Early Californios Skills of the Rancho General Rules • Horses must be ridden in a hackamore, two-rein, or straight up in the bridle. • Hackamores must be rawhide or rope cores with no metal or cable used in their construction. • Horses may be shown in the hackamore as 4 year olds and older without penalty in roping and stockmanship events. • A horse 7 years or older shown in a hackamore in the stock horse will incur a ½ point penalty for every year over the age of 7 in the stock horse class. • The two-rein may only be used on horses over five years old with a fully set mouth (all teeth are in) with leather curb straps only. No tie downs, running rings or gimmicks will be allowed. • The sock horse competition will be judged throughout the event. Those horses must be shown in the same equipment in all their events. • Rider may use two hands on under bridle rein only when needed. The use of two hands on bridle reins will result in major penalties or disqualification at judge’s discretion. • Bridle horses must be ridden in Californio style bridles. No broken or hinged mouthpieces are allowed. • Romal reins with chains and neck or get-down ropes are required. • To lead a horse by bridle reins at any time during the competition will result in major penalties or disqualification at judge’s discretion. • The use of a spade bit is encouraged, as this is a cornerstone of the Californio bridle horse. A ½ point will be awarded to each member of a team whose horse comfortably works in a spade bit. • Cowboy hats, heeled boots, full-length pants and long sleeve shirts are required while competing. Dress with respect to the style we want to preserve is appreciated. • Open competitors are required to wear leggings. • Open competitors can be on only one open team per division. • Ropes must be at least 45 feet long. Open divisions will be rawhide reata only. • Horn wraps must be of mule hide or leather. No rubber or other grabby horn wraps allowed. • Youth and amateur ropers may use a cotton horn wrap. • Once an animal is roped, the roper of that animal cannot hand off rope to any other team member. They must dally and handle that animal themselves. The only exception to this rule will be in the youth and amateur classes where safety of livestock or competitors is an issue. • Equipment failure may result in disqualification at judge’s discretion. • Unsportsmanlike conduct, roughing of cattle or horses, or working in an unsafe or out of control manner can result in disqualification. • All judge’s decisions are to be respected and considered as final. • Judges may alter certain rules of a class at the time of event and prior notice will be given to each contestant of that class. • Judges will hold a meeting before each event to explain what they are looking for in that event and what is not allowed. Anyone unclear as to what is expected in their class should seek clarification at that time. • Definition of Professional: Anyone experienced and competent in roping and handling cattle. • Definition of Amateur: Anyone who has won under $300.00 in a ranch roping. • Definition of Junior: Anyone 7-18 years of age. This competition was designed to preserve and pass on the values and skills of the early Californio stockmen and bridle men. All competitors should try their best to uphold these values throughout the entire competition whether in the arena or not. Respect should be shown to horses, cattle and other competitors at all times. Early Californios Skills of the Rancho will be used to evaluate intermediate division. .