2014 GTPA Member Handbook
A Member Guide to Rules and Regulations
1 Generally Rules
1. It is prohibited to start a horse more than 7 times a day for competition. Riders are allowed to start
as much times as they want.
2. All bridles normally used in western riding style are allowed. Twisted wire is prohibited. Tie down
and martingal are just allowed in combination to snaffle bit. Mouthcloser are allowed. If you use
bridles with shanks (bit) only one hand riding is allowed (neck reining). If your second hand touches
the reins the team will be judged a “no time”.
3. Switching horses between riders does not lead to a new team. (At least 1 new horse or 1 new rider
leads to new team.)
4. Member of GTPA are rated between 1 and 7
Team penning:
- To start as team in the class „greener“ the added rating numbers could not be more than 6.
Exception: 1 rider, rated as 3…7, is allowed to ride in the team but the added rating numbers
could not be more than 11 and the rider have to be visible marked. For him it is forbidden to
do herd work. If he crosses the foul line, the team will be judged a “no time”.
- To start as team in the class „limited open“ the added rating numbers could not be more
than 15. 1 rider, rated as 6 or 7 is allowed to ride in the team
- For the “open” class there is no limit on the rating numbers
Greener: rider rated as 1-2
Limited Open: rider rated as 3-5
Open: rider rated as 6-7
Youth: Last year to start as youth is the year when the 19th birthday
5. The final decision of the size of the herd is up to event producer and judges.
6. Horses that are out of control more than 1 time can be disqualified.
7. Accident from rider or horse does not lead to DQ. But the rider is forbidden to work not sitting on
the horse back. At least before the runs end the rider has to sit on the horse back. Otherwise this
leads to disqualification.
8. For participants, it is not allowed to talk to the judge, except of stating wrong numbered cows or
sick cows. The rider presenters can talk to the judge in the breaks
9. Decisions of the judges are final
10. Protests: The judge takes care of protests. For every protest a 100 Euro caution needs to be paid.
Otherwise the protest will not be accepted. The caution will be given back if the protest is granted. If
a protest will not be granted, the caution goes to GTPA.
11. “no time” means no cattle and max time.
12. Retribution:
The judge can pronounce retribution for
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Inhuman treatment of animals
Wrong equipment
Unfairness
Disrespectful behavior on the judge
A disqualification in succession to inhuman treatment of a animal is only for this team. In really hard
cases, the rider or the whole team can be excluded of the whole show.
Possible actions to be taken are
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Warnings
“no time” assessment
Disqualification from the show
13. All horses need to have a valid horse pass with all customary vaccinations
2 Animal Welfare Rules and Guidelines
1. Inhumane treatment of any animal in the show arena, warm-up arena, stall, runway or
elsewhere on the show grounds is strictly forbidden. Likewise, any cruelty to or the abuse of
any horse is a violation of GTPA rules. GTPA emphatically desires to avoid all cases of cruelty
and inhumane or abusive treatment of any horse. Treatment of any horse will be considered
cruel, abusive or inhumane if a reasonable person, educated in accepted equine training
techniques, could perceive the conduct of an individual to be abusive or an attempt to abuse
the horse. Furthermore, any behavior by an exhibitor, trainer, or rider that could be
perceived by the general public to be harmful to any horse should also be avoided
2. It is the show manager obligation to separate the cows.
3. The backside of the pen needs to be secured with a banner.
4. All horses have to be 4 Years or older.
5. It is prohibited to start a horse more than 7 times a day for competition
6. The following is a list of criteria specifically prohibited at GTPA Sanctioned Events.
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Excessive jerking, spurring, whipping, slapping or kicking while on the ground, or any other
act with the intent to cause trauma to the horse
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Slapping or hitting a horse in the head with hands or any other object
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Using a bit in a manner that causes a horse to bleed from its mouth or face
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Using any object held in the rider’s hand, other than the bridle reins, to hit a horse
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Repeatedly and excessively pulling on one or both reins
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Riding a horse that is visibly lame, sick or emaciated.
If any of the above actions are observed, they should be reported to a GTPA Director, judge or show
management. In the case where the soundness or health of a horse is in question, the decision
should be based on the assessment of a veterinarian
3 Team Penning Rules
1. The Object of Team Penning
Within a specified time limit, a team consisting of 3 riders in the arena must cut out from the herd,
and pen 3 head of cattle with the assigned number. The fastest time wins.
1a) Is, after all 3 riders are done with the first run, one rider not able to finish the complete run, the
other two team members are allowed to finish the run in time
1b) Time Limit: The event producer shall use a 60-second time limit for each class. . After agreement
the time limit can be leveled to all sorts of classes. The following times count for GTPA- Events:
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OPEN 90 seconds
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Limited OPEN 90 seconds
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Greener und Youth 90 seconds
The relevant times must be indicate in the tender. 30 seconds before the time is out the team get to
know by acclamation the balanced time. If that doesn’t happen, the team is allowed to ask for a new
run (Re- Run). The Re- Run needs to be done as the last run before chancing the herd.
