online entry forms

Entries open on March 1, 2025. Please check back for online entries at that time.

All fees must be paid by e-transfer to skillseast@canadianbridlehorse.com for your entries to be considered complete; spots are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

for rules, class descriptions and more,

Please download your copy of the

Skills of the Outfits - Rules

The skills of the outfits east of the rockies

2025 Competition schedule

Saturday

Saturday August 2, 2025 Sorting and Roping Classes
7am Competitors report to Registration & warm up area open All competitors must visit the show secretary to sign in and get their competitor number before mounting a horse. Secretary will also be available Friday evening from 6:30 - 7:30 for those arriving the day before
9am Opening Ceremonies and Judge's Talk All competitors are asked to be mounted in the arena for 9am. Opening ceremonies will take place followed by a Judge's talk.
10 am Herd Work Classes Cattle will enter the arena at 10am and Herd Work classes will begin by 10:20. Open Herd Work Intermediate Herd Work Novice Herd Work Youth Herd Work
12:30pm Lunch Break Concession will be available
1:30 Roping Classes Cattle will enter the arena at 1:30 and Roping classes will begin by 1:45 Open - Two man doctoring Intermediate - Two man doctoring Novice - Ranch Roping, breakaway Youth - Ranch Roping, breakaway


6pm Dinner and Musical Entertainment Music to start at 7pm Cash bar

The skills of the outfits east of the rockies

2025 Competition schedule

Sunday

Sunday August 3, 2025 Ranch Horse Pattern Classes
9am Opening Ceremonies and Judge's Talk All competitors are asked to be mounted in the arena for 9am. Opening ceremonies will take place followed by a Judge's talk.
10am Ranch Horse Pattern Classes Begin Open - Lope Pattern Intermediate- Lope Pattern Novice - Lope or Trot Option Pattern Youth - Lope or Trot Option Pattern


2pm Awards Ceremony and Prize Presentations

The Event

The Skills of the Outfits was inspired by the Early Californios Skills of the Ranchos: An event held in Parkfield CA, USA by the Californio Bridlehorse Association to honor, demonstrate and preserve and pass on the values and skills of the early Californios stockmen and bridlemen (and women) of the historic working cattle ranches across North America.

This competition is open to all aspiring, amateur and working cowboys and cowgirls. We welcome everyone who has an interest in this way of life. It is also an opportunity to observe, show and share our passion for a good working stock horse; trained in the traditions of the Vaqueros; jaquima to freno. For this reason, preference will be shown to those choosing to present themselves and their horses in the traditional equipment; hackamore, two-rein or straight up.

Although the ultimate presentation would be in traditional vaquero equipment, we understand that many riders who possess excellent horsemanship and stockmanship skills will not have this gear. They are still welcome to participate at the Skills of the Outfits and we look forward to the competition these skilled individuals will present.

There will be a time limit in the interest of maintaining organization and flow, however, the speed at which a task is completed is not a factor when it comes to scoring. Taking the time to set your horse up well, ensure the safety of the livestock and your team mates and completing each task smoothly is far more important than the speed at which a task is completed.

divisions

classes

divisions

Riders competing in The Skills of the Outfits will be competing in one of the following divisions and will be judged in all three classes which make up their division. Only one horse may be used per entry. (This means that if a rider chooses to compete with more than one horse they will need to fill out a separate registration form for each horse and each horse must complete all three classes that make up their division.)

* Entry fees cover the judging fee for all three classes that make up each division. If a rider chooses to compete in only one or two classes, that’s their prerogative, however, fees will reflect all three classes and a failure to ride in any given class will not be refunded and scores for missed classes will reflect the “no show”.

1. Open – Riders who are Professional cowboys/cowgirls
  Two Man Doctoring
  Herd Work
  Ranch Horse Pattern - Lope
2. Intermediate – Riders who are developing their skills and do NOT cowboy for a living.
  Two Man Doctoring
  Herd Work
  Ranch Horse Pattern – Lope
3. Novice – Someone who is new to this style and just getting started.
  Herd Work
  Ranch Roping – Breakaway or Dummy
  Ranch Horse Pattern – Trot or Lope
4. Youth – Anyone under the age of 18
  Herd Work
  Ranch Roping – Breakaway or Dummy
  Ranch Horse Pattern – Trot or Lope