2025 MFTHBA Rulebook

135 Section 9. Ranch Roping Class Description: This is a judged event with a 2 minute time limit. The rope must be thrown and the contestant may throw only two loops. A second rope may be used, but total number of loops thrown may not exceed two. A. Class Procedures: 1) The honda of the rope used must be of a breakaway design. 2) Horse and rider must start from behind a starting line which will be located 1/3 of the arena in length away from where ten calves are held as a herd, with each bearing a number from 0 to 9. 3) A random draw will be used to select the calf to be roped, which will be announced to the contestant when the horse crosses the starting line. 4) Each contestant may have an optional herd holder. The herd holder may not cross the starting line before the contestant. The sole duty of the herd holder is to assist in holding the cattle at the working end of the arena. The helper cannot sort cattle and doing so will result in “no time” for the contestant. 5) The judge will serve as the flagger, and the judge shall be mounted. The contestant must catch the calf with a legal catch. A legal catch is defined as: a) Slick horns catch, or the rope must be around both horns, b) A 1/2 head catch, or the rope must be around 1 horn and go under the nose of the calf, c) A neck catch, the rope is around the neck. 6) Youth exhibitors may have their rope tied on to the saddle horn instead of dallying, at their discretion. B. Judging Considerations: The horse should be judged as in a ranch roping situation with emphasis on herd work, i.e. entering and keeping a quiet environment, isolating and roping the cow without running or disturbing the herd. Maneuvers to be scored are: 1) Herd work, to include natural cow sense; horse approaches interested and without hesitation; enters herd quietly; cutting the cow; and working advantage. 2) Rating and tracking the cow, to include: the horse being responsive and in control of the cow; and 3) Rope handling, to include: position of the horse; and securing any kind of catch. 4) Maximum credit should be given for rider ability to ‘read’ cattle and secure a legal catch. C . Scoring/Penalties: 1) Scoring will be on the basis of 0 to 100, with 70 denoting an average performance. 2) 15 point penalty will be given for failure to secure any kind of catch (an entry that does not secure a legal head catch shall not place above one who does). 3) 5 point penalty will be given for: a) Losing a cow. b) Overworking the cow c) Failure to separate the cow d) Disturbing the herd. e) Unnecessary roughness f) Turning tail to the cow 4) 2 point penalty will be given for: a) Running past cow. b) Coming in contact with cow