The ideal arena size the Americans like to use is 100' x 200', however arena sizes vary. An invisible foul line is anywhere from 35 to 50 percent of the arena length. It is marked by a line judge with a flag. The pen can be on either side of  the arena with the wing opening towards the center of the arena. The pen can be on either side of the arena with the wing opening towards the center of the arena.

 

Larger sanctioned shows generally run herds of 30, but local and regional shows may run fewer head. The cattle are numbered in multiples of three, i.e. three 4's, three 5's, three 6's, etc. Three mounted riders line up at the starting line.
 
 

 

 When the announcer calls "flag's up" he will call a number. In the case of our illustration, the number is five. The team rides towards the herd.

In this illustration, the first rider, sometimes called the lead man or cutter has isolated a calf on the wall.
 
The rider nearest him is serving as the turnback rider; keeping the cattle from moving up the arena across the foul line.
 
The second rider, on the palomino, has gone to the opposite side and isolated another calf.
 

In this illustration the first rider has pushed his cow up the arena wall through the area between the pen and the wall called 'the hole'.
 
The second rider has pulled his calf and is hazing it towards the pen.
 
The turnback rider continues to keep the cattle from flushing up the arena and across the foul line.
 

In this illustration the first rider has re-entered the herd to pull the third cow.
 
The turnback rider prevents the calf in front from running up the wall.
 
The rider on the palomino is ready to check up and take the pressure off his calf.

In this illustration, the three riders have converged on the pen.
 
One rider remains in the hole to prevent cattle from escaping back towards the herd.
 
Another rider guards the wing to prevent cattle from escaping around the wing.
 
The third rider works with his partners to sweep the cattle into the pen.
 

Success! All three correctly numbered cattle in the pen.
 
The first rider raises his hand to call for time when the cattle are penned and his horse's nose has crossed the plane of the gate.
 
Team penning is a timed event and in competitions the fastest time wins.
   It's that easy!