Paul and Sophie McCulloch may not have brought home any trophies from the US but they've supercharged their ranch sorting knowledge.
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The father and daughter competed at the Cinch Ranch Western Sorting Bowl National Championships in Las Vegas late last month.
While they didn't win, the elder McCulloch said the experience was invaluable.
"They are the best, we learnt so much," McCulloch said.
"That's where the sport comes from. We're good but they're so fine tuned.
"The good ones, they train everyday. They train other people's horses so they're switched right on."
It was an eye-opening trip and not just from a competition point-of-view.
"It was a good holiday. We went from Las Vegas to LA for Disneyland - that was something on its own," McCulloch said.
He added: "It was just amazing to be there. To see how they live on that side of the world. And the traffic, 10 lanes going from Las Vegas to LA and it was nearly bumper to bumper."
Everything McCulloch learnt in the arena will be put into practice this weekend.
The rider is off to Sydney on his own - Sophie will be working - to compete at the 10 Penned Team Sorting event at K Ranch in Mount Hunter on the outskirts of Sydney.
McCulloch last competed at K Ranch three years ago where he "got nothing".
He's come a long way since then and is keen to cap off the year with a bang.
"I learnt so much and Sophie learnt so much, too. We just learnt so much to bring back for our horses," McCulloch said of the US trip.
"I'll take all my experience down there this weekend and that'll be the last one for the season."
McCulloch is also keen to head back to the US at some point to take on some of the world's best ranch sorters.
"I'd go back," he said.
"I won't go back next year because everyone from Australia is going there. I'm not going all that way to ride against the same people. But probably the following year, I'd go back and mix it with them again."
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