RANCH DOG CHALLENGE

Sunday Afternoon

Watch local cowboys show off the skills of their working cow dogs!  Cowboys will come into the arena on their horse or mule with their dog and then we'll see which dog can herd and pen the cattle the fastest!

Call if you're interested in this class!  There's a silver buckle to the top dog, and the entry fee is cheap!  Only taking 10 dogs!

Entries Close on October 16, 2009:  Call now for your entry form!

Description of the Individual Packer's Challenge Classes:

Pro Box Hitch:

1 Packer, 1 Mule, 1 Swamper.  Packer will pack load on mule and tie the box hitch

Pro Two Mule Box/Diamond Hitch:

1 Packer, 1 Swamper, 1 Riding Animal, 2 Mules.  Packer will start at one end of the arena, ride and lead pack animals down to their swamper and loads, dismount, pack loads provided on both pack mules, cover loads with manties and tie one load with a box hitch and one with a diamond hitch, mount riding animal and ride across finish line.

Pro 5 Mule Packer's Challenge:

1 Packer, 1 Mounted Swamper, 5 Mules. There will be 5 separate pack loads in the arena for each packer.  Mounted swamper will hold string of 5 mules saddled and with boxes or bags on, next to the loads.  Packer will be ready at the first mule and load when time starts.  The packer will pack the first mule, cover the load with a manty and tie off with a box or diamond hitch, then move to the next mule, and continue until all five mules are packed and tied, then call time!  

Pro, Non-Pro and Youth Pack Load Balancing:

Packers will be timed as they take one pack load and put it into two pack boxes, trying to get them to be exactly balanced.  With no scale, and just their expertise and feel from their hands, we'll see which packer can get the least weight difference between the boxes...in the fastest time!

Description of Team Packer's Challenge Classes:

Pack Team Classes:

A Pack Team will consist of 4 Packers, 3 Riding Animals and 5 Mules

Team Pack Train Trail Course: 1 Packer From Team, 1 Riding Animal, and 5 Mules.  Mounted Packer will lead pack string of 5 mules through obstacle trail course.  Team will be judged at each obstacle

Calaveras Gold Mine Race:

Team will come into arena, with saddles, pack saddles, pack boxes or bags, manties and ropes.  Team will start the race at their "camp" in the arena, whre their horses and mules will be unsaddled and turned loose.  At the sound of the camp boss's whistle, the packers will get off their bedroll, catch and saddle their stock, and get over to the supply areas to pack the supplies that need to go up the hill.  After each mule is packed with care, the team will head out of the arena to the first stop for supply delivery.  Each mule will be unpacked at the correct supply station on their route thru the hills.  At the last stop, the packers must load their now, empty pack boxes or bags with bags of GOLD to bring back down to the camp boss.  The race will end back in the arena as they cross the finish line.  But don't forget, the packer's better take care with their loads....any broken eggs or whiskey and they'll be penalized!

Team Packing Class:

Team will enter the arena, and there will be one large pile of loads covered with tarps for each team.  Team will start out in the arena, opposite their load, with 3 of the packers mounted, and at the judge's GO, they will ride to their pile, and start packing.  All of the load provided must be on the mules, with each mule having at least one item packed on to it.  Once all mules are loaded, loads must be covered with a manty and tied with a box or diamond hitch.  Three packers must then be mounted and together with the pack string, cross the finish line.

Pack Team Scramble:

Team will enter the arena, and go to their "camp".  They will unsaddle all riding and pack stock and turn them LOOSE!!  At the sound of the judge's GO, packers will rise from one knee, catch and saddle their stock.....can they remember which bay mule is theirs?....and after their saddled and packed, they'll mount up, ride out of the arena, and through the flagged course in the hills, and back into the arena to cross the finish line.

Team Steer Packing:

Pack a steer???  Can they do it?  A real packer can pack it on anything right??  The crowds will love to watch as the team of 3 packers come out of the chutes attached to the lead rope of a wild steer......then hold the steer still enough for the partners to saddle and tie off a pack saddle, lead the wild steer across the finish line, and unsaddle the steer to win!!

Open Ranch Roping

Two person team, at least one mule on the team, enter the arena, they'll go sort out the specified cow and then head and heel it!  How fast can they get their job done?

Come on out all you local cowboys, and rope with the mules!

You'll have to watch on Sunday, as some of our local firefighters and law enforcement officers come out to give the steer packing a try!!  Come root for your local department!  Which department has the quickest, toughest guys???