Cutting/Penning questions

I said average. Its different in every class.

How big is the pens?

Thats our average too for top riders from tx and ok.

Our pens are pretty big. I don't know how big exactly. I've been to a sorting in denver where they use small pens and obvisouly times go lower.

Average size pen in aqha,rsnc,and ustpa are 60 ft in diameter.but your right,some use 50 ft pens.

As much as I love sorting, penning is still huge here in southern Alberta and we don't have much sorting available to go to. One arena has been doing three man sorting weekly over the winter but it runs at the same time as a penning practice that is run by a 5 rated rider who coaches us during our runs. So we have been doing the penning instead.
The smallest I have sorted in is 60' pen and the average time was in the 40-50 second range on ten head. Some of the top riders were faster of course though.
Sorting is a great way to slowly introduce a horse to the type of cattle work required in penning. When I bought my mare she was all go so I only sorted on her for a year and then slowly introduced her back to the penning.

Very good stillstandin,you didnt finish blowing her up.you got control and regrouped.i compliment you on that.

Thanks Rob. Zena was never blown up she was just all go. Lol
I am also lucky that I have 110 cow calf pairs outside my door that I am responsible for. Both of my penning horses have to play ranch horse during the week, including occasionally roping the odd cow. This keeps both of them very responsive to their rider and also shows them it is ok to go slow until asked for the speed. But I know very few people who compete have that kind of luxury.

There is always luck involved when working with horses and cattle.

Our AQHA shows typically have one or two blanks to add in the challenge. By the 10th run on that herd, they want out!

You are right.alot of them don't see a cow until competition time,and it shows.