Team penning was started in California in the 1950's and reached this area of the country in the 1990's. It is a race against the clock, pitting rider and horse against cattle. Riders of all ages--from youth to "seniors"--and of all levels of experience compete. You'll see riders competing on horses of all breeds and disciplines--from the back-yard, family horse to the trained, cow-bred quarter horse! Team penning is a family sport, aimed at having fun with friends and your horse!

Three riders enter the arena. Bunched together at the other end of the arena are thirty cattle, numbered from 0 to 9, three of each number. The judge gives a number to the team when the first rider crosses the start line, and the clock is started. The team must cut the three cattle with that same number out of the herd, bring them down the arena and get them into a pen within an allotted time--usually ninety seconds. The fastest time with the most cattle wins. This has brought real western riding competition to the State of Maine.