ARDMORE, OK -- Ranch Sorting is a newer division in the world of Western riding competitions. The Ranch Sorting National Championships are being held in Ardmore. The week-long event is bringing hundreds of riders to the area and organizers say it will have an economical impact of about $1-million dollars.

The act of sorting cattle has been done on ranches for hundreds of years. Organizers say "ranch sorting" just takes those practical skills and moves them indoors for a competition.

Riders of all ages are saddling up for the Ranch Sorting National Championships in Ardmore. Organizers boast it's a family sport, that's tied to western tradition.

"This sport came from practical activities that took place in the ranching lifestyle every day. What they done - they've expanded on those skills and made a sport out of it,” Keith Tast said.

Tast is one of about 600 riders competing in the week-long event. He drove down from Wyoming, and like the hundreds of other teams, will be working with a riding partner, to sort out calves by their numbers in fast-paced, 60 second rounds.

"It's not like a lot of the other horse shows - we got something going on all the time. When one is going in this ring, the people get ready in the next ring and as soon as they're done the judge turns and we go do that one,” Don Goddard of RSNC said.

While Ranch Sorting is a relatively new sport, it's quickly gaining popularity.

This national championship event alone is bringing in hundreds of horses and riders from across the country, which is pumping hundreds of thousands of dollars into the Ardmore economy.

"We’ve got 500 stalls filled - there's probably 2.2 people in town for every horse. So we're looking at over 1,000 people in town for 6 full days. This will be over a $1-million economic impact on the city of Ardmore," Tim Lynch with the Hardy Murphy Coliseum said.

Event organizers say they're already making plans to come back to the Coliseum for next year's national championships. And Tast, like many others, says he hopes he's back here in the saddle next year too!

Organizers say the big day of the Ranch Sorting National Championships is Saturday. The finals will run through the afternoon. And then rounds featuring celebrity riders are scheduled, with the money raised going to “Western Wishes” - an organization that helps grant a wish to sick or terminally ill children.

For more information visits RSNC's homepage - http://www.rsnc.us/