Penning Strategy From A Pro
by Beth A. Rishor
Team Penners have never gotten much respect. Roger Braa, of Ellensburg, Washington, would like to see that image changed. He may very well be the man to do it. Sporting two national championships, along with numerous regional and national wins, Braa did not become a team penner because he wasn’t good at anything else. Braa, who has been on horseback since he was very young, has had past success in cow horse, roping, and bronc riding. But this self-described perfectionist chose team penning. “There is money to be won, it is a great family sport, and you get plenty of opportunities to show your horse.” Braa always had horses, but made his living at a 9 to 5 job. He quit his job as a shipping manager two years ago. The then thirty-six year old built his 68-acre Silverwings Ranch from the ground up.
Braa followed his dream of training horses, and set up camp at his ranch. It hasn’t been an easy road, but Braa says he wouldn’t have it any other way. In addition to training horses, Braa also presents clinics, and gives private and group lessons at his ranch. He believes that a good trainer can help riders learn their horse’s buttons. For individuals who don’t have a horse in training, Braa suggests that a seasoned horse can teach a rider about ‘feel’....once a person feels what is right, they can help their horse move to the next level. “These people have the horse power to do the moves I do, but they don’t know how to ask. I like to try to teach these people how to get the moves from their horse that I do.”
Braa’s clinics receive glowing reviews, and he tends to have many repeat clients. These people want to learn from him, not just because he is a well-read, generous instructor, but also because they want to glean a little bit of his winner attitude. Braa uses many different approaches to teaching students new techniques. He is a captivating storyteller, using self-disclosure and self deprecating humor to punctuate his tales. He is confident, but approachable. A man big in stature, and also big in heart, Braa is quick to laugh, and has been known to be a calculated risk taker.
Braa is not the type of trainer who has a uniform textbook for training horses. His position on starting colts is to develop them at their own pace; to allow them to develop, not force them to go where they are not ready to go. At the same time, Braa says, he can feel when a horse is ready to move on and he will ask for it, and expect them to perform. He keeps a herd of fresh heifers on his ranch and when the youngster is supple, stopping, loping a decent circle, making nice transitions at the trot – in general, using himself properly – he will get the reward of fresh cattle.
Braa humbly gives most of the credit for his success to his horses. “I have owned some great ones. I have sold some great ones, too.” Braa currently rides a six year old AQHA mare called Fairlea’s Avalena, known around the barn as “Hootie”. She is an own daughter of Travelena out of a Colonel Freckles mare. Many people think that a team penning horse is just a reject from another sport. Braa states, “I believe that a great team penning horse should have the cowiness of a cutter, the handle of a reiner, the athleticism of a cowhorse, and be able to show all three in under thirty seconds.” Braa also attributes his success to “lots of people believing in me, “including his major sponsor, Nutrena. Braa proudly feeds and represents Nutrena Feeds.
The importance of a great cow horse is paramount to success for serious competitors in the team penning sport. It is this caliber of horse, and this level of horsemanship that Braa hopes will improve the image of this sport.
For those interested in more information, Roger welcomes your inquiries at rogerswings@elltell.net. Visit his website on teampenningnorthwest.com. Click on Silver Wings Ranch
Side Bars: Editor’s Note: The following information is provided courtesy of teampenningnorthwest.com, a comprehensive site for anyone interested in team penning, from the casual to serious competitor. It contains an illustrated guide to team penning, trainers, links for the newcomers, rules and locater map for a team penning organization near you.
What Is Team Penning?
Team penning evolved from the ranch work of separating cattle into pens for branding, doctoring, or transport. Today it is a fast paced and exciting event that gives a team of three riders from 60 to 90 seconds (depending on the class) to separate three same-numbered cattle from a herd of 30.
Once the three cattle have been cut from the herd they must be driven into a small pen at the opposite end of the arena. No more than four cattle are allowed across a foul line or the team is disqualified.
Teamwork is the key with all three riders working in harmony to cut out the correct cattle and drive them to the pen while keeping the wrong numbered cattle back.
New to Team Penning? Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I get started? Can I just show up?
A: In most cases, yes! All practices are open and welcome newcomers. About the only time you couldn't just show up would be at a sanctioned event that required pre-registration, but even most competitions allow day of event registration.
Q: Do I need a special horse?
A: Not really, you can have a fun penning experience on any horse with a good handle. That's one of the great things about team penning. But like anything, at the higher levels of competition, the horses are markedly better.
Q: How do I find out if my horse likes cows?
A: There's really just one way to find out; put him in the arena with the cows. You'll want to do this at a practice, and introduce your mount to the cows at a pace you're comfortable with. The good news usually the first-time penners are more nervous than their horses.
Q: Do I need to have my own team?
A: No, not at a practice or one of the weekly pennings. There's always other penners needing a teammate. Don't be shy, penners are a friendly sort; ask around for partners and look for persons with a similar experience level. If you're really timid, ask the folks running the deal to put you together with suitable partners.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: As a general rule, weekly pennings run about $20-25 dollars for either 3 or 4 go's. The jackpot go is a bit more if they have one, but most-times optional. At some pennings you can ride with different riders for your go's; at some you have to keep the same team, meaning if you want to ride with others, you have to pay for another 'set', so to speak. At competitive pennings the investment is significantly higher, but you have the opportunity to win money, which you don't at a practice, apart from the jackpot.
Q: How do I find a penning near me?
A: Go to the Locator page at www.teampenningnorthwest.com, scroll to your state, and then look on the map for a penning near you. You can also ask at your local feed or tack store.
Q: How can I learn how to pen?
A: My experience has been this: books and tapes were helpful early on. Other penners are very helpful, but I feel as if I've made my greatest strides personally after attending a team penning clinic. A clinic or workshop affords you the opportunity to learn the fundamentals and strategies and gain an understanding without picking up and reinforcing bad habits. It's also the most cost-effective way to work cattle. At a practice your actual time on cattle is minutes; at a clinic it's hours. A final thought; time in the saddle working cattle is the biggest teacher, and the learning process is continuous.
