Dry Lake






     Thoughts on Dry Lake Sheep Dog trial over Memorial Day weekend.  Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures.  It was good.  I think we were over our heads a bit, and I expected that.  The trial will stand as a barometer to see where we are at.  And blaringly shout out what we need to improve on.  Watching is so much different than doing.



Pic by Gloria Atwater



     I ran Val in nursery.  It was on the last day, and the sheep were on their fourth go.  The field was 300+ yards, with some rise and falls and plenty of little prairie dogs-like rodents spectating.   I was very proud of how she hustled out there on the outrun.  She came in a bit flat and slow at the top, which gave the sheep a opening to take off at the 10 O'clock at a dead run.  Nothing I could do but look to see where the 4-wheeler was.  But, oh me of little faith, the little hustler got out and around them and was bringing me sheep.  Briskley.   Then they decided that going to exhaust sounded like a better plan, than the post.  Val took her 'come-by' command and lined them out to me.  Once we got around the post I tried to settle them, but they weren't having it. We popped them like pop-corn and they went off course.

     Tic ran in PN.  He got out there just fine, and took his lie-down on the second whistle.  Brought me sheep drifting a little off line toward exhaust.  Around post.   Taking all whistles I could manage to blow.  Started out drive away and got about half-way there and we had a communication breakdown.  So we wobbled around the panels and wobbled to the cross-drive panels.  He brought me back sheep and had them pretty nicely settled, as we timed out at the pen.



Pic by Gloria Atwater



     So what I learned is that we need more miles as a team.  I need to lie-down both dogs and then give commands until our communication is clearer.  Slowing things down, would of course be nice.  Giving Val commands on the fly in the excitement just throws energy and pulls her into slicing.  Tic I was happy with a lot of our communication.  He didn't check out, he stayed with me the whole time.  I missed  my whistles and he just interpreted the best he could.  Many of his decisions where right, without good input from me....  But he would really like me to step it up, even more.

     My whistle..... sucks!!!  I think it was all full of saliva(blood?) and it wouldn't blow.  I went to my fingers and my mouth was too dry and I couldn't whistle (how does that happen?)  Went back to my whistle.  Missed about 3 whistles there.  I need to help my dogs out.  And I really don't care for my whistles (the actual whistle in my mouth).  Had a nice fever blister that was also bleeding the whole time, which didn't help.  Really?  It can't be that difficult!

     Off to practice!!!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2017 at a glance

Image
     If last year was called ‘Live and Learn’, then I must call this year ‘Miles on the Tires’. 2017 is the Chinese year of the Red Fire Rooster. Boyo boy has it been a year for the border collies and I. It was a mix of circumstances that opened up doors than I bravely jumped through, not knowing the outcomes on the other side. Bluegrass Classic, Soldier Hollow Classic, and the Belle Grove National Sheepdog Finals were all new trials for our team this year. Feist Hill Field Sonoma Wine Country SDT Feist and I started out the trial season strong landing second on the Hill Field at the Sonoma Wine Country SDT The sheepdog team gained valuable experience at the scopey Zamora Hill SDT. Both Tane' and Feist earning points toward the nationals. Tane' putting together the smoothest and most timely pen on very wiley range ewes. Young Jag doing big chores.  Learning. Somewhere between the vast hills of Zamora and our Nor...
Read more

Live and learn

Image
Live and learn      My theme for the past year.  I feel like we have enrolled at the USBCHA University.  This year was indeed a learning.... and living year. Feist watching Joni and Cap Kingston       We went on the road at the end of the season to do a bit more living and learning.  The dogs and I met up with Amanda, Barbara, and Bev at SoHo.  I only watched the last day, but it was amazing.  My good friend and DHS volleyball coach met up with me to watch the final day.   Dorey sporting gold      After Soldier Hollow, I fell in line with my dogs and rig to Meeker.  We picked up another passenger Mr. Monty Man that day.         Bev showed me the ropes around Meeker.  Including the famous statue in down town, as well as the practice field.  It was great to have at least one practice before running the Monty dog.  Barbara...
Read more

Sheepdog journey

Image
And the story continues       It has been a long time since I have blogged. For a variety of reasons. The biggest reason is the ever elusive time.  It seems like I am hitting the busiest time of my life.  I feel like with the passing of my Mother, that my life lesson is, 'to live...fully'. I am hitting my stride - or trying to. I reflect only briefly backwards of the time I may have squandered walking up a path designed by someone else.      A very good friend of mine several years ago gave