2024 Schedule
Saturday and Sunday: Both arenas start 8 a.m.
START TIMES ARE VERY APPROXIMATE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE
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Saturday
LARGE ARENA
Trail Challenge
Judge: Lund8 AM
This class is not an AQHA Ranch Trail class, but a class that has been modified for the Carmel Valley Ranch Roundup.
Three divisions: Open, Amateur and Youth. This is a judged class. Eye appeal will be factored into the score and the horse/rider team that most resembles a real life working ranch horse pair with position and control will have an advantage. This class contains a course of obstacles that is designed to show a horse’s willingness, confidence, and ability to perform several tasks that might be asked of him in the course of a normal day’s ranch work. It will include navigating obstacles such as crossing a bridge, performing gait transitions, roping a dummy, or handling a ranch-type item.
Trail Challenge Course Map LINK HERE.
Games Bundle
4-game package including Carrot Race, Keyhole Race, Pony Express Relay Race and Dummy Roping.
NEW! Ranch Rail
NEW! This class is designed for horses to work in all three gaits, moving as they would, for most efficient ranch work. Horses will enter the arena and move together on the rail in both directions, at a walk, trot, and lope. Horses will be required to extend the lope and the trot in at least one direction. An extended walk may also be asked for in at least one direction. Horses will also be required to stop and back. Credit will be given to horses that move with an alert, efficient, and relaxed gait, willingly between the reins.
Working Ranch Riding
This class is not an AQHA Ranch Riding class, but an event that has been modified for the Carmel Valley Ranch Roundup.
Three divisions: Open, Amateur and Youth. This is a judged class. This class reflects the versatility, attitude and movement of a working horse. The horse’s performance should simulate a horse riding outside the confines of an arena and that of a working ranch horse. Movements may include the walk, jog and lope in both directions; the extended jog and lope in at least one direction; stops; and a turn to change direction. A couple of Working Equitation obstacles are added in for fun.
Pattern LINK HERE.
3-Man Ranch Penning
Cost is per 3-person team.
This class is not a regulation penning, but a class that has been modified for the Carmel Valley Ranch Roundup.
A herd consisting of 2 sets of ten cattle wearing numbers 0-9 will stand at one end of the arena. At the other end of the arena, there will be an empty pen with one open side. A start line will be established at the arena’s midpoint.
The three riders will enter the arena and wait for a flag that tells them the herd is settled and the arena is ready. The announcer will call out a number and the time will start as soon as the first horse crosses the start line.
The goal is to separate both cows wearing the assigned number, move them across the arena and push them into the pen. Time stops when both cows and one rider have entered the pen, and all of the remaining herd is on the herd side of the timeline.
You can and will be flagged out for any unnecessary roughness. Penning must be completed in 2.5 minutes or the team will be excused. A warning will sound at 2 minutes.
SMALL ARENA
Ranch Cutting
Two divisions: Open and Amateur. This class is judged on the ability of the horse to work a cow. This is demonstrated by separating a cow from the herd, driving it to the middle of the arena and holding it. Exhibitor must work their cow, and one additional cow, within the time limit. Time will begin when a rider crosses a pre-determined and marked time line, just prior to entering the herd. Unnecessary roughness or disturbing the herd excessively could result in disqualification. Horses will not be penalized for reining during the cutting portion, but should display natural ability. This class to follow AQHA Ranch Cutting rules. Two (2) minute time limit with a warning when one minute remains; riders need not work for the entire two minutes.
2-Man Ranch Sorting
Judge: Barrington10 AM
Cost is per 2-person team.
This class is not a regulation Ranch Sorting class, but a class that has been modified for the Carmel Valley Ranch Roundup.
Open to all riders and horses. This is a timed class designed to replicate what a working ranch crew would do if they needed to sort cattle from a herd for branding or shipping. Two-person team sorts 10 cattle in consecutive order. Each run begins with the cattle on one side of two equal-sized octagonal pens in the arena, and two riders on the other side.
The starting number is called out as riders cross over the line into the herd area. Teams are given a ‘no time’ if any other cow crosses over the line or any sorted cattle come back to the herd. Time ends when the last cow goes over the line. Team with the largest number of correctly sorted cattle in the shortest time wins. If, during a run, the cattle are not handled in a manner conducive to good ranch practices, the team will be flagged out. This decision is at the discretion of the Judge. Ninety (90) second time limit.
Rancher's Choice
Cost is per 2-person team.
