- A Team consists of 3 riders.
- All riders are required to ride in appropriate smooth soled riding boots, long trousers and long sleeved collared shirt and hat. Riding helmets or Akubra style hats are acceptable. Helmets are required for junior riders and encouraged for all competitors.
- The Announcer is to advise the collar colour as the first competitor crosses the starting line.
- Within a 2 minute limit a team must cut out from the mob and yard 3 head of cattle with the same assigned colour. A 30 second warning bell should be given prior to the end of the run.
- The starting line will be either in the centre of the arena or can be on the yard side of the centre. All cattle must be behind the starting line before time begins. Time for a run commences when the first of the three horses crosses the starting line.
- If more than five cattle are across the starting line at any one time, the
team will be disqualified.
- The yard will be located either in the centre or to one side of the arena. The yard to be 4.8 meters x 4.8 meters with a 2.4 meter wing. The yard and the end of the wing to be a minimum of 3.6 meters from the fence line.
- A team can call for time only once. To call for time one rider must stand in the gateway and raise his/her hand after some, or all of the assigned cattle are yarded. The rider is not allowed to enter the pen past the horses shoulder, nor turn their horse in the pen.
- A team may call for time with only one or two of the assigned cattle yarded, however, teams yarding 3 cattle will place higher than those yarding 2, and 2 will place higher than those yarding only 1, regardless of time.
- At no stage are horse and rider permitted to enter the pen to remove any incorrect cattle or when claiming time.
- Time cannot be given until the assigned cattle are in the yard and all other cattle are behind the starting line.
- No time will be given if incorrect cattle are in the yard when time is called.
- Cattle are to be released from the pen expediently once time has been called.
- A team exhibiting any unnecessary rough handling or riding into the mob at excessive speed, may be disqualified.
- No whips can be carried into the Arena. No hitting of cattle with any object will be allowed.
- No tie downs or rings are permitted.
- Cattle must be gathered and settled prior to each run.
- The number of runs allowed per competitor and number of times a horse may compete in any one event will be determined by the organising committee.
- No alcohol is to be consumed by competitors during the competition.
- It is recommended that there be 30 head of cattle in the arena for most competitions. Local conditions and arena size may dictate a variation to this number.