1c) Help from outside: It is not allowed to show the team the position of cattle’s from outside at any
time. The Judge is allowed to score the team with “no time“ if there was any help from the outside.
2. Starting the run
2a) without light- barrier
Before the run starts, the herd has to be placed behind the foul line at the herd side of the arena. If
the riders are ready, the signal for the start is the lifted green flag. The flag will be dropped down as
soon as the nose of the first horse crosses the start line. While crossing the start line the team will
see or hear their numbers. Every delay at the start will be judged with” no time”.
2b) with light – barrier
Before the run starts, the herd has to be placed behind the foul line at the herd side of the arena. If
the riders are ready, the signal for the start is the lifted green flag. The flag will be dropped down as
soon as the nose of the first horse crosses the start line. The time starts as soon as the first horse
crosses the start line and the team will see or hear their numbers.
3. Time keeping
3a) manual: For stopping time, the rider needs to lift his/her hand up at pen entrance. The flag falls
and the time is stopped as soon as the first horse has its head in the pen.
3b) electronically: To stop the time, one rider has to be located at pen entrance , the head of the first
horse has to be in the pen and one rider needs to push one of the buttons at the pen entrance.
3c) A head of a horse has to be in the pen while stopping the time. You can maximal ride in the pen
till the tail of your horse. The tail cannot be in the pen at any time, otherwise you will be judged with
“no time”.
Only cattle’s count, if they are completely in the pen. The team can be judged with “no time” if one
of the cow´s runs into the pen and pushes against panels because of too much pushing. It does not
matter if this happens before or after stopping the time.
4. Time stopping with less than 3 cows
A team can stop the time with only one or two right cows. Team with 3 right cows in the pen will be
judged higher as teams with less than 3 cows. In this case the time doesn’t matter. The team with 3
cows and the fastest time wins.
5. Time stopping with wrong cows in the pen or at pen side.
If the team stops the time and a wrong cow is in the pen they will be judged with “no time”. Only
cows with correct numbers are allowed at pen side when the time stops. Otherwise the team will be
judged with “no time”.
6. Hazing
Contact with cattle by hands, ropes, bats, or any other equipment, or hazing with any equipment or
apparel will result in a "no time."
7. Too Many Cattle
If more than 4 cows crosses the foul line, the team will receive a no-time. Any part of the fifth animal
that crosses the line will invoke a "no time."
8. Delay
The team have to be ready in the arena 30 seconds after their were announced. Every roundless
delay will be judged with “no time”. A team member cannot come into the arena after the run is
started.
9. Terms for a Re- Ride
9a) A Re- run has to be the last run before chancing the herd
Important: A team cannot improve their first time.
For example: A team has in their first run 45 seconds but for some reasons they get a re- run. Even if
the time of the re- run is better than 45 seconds, the 45 seconds of the first run count.
9b) If an animal leaves the arena, the team can either be given a "no time" for unnecessary
roughness; can be given time on their remaining cattle; or be given an immediate re-ride depending
on the judge’s decision.
9c) If a team observes an unfit, injured, or unidentified animal before committing to the cattle; the
team must notify the judge. Once the team is committed to the cattle, it’s up to the judge if the team
has a re- ride. "Committed to the cattle" means that the team has crossed the foul line, the flag has
been dropped to start the time on that run, and their cattle number has been called.
9d) If a cow cannot walk anymore it is only a decision of the judge to break the run off if a cow
cannot walk anymore or does not want to walk anymore. If the riders decide to break off the run it
means they quit.
9e) A team gets a re-ride if they have a cow with a number which is only 2 or 4 times in the herd. This
re-ride has to be done with the same herd. It has to be the last run before herd chancing. The time
starts at “0” (zero). All other times, which has been ridden with this incorrect numbered herd stay
unchanged.
10. Order of Herd Rotation
The cattle will be rotated at the end of every set of ten (10) to 15 teams and at the end of the first go
and before the finals. The herds cannot be used in the same order for every class. An event producer
has the option to run less than 10 teams per set of cattle in order to equally divide teams among
sets. All options shall be decided and announced before first go-round of each class.
11. Roughing
Includes, but not limited to, unnecessary or aggressive contact, running over cattle with horses,
stepping on cattle while in pursuit, running through the herd in such a manner that the cattle are
knocked down, horses consistently biting the cattle and entering the pen with such force on the
cattle causing them to collide with the back pen panels. A Judge’s call for “roughing” will result in a
warning, “no time” or disqualification of the team.
12. Arena Layout
"Ideal" arena size for Team Penning is 30X60 meters, although there shall be no mandatory arena
size, recognizing that arena size may vary with each facility.
12a) Start- foul line:
The start line shall be at 50% of the arena length from the cattle end of the arena. The foul line shall
be between 30% and 35% of the arena length from the cattle end of the arena, and the foul line shall
be determined and advertised as such by the event producer. The foul line may be extended to
accommodate bigger, wider arenas.
