Team Penning Trainer

A sport inspired by work on the ranch, Team Penning comprises three teams of horse and rider separating a select few cows from a group and herding them into a pen in under 60 seconds. Western riders showcase their working cow skills and horsemanship in a team as they race to sort the cows. The sport is also well known for incorporating all sorts of horse breeds, registered or not. Between working with the other pairs of horse and rider, the cow chase, and the ticking clock, Team Penning is a challenging and exciting sport stemming from the roots of the western lifestyle.

As a family oriented sport, Team Penning consists of members of all ages. The United States Team Penning Association offers a Beginner Youth Membership for riders 8 years old and younger, a Jr. Youth Membership for riders 12 years old and younger, and a Sr. Youth Membership for riders between the ages of 13 to 16.

With the explosive movements and sharp changes of direction the cows will do, riders need to be able to execute quick turns and spins on their horse’s hind legs to herd their cow. The team penning community is known for their support and welcoming environment of beginners in their sport because of the amount of patience, practice, and learning the sport requires.

Cutting and Team Penning are very similar as both timed sports include separating cows from the herd. However, Team Penning requires riders to herd a select group of cows into a separate pen from the rest of the herd in under 60 seconds whereas Cutting requires riders to keep a few cows away from the herd as long as possible.

Trainers that specialize in Team Penning should be affiliated with the USTPA (United States Team Penning Association) to ensure that they have the proper training, guidance, facility and horses.