City hosts Australia's first ranch sorting

Dubbo Showground will be the location for two rounds of ranch sorting, which is currently the fastest growing horse and cattle sport in all of America and starting to make waves all over the world.

The western-style equestrian has roots in a time when ranch work involved separating cattle into pens for branding, doctoring, or transport.

This weekend Ranch Sorting Dubbo will host two Australian Bushmen's Campdraft and Rodeo Association (ABCRA) affiliated events, with more than 400 teams taking part.

Further events will also be held in May and October and Ranch Sorting Dubbo's Cindy Henderson said it was a real coup for the city.

"This is the largest ranch sorting event held as an affiliated club," she said.

"There's more than 400 teams, which means about 60 riders who make up a number of teams.

"The number of beginners is very large, about 55 teams and that's just on Saturday. I think there's about 35 Sunday too."

The sport is massive in America, with more than 22,000 members, and huge crowds regularly attending to watch what Henderson called "a sport for the whole family".

"It doesn't quite have the speed of other horse and cattle events because it's in a smaller round pen," she said.

"There's two riders and 11 cattle in the confined space so there's a lot more technique involved.

"There's a person on the gate stopping the cattle and you've got to cut the cattle in numeric order and get them out of the gate in about 60 seconds.

"But the crowds there can get involved and help spot for the riders so it's a fun, family event that you can take part in without any great cost.

"It's also targeted at riders of any level so no matter what kind of equipment, saddle or horse you've got you can take part from when you're eight until you're 80 years of age."

The ranch sorting action begins at Dubbo Showground on Saturday morning and runs all day before continuing on Sunday morning.