12b) Pen Opening:
The entry gate to the pen shall be situated 25% of the distance from the arena back wall, but shall
not be less than 16 to 17 meters from the arena back wall.
13. Working Cattle On-Foot
Any attempt to work cattle on-foot will be judged with "no time."
14. Time keeping/ display device clock
An electronic clock, showing the running time, needs to be clearly visible for all riders in the arena.
15. Settling Each Herd
Cattle must be settled in each corner of arena and taken through the pen before final settling behind
the foul line.
16. Dress Code
All contestants, judges and herd holders at a GTPA Sanctioned Show must wear western attire
including a western hat, long-sleeved western shirt tucked-in and buttoned properly, and boots.
Announcers shall wear western attire with a western hat or no hat being optional during the
competition day. Show secretaries, office personnel and time keepers shall wear western attire with
a western hat or no hat being optional and boots or other appropriate footwear during the
competition day. In the event of extreme temperatures, the show manager and the judges will
decide on the day of the show if short sleeved western shirts or cold-weather attire may be worn.
Tank tops, ball caps and tee shirts will not be allowed. Optional Protective Helmet: Instead of a
western hat, riders may choose to wear a properly fitting protective headgear. Helmet harnesses
should be worn securely and be properly fitted.
Youth riders under 18 have to wear protective helmets. Youth riders under 16 have to wear a back
protector/ body protector. Both rules take effect also in the warm up areas.
Hat Rule
A hat rule will be enforced at GTPA events. A 5 Euro fine will be assessed for every hat that hits the
arena floor. In the event that the horse goes down or the rider falls off, no hat fine will be assessed.
The hat fine money is designated for GTPA .
4 Cattle Penning
The basic rules are similar to all Team- Penning rules with the following variations:
1. There is only one rider who has to push one cow in a pen.
2. The pen has to be located at a sidewall of the arena
3. The time limits are:
– Open: 60 seconds
– Limited Open: 90 seconds
– Greener & Youth: 90 seconds
4. For each additional cow, which is at pen side while stopping the time, have to be counted 10
seconds to the stopped time.
5 Ranch Sorting (RS)
1. The Object of Ranch Sorting
The basic rules are similar to the Team- Penning rules. The concept of Ranch Sorting is that
there are ten numbered cattle, 0-9, and two unnumbered cattle (for a total of 12 head) at
the beginning of a run behind a foul line in an arena with 2 riders. The teams have to arrange
the cattle in the right order, the fastest time wins.
2. Ranch sorting is happening between two pens with similar size. Show manager and Judge
decide if the riders have to ride in one directions or two directions, for and backwards. Every
herd has to be pushed in the opposite pen before start.
3. Sorting Arena:
Round or eight- sighted figure (without 90° corner), between 15 to 18 meters diameter with
a 3, 5 to 5 meter passage.
See Diagram at End
4. Competitions in Ranch Sorting just in 1 class;
The time will be taken and shown by electronically device.
The official time for every run is the time that the rider needs to sort all 10 cattle’s in the pen
or the time, when the time limit ends. The time runs till all cattle’s are sorted correct.
Two runs are preferred.
5. The splitting- time will be stopped after the cow crosses the foul line complete in order to get
a difference between the teams if they have the same numbers of cows. If there are more
than 1 run, the numbers of cows and the time will be added. The team with the highest
numbers of cows and the shortest time is the winner.
6. The judge should be placed at the start/foul line. The judge will raise the flag to signal when
the arena is ready. The flag will drop when the nose of the first horse crosses the start/foul
line and the announcer will provide the number to be sorted first. Exactly at this time the
time starts.
7. The cows are sorted in order starting with the announced number; if any part of a numbered
cow crosses the start/foul line prior to its correct order, then the team will be judged a “no
time”.
8. If any part of unnumbered cow (ghost) or wrong number cow crosses the foul line before the
tenth cow is cleanly sorted, the team will be judged a “no-time”.
9. If any part of a sorted cow re-crosses the start/foul line the team will judged a “no-time”.
6 Generally Rules for event producer and Judges
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before the competition starts all riders have to vote 2 rider presenters, 1 rated “open” and 1
rated “limited open”;
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A judge shall be treated with courtesy, cooperation and respect. No person shall direct abuse
or threatening conduct toward any judge or a judge’s family, either in furtherance of his
judging duties or as a result thereof, whether or not the conduct occurs during an approved
show, on the show grounds, or off the show grounds.
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The cattle area needs to be screened. The cattle have to be treated fair; they have to be fed
and watered enough.
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The ideal size of the herd is 30 cattle. The final decision of the size of the herd is up to event
producer and judges.
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At the German Championship the size of the herd should be 30 cattle, at least for the finals.
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Before the Go Rounds start, the cattle need obviously be tagged with number plates
At pen-side the judge place should be screened
The event producer needs to be sure that enough helpers are available (Flagman, Doorman,
…)
The event producer has to check the results, numbers of cattle and time
Before starting competition, the event producer and the judge should choose experienced
riders as settle teams;
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