arena.
Right before the competition, the three riders quickly go over strategy, determining who will separate the cows, who will keep the other cows from going to the other side of the arena, and who will bring up the rear.
“It’s all about teamwork,” said Tony Agredano of San Jose.
It’s easy enough except that the cows have minds of their own. Sometimes, the cows that should be moved won’t move, meanwhile the others that shouldn’t move head to the other side.
When the participants are able to get the right cows into the pen, it provides a rush that lasts for a while.
But when something goes wrong, there isn’t much anyone can do.
“We are out here having fun,” Agredano said. “This is a great environment with good people and good friends.”
Travis Thorson, Victoria Delgado and Pepper Nilmeyer were this year’s winners.
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