We Had The Best Time!!!

Last Saturday a week ago Les, Drover and I attended an AHBA Herding Trial in Chesapeake VA.

We left Friday afternoon and the weather was great! Hot but clear and Great! HOT ! But I said that all ready!

The camp ground we stayed in closed the gates at dark thirty, but I did not know that. We arrived after dark, lucky for us there was a security guard and we were able to pay and stay.

Saturday morning arrived early and I was ready to go! Nervious! for sure, Drover cool calm and unaware of what we were heading out to do! (That will change I am sure!)

We arrived at 7:30 AM and the trial started at 8:00 AM…We entered the Ranch Dog course and the HTAD both level ones. (beginners)

We pitched our tent for shade set up and got comfortable. Les had fun talking to folk…I watched and became more and more nervious. My friend Jane Cart came by to watch our run.

My first mistake was I entered the wrong gate. Second one no leash on my dog (I DON”T NEED ONE!!!!) BUT it was poor ettiquettete, Third mistake I was SCARED TO DEATH!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes ME! Yes I trust my dog and know he can do the job, BUT I HAVE to REMEMBER to do MY PART!!!!!

Ths first obstacle was a foot bath, you have to funnel the sheep into a narrow fenced area with a pan of water in it. This is something you really do if you own sheep. Then on to a sorting pen. You start with 10 sheep, sort to 5 and repen the 5 you sorted out.This was a gate sort … so you open the gate and allow a sheep or two in at the time.

FOURTH MISTAKE!!!  I opended the gate WIDE and ALL 10 sheep entered the pen. You get two tries. So out and around and back to the gate AGAIN SAME THING!!!!  So I got the GATE for lack of progress!!!! Boy was I disappointed!!!!  It  felt AWFUL!!!!! Drover was doing HIS job but without me doing mine it did not matter!

Someone said “Well English Shepherds do not work stock that does not belong to them!” HOGWASH!!!!! Drover was doing his job nicely, it was me and my gate sorting lack of ability. (Now remember I do this sort of thing all the time at home!) Where was my mind?!!!

After lunch we did the HTAD Course # 4! Different deal!  I watched my dog had him listening and doing his job As I did MY part!

We entered the gate properly and the right one! dropped the leash. Went to the Handlers post. Sheep were set out on the draw (a bucket of feed) I waked half way to the sheep then had Drover lie down and wait. I walked a bit closer (you can go within 15 feet of the sheep) Level 1. Then I sent Drover “Come Bye” and started walking. Sheep were fetchy (stayed wiith you) and I walked round the handlers post counter clockwise and on to the gate obstacle. Two pannels set about 10 feet apart and had Drover take the sheep through the opening. Then down the fence line and to the L shaped obstacle. We had one sheep refuse the obstacle, then on to the Third obstacle a free standing 12 x 12 pen and I opened the gate wide and Drover brought the sheep into the pen. I closed the gate and sent Drover on an Away and opened the gate the sheep came out and we went towards the repen and stopped did a hold and then repened!

WE WON A BLUE RIBBON !!!! We had the BEST score and TIME!!!  I could hardly believe it!!!!!   I know Drover is a good dog but I am not the best handler/trainer! (I am way to slow!)  Hopefulluy I will get better! We won over Boder Collies and a Professional Dog Trainer!!!!!!!  SWEET!!!!

I got to see one of Drover’s pups from the Abilene/Drover first litter….Rowan and his person Janice….What a nice dog Rowan is and what a great job Janice is doing with him! A sweet boy!

But it gets even better!!!!

Saturday Evening our friends Jane and Ed, Diane and Richard, Les and I went out to eat seafood. We went to this great place on the Intercoastal waterway, it had a deck out to the dock and we were allowed to TAKE OUR DOGS OUT TO DINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  WOW!!! How cool is that?!  We had the best time! Great food! Wonderful friends! Super conversation and our dogs, Jodee, Skye and Drover got to go too and sit with us!!!!! What FUN!!!!
I will never ever forget this great weekend made even better by our friends being with us! Thank you Jane and Ed ! Diane and Richard! Janice and Rowan!

On Sundy We did not take home any blue ribons BUT we QUALIFIED in both the Ranch Dog and HTAD level 1 courses! DROVER GOT HIS FIRST TITLE !!!!!HTAD I sheep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It has been a long journey but finally we have found the right road!!!

Thank you Larry Painter and Linda Rorem With out the two of you and your GREAT teaching we would not have gotten on the right road!!!

Thank you my sweet Husband LES!!! With out your love and support NONE of this is or would be possible! I love you!