Rules

General Rules:

• Entries will be accepted on a first come first serve basis.

• Once event starts, entries are closed.

• All late entries will be charged a one-time office fee of $20.

• All late entries will go first in the draw, except the Cutting and Sorting in which late entries go last.

• All livestock must be handled in a manner in keeping with good ranch practices.

• Attire: cowboy hat or safety headgear, long sleeve shirt, jeans, heeled cowboy boots.

• Whenever mounted, safety headgear is strongly advised for riders 17 and under.

• Age of Youth entrants 17 and under is as of January 1, 2011.

• Paybacks to be awarded in Friday Cuttings, Ranch Cutting, Sorting, Open Ranch Horse and the Ladies/Mixed, Heneks and Dorrance Brandings.

• All dogs to be on a leash and under control, or left at home.

• Judge's decision is final. Arguing with the Judge will result in disqualification.

• Full refunds will be issued only if the participant scratches a class within ten days of the event. 50% refunds will be issued up until one hour before a class begins. There will be no refunds for scratches made once a class begins. All refund monies will be surface-mailed with ten days of the event.

• Management reserves the right to cancel or combine classes.

Branding/Roping Rules:

• WALK-TROT ONLY.

• Brand cannot leave the "fire" until ropes are set.

• Time ends when brand is back in the "fire", after the last calf.

• Legal head shot may include a figure eight or one front leg.

• Ground crew does not have to pay an entry fee, except in the Heneks.

• All ground crews must sign waiver.

• NO RUBBER ALLOWED ON THE SADDLE HORN.

Equipment Rules

• No tie downs in any event

• No rubber on the horn in these events: All Sunday Brandings, Beginning Roping

• Friday cutting classes follow NCHA rules, including equipment rules

These classes specifically follow AQHA equipment rules:

• Ranch Cutting

• Ranch Horse, with the added line "Two-rein to be allowed on horses aged 4-6 years old"

• Buckaroo

• Reining

These do not have AQHA or NCHA equipment restrictions:

• Rancher's Choice

• Ranch Sorting

• Ranch Hand Riding (Trail)

• Games

• All Brandings/ropings

• Dorrance specifies:"Competitor MUST use a reata. Horses to be in hackamore, 2 rein or straight-up in the bridle; romals are required."

Here are links to the AQHA and NCHA rulebooks:

AQHA Equipment Rules (go to page 47)

NCHA Equipment Rules (go to page 108)

Payback Rules:

Paybacks are in addition to any awards and will be as follows:

• First 40%

• Second 30%

• Third 20%

• Fourth 10%

$30 from each entry will be paid back in the following events:

• Open Cutting

• Non-Pro Cutting

• Futurity Cutting

• $15k Novice Non-Pro Cutting

• $10k Novice Cutting

• $35k Non-Pro Cutting

$20 from each entry will be paid back in the following events:

• Dorrance Branding

• Heneks Branding

• Ranch Horse

• Ranch Cutting

$15 from each entry will be paid back in the following events:

• Ladies/Mixed Branding

• Ranch Sorting

There are NO paybacks in the following events:

• Rancher’s Choice

• Ranch Hand Riding (Trail)

• Games

• Adult/Youth Branding

• Buckaroo

• Reining

• Beginning Roping

Most paybacks will be made by checks mailed within ten days of the event, however for junior members we will offer a parent (or other person who paid the entry fee) the option of a cash payback the day of the event.

High-Point Rules:

The following classes qualify for high-point:

• Rancher's Choice

• Ranch Sorting

• Ranch Cutting

• Ranch Hand Riding/Trail

• Games

• Branding (Jr/Sr, Ladies/Mixed, Dorrance, Heneks)

• Ranch Horse

• Buckaroo

• Reining

No points will be awarded for any class considered a LIMITED CLASS:

• Beginning Roping

No points will be awarded to partners that do not involve an entry fee:

• Senior team member in Jr Branding.

There will be three all-around or high point awards that earn belt buckles:

• Men’s (18 years & over)

• Women’s (18 years & over)

• Youth (17 years & under)

A fourth award will be given to the highest scoring Local Horse

• Award provided by Toby and Paula Mockler

• Horse must be stabled in Carmel or Carmel Valley.

• If the highest scoring local horse also qualifies for a belt buckle, the Local Horse award will go to the next highest score.

The scoring will be as follows:

• 1st place 4 points

• 2nd place 3 points

• 3rd place 2 points

• 4th place 1 point

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• If rider enters more than once in a class, rider will receive points only for highest placing.

• All-around or high point winners must place 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th in at least two events.

• Ties will be broken by flipping a coin.