Sorting, cutting series begin this month

Though the summer’s rodeo and demolition derby events have come and gone, and the Gymkhana series has finished for the year, Hot Springs County Fairgrounds will still see plenty of activity in the coming months.

The Wyoming Sorting Association will still have an event the second weekend of each month, with the season kicking off Oct. 13-15.

There are a couple changes happening with the sorting events, including early practices from 2-4 p.m. on Fridays during events. There will also be team challenges during which three-person teams compete against each other on Friday.

Each three-person team will have three sorters, with each doing a “round robin” with their teammates — each sorter will sort with each partner. The team with the most cattle sorted wins. No lap times will be kept and there will be a 60-second time limit. Only the number of cattle will be recorded. In the event of a tie, each team will choose one team to compete against the other team(s).

Among the classes offered this year will be the Junior Horse Open/Novice and the Senior Horse Open/Novice. A Junior is considered a horse that is age four and under, while Seniors are age 5 and older. Proof of age is required for these classes, and any money won by the horses will be tracked to make the animals more marketable and to prove earnings.

The three-person team challenge, as well as the Senior and Junior Horse Open/Novice classes, are pre-enter. Entries must be received by by Oct. 9, and team numbers will be limited. To enter, call 307-751-8715.

There will also be youth events during the Saturday of events, with age divisions of 5 and under and 6-12.

Sunday will see a change to the three-man sort all event, as there will be two open gates instead of one, as was done last year. The sorting series will be the second weekend of each month, Oct.-April.

The Central Wyoming Cutting Club (CWCC) will host a clinic at the Hot Springs County Fairgrounds Oct. 20-22.

Debbie Keller with CWCC said this clinic will be different from the usual cutting competitions, which start in November, with a smaller herd than is seen the rest of the season. The clinic is for newcomers to gain some experience and guidance from veteran cutters, but Keller also noted people at any level of experience can use the clinic to get some additional work.

The CWCC utilizes local cattle at its events, Keller said, and they check out local producers to see what they have available.

Regarding competition itself, each contestant has 2.5 minutes to show his or her horse. Each rides into the herd, and is able to choose the cow he or she wants to cut out. The rider has to drop the reins and allow the horse to work on its own.

Horses are judged on factors such as being able to enter the body of the herd quietly with little disturbance to the herd or the cow brought out, distance the cut cow is taken from the rest of the herd, controlling the cut cow. Riders are also judged on factors such as whether the reins are kept loose or whether the rider makes any noise directed toward any of the cattle.

The regular cutting season begins in November and runs through March.