There are five rules that every ranch sorter should follow, whether they are competing at a Cinch RSNC event or practicing at home.
Rule 1: Have Fun
Ranch sorting is meant to be enjoyable—for you, your horse, and your team. You’re competing, but you’re also riding with like-minded people who love cattle, horses, and the western lifestyle. When riders get too tense, they tend to rush, overcorrect, or lose feel. When you stay relaxed and have fun, your timing improves, your horse stays looser, and your decisions stay clearer throughout the run.
Rule 2: Put Your Cow on the Wall
When you’re isolating your cow, the fence should be your best friend. The wall never quits, never drifts, and never guesses wrong. Keeping your cow on the fence allows the gate person to push trash cattle to the inside and create a clean funnel for the correct cow to exit. If your cow floats in the middle, the gate person has to work harder—burning valuable time.
Rule 3: Make Sure Your Cow Is the Last Cow
You never want to bring “sandwiches” (bad cow, good cow, bad cow) to the gate. If another cow is trailing your target cow, the gate person can’t safely step away to let the good one out. Cattle want to follow each other, so your job as the sorter is to take an angle that cuts off the followers and ensures your cow arrives alone. Zero trash cattle at the gate makes everything smoother and faster.
Rule 4: Stay Out of the No-Go Zone
The top corners of the sorting pen—roughly from the corner to the second panel back—are the no-go zone. If you’re riding there, you’re chasing instead of controlling. When you trail directly behind a cow in that zone, the cow decides where to go, often turning back to the herd. Staying toward the center of the pen and creating distance gives you control.
Rule 5: Keep Your Horse’s Hips in the Hole
This rule is especially important for the gate person. Keeping your horse’s hips facing the gate allows you to stay squared up to the cattle and make efficient, controlled moves. Big looping turns or wide figure-eights take you out of position and can accidentally funnel bad cattle through the gate. Instead, focus on making a tight “V” shape—step back, roll, and move forward—so you’re already in front of where the bad cow wants to go. Smaller turns mean better position and faster reactions.