USTPA’s Mission Statement: The purposes of the United States Team Penning Association are to engage those with an affinity for the western lifestyle in the sports of team penning and ranch sorting and to develop resources and services for the benefit of USTPA members and growth of the sport. Team penning and ranch sorting are sporting events that involve the movement of cattle on horseback by rider teams. Created to preserve that traditional skill sets of working cow horses and handlers, penning and sorting challenge modern riders and mounts to compete in a timed event to identify, move and pen specific cattle from a herd. Teams of three horse and rider combinations use their combined athleticism, horsemanship and general “cowyness” to humanely separate particular cows and herd them into the penning area. Time is of the essence in penning and sorting, making this challenging sport even more exciting as the clock ticks. In seconds, the most skilled horses and riders can find their specified cow, separate it from the herd and move it to the penning area without ever touching the animal. Penning and sorting offer participants the opportunity to incorporate all of their working cow horse skills in a fast-paced, fun, team-oriented competition while embracing the roots of the western lifestyle. The United States Team Penning Association (USTPA) is the National Governing Body for the sports of Team Penning and Ranch Sorting. As the only national non-profit Association in the sport, it was formed in 1993 to educate and promote team penning, as well as standardize rules. Despite its name, the USTPA also proudly represents penners and sorters from around the world.