Three Divisions: ► Youth 12 & Under (Both partners can communicate), ► Youth 17 & Under + Adult (Only the youth partner can communicate) and ► Adult + Adult (No communication allowed). For the Youth divisions, at least one team member must be 17 or under. This is a scored and timed event. Two-person teams send a cow through a number of “obstacles” in the arena, using panels and other materials as mock gates. The cow can go through each gate no more than 2 times, backwards or forwards. Each gate is assigned a certain number of points, depending on degree of difficulty. The team must also get the cow out of the arena before time is up. Highest score with the shortest time wins. “Communication” for this event means talking, whistling, hand gestures, etc. Warning horn to be given at the 30 second mark. Two-and-a-half (2.5) minute time limit.
NEW! Buckaroo Novice Roping
Judge: Barrington2 PM
Two divisions: Adult and Youth. This event is for beginning and novice ropers, using a breakaway honda. The mounted competitor will enter the branding pen with a mounted, undesignated “helper”. The helper’s job is to set up shots for the competitor. The pen will contain three numbered cattle. When the competitor crosses the flagger’s time line, time will begin and a number will be called. The competitor must rope the calf designated by the called number. Time ends when the calf is caught, competitor dallies, and the breakaway honda breaks. There will be a two minute time limit, and the competitor may throw as many loops as necessary within that time limit. A clean loop around the neck, a neck loop with one front leg, or a loop around the middle are all legal loops. However, a clean neck loop will receive a five second deduction from the time.
Old-Style Reata Roping
Cost is per 2-person team.
This is a judged event. Competitor MUST use a reata. Horses can be in a hackamore with mecate reins, 2 rein (bosal and bridle with romal reins) or straight-up in the bridle with romal reins. No tie downs and no rubber on the saddle horn. Team to rope two head. Time begins when judge flags. Time ends when head and heel ropes are set and the calf is stretched. Cattle may be roped in any order. This event is not a trick roping or fast time contest. Judge(s) are looking for the “perfect shot for the situation at hand.” Competitors will be judged on the quality of each catch, rope handling, horsemanship and stock handling. Awards: 1st place award for Best Team, 1st-3rd place award for Best Head Shot and 1st-3rd place award for Best Heel Shot. Five (5) minute time limit.
Sunday
LARGE ARENA
Working Ranch Horse
Open to all riders and horses.
Enter arena and execute pattern. Accept the cow. Upon receiving the cow, the rider shall hold the cow on the end of the arena for sufficient time to demonstrate the ability of the horse to control the cow at that end of the arena. When the contestant is satisfied that he has shown control of the cow, the contestant shall drive the cow through the corner and down the fence, making at least one turn each way on the fence. The first turn must be past the center marker.
After turning the cow on the fence, participants have the option to rope and stop the cow, with the stop being judged, or circle the cow in the middle of the arena in both directions. There is no point advantage to choosing either option.
The cow work in this class will follow AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse Amateur Cow Work rules. This is a judged event. Three (3) minute time limit after the cow enters the arena, with a warning for one minute remaining.
Pattern LINK HERE.
Buckaroo Boxing
Two divisions: Adult and Youth. This is a judged event. Enter arena and execute dry work pattern. Accept the cow. Show control by boxing the cow. Must box cow for 50 seconds.
Pattern LINK HERE.
Ranch Reining
Two divisions: Open and Amateur. The horse is judged on movement and attitude as he is guided through a pattern. The pattern typically requires the horse to perform a number of stops, spins, rollbacks, lead changes and circles at a lope. The horse should be willing to be guided with little or no resistance.
Pattern LINK HERE
SMALL ARENA
4-Man Calf Branding (Rounds 1 & 2)
Cost is per 4-person team.
Open to all horses and riders. Team to rope two head. Time begins when judge flags. Ropers and ground crew swap for the second go round. Brand cannot leave the “fire” until ropes are set and calf is stretched between horses. Time ends when brand is back in the “fire” after the last calf. Fastest combined times win. Four (4) minute time limit.
Junior / Senior Roping
Cost is per 2-person team.
At least one team member must be 17 or under. Team to rope one head. Time begins when judge flags. Time ends when head and heel ropes are set and the calf is stretched. Pick your own ground crew. Fastest time wins. Four (4) minute time limit.
Century Roping
Cost is per 2-person team.
Combined ages of the 2 team members to add up to 100 years or more. Team to rope one head. Time begins when judge flags. Time ends when head and heel ropes are set and the calf is stretched. Pick your own ground crew. Fastest time wins. Four (4) minute time limit.
Ladies/Mixed Roping
Cost is per 2-person team.
At least one team member to be of the fairer sex. Team to rope one head. Time begins when judge flags. Time ends when head and heel ropes are set and the calf is stretched. Pick your own ground crew. Fastest time wins. Four (4) minute time limit.