Team Penning?

Well have a blast. I to will be going sorting friday. Butbi am bringing a horse ;)
Watch the riders while your there. Go and talk to them. Youll find the ones willing to work with you.
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What I have learned is as long as you try your best and think your horse did his/her best people in the horse world arent there to critique your riding ability, but to give advice. I thought the same when I went to get lessons that people were going to laugh and make fun cause I had the slightest clue of what I was doing, but the trainer and other students didnt care that it took me a longer time to get a firm understanding of how to get control of the horse.

If for some reason you don't like cutting,or you think it's too difficult,then go to a 2 man sorting.it's world's of fun also and it's not as critical as cutting.

Absolutely!

The thing I like about penning and sorting is the playing field is level for everyone. You have 9-30 head of cattle, 2-3 horses, 2-3 humans. All independent brains thinking, plotting, planning. The cattle do not read the rules - they do as they please. The horses 'know' the rules but can do as they feel that run. The humans can get 'caught up in the action' and be absolutely hilarious.

There are always going to be those out to win no matter what. I do love my buckles but more - I love the thinking and the action.

Mis,i couldn't agree with you more.

Go out and have some fun and yyou will meet some good people I am sure.

I have a couple of thoughts on this as we have had a number of beginner types and I have been the new guy at roping practices and thought I would share a couple of tips that may help you fit in a bit.

1) Like others have suggested sit back and watch some of the riders go to get a bit of a feel for how practice runs and to see how others are handling the cattle.
2) Ask questions but make sure that you listen to people when they tell you something. Even if you don't agree with it listening does not mean that you have to do it the way they suggest but unless you listen and stay open minded you might not pick up that one point that could help your riding.
3) I always try and find the owner right away when I show up to a new place and ask if I can help with anything and to learn any arena rules that may apply. Pasting numbers on cows, opening gates, forking poop when your horse has one are all things that people appreciate and then when you ask for a bit of help people are more than likely glad to help you out. I have been to some arenas that have been very clicky where no one will help you out but the majority of them have been the complete opposite.

Go have some fun and don't worry you will fit in to the group in no time!!!

Thanks for the advice. I am actually waiting in a parking lot for my friend now to head out there. I emailed them since no one was in the office to answer the phone, and they said if need be they can find me a partner/partners. I am really looking forward to it, and decided to bring my horse too. Hopefully I don't make too much of a fool of myself tonight.

Just being nosy but was wondering how things went?

Things went well, very well

People there were very nice and helpful. I got teamed up with some more experience people. I did 2 sorting works, and 6 penning works. I even entered the draw pot they had, and I man I rode with paid for my spot, which I thought was awfully nice.

The best time my team got that night was 35 seconds. I had a blast, and my horse wasn't half bad either, just a little hot. For being just a beginner I thought I did well, and some people told my mom I did pretty darn well for my first time .

I also got the number of a new trainer, who I plan to start lessons with. I called a local guy who trains and does this, and since he's moving west, he sold the cattle, but told me to stop by and he can give me some names and numbers also, and some of them have cattle. So sometime this week I'll swing by.

The place I went to is holding another event this coming weekend, so I might go or go to a clinic instead. I am totally hooked . I'll post some pics a friend took later.

Thats great pony.did you get hooked more on sorting or penning?and might I just suggest that whether its a practice,show,or clinic,i would go because the more you go,the more you will know.