Saturday as the sun rose over Dutchman’s Mountain I planned to head to a herding trial with KAT Ballou…I decided to let common sense and concern for the other entrees with intact males rule …
Instead Drover and I headed for the Border Collie Trials and Dog Festival in Huntersville, NC !
Wow!
Dock Diving and who knows what other things… and how many different dogs! Food and Excitement Everywhere!
I had never been to a true Border Collie Trial. I have wanted to go…but never had the opportunity.
I am fortunate to be friends with the set out crew for the Trial. I was allowed to view the trial from the sheep pens where the sheep are held until needed.
Drover and I have been many places but this was our first and most thrilling to watch.
Drover watching!
First off the field is ginormous! I ‘m a good judge of size but trust me I cannot relate this one to anything around me.
It was green, beautiful and far! Wider I think than long.
The set out of 3 sheep was done with 2 horses and a Border Collie. Still as could be the set out crew waited. The handler at the post at the far end of the field sends their dog… quickly…the dog was a speck at first on its out run…Then the lift and fetch where the set out crew was and then back thru a set of panels closer to the start of the out run… and a shed of one of the 3 sheep (it had a ribbon on it) then fast as could be it was all over!
Drover and I helped a tiny bit in the sheep holding pens from the outside…
It was so much fun to watch!
Did this convert me ? NO!
BUT it did excite me and challenge me…And showed me I can and should do more with my breed the English Shepherd!
I came away knowing that “Nothing is impossible with God!” No matter my age, size, money, ability, health…nothing matters as long as God is in it with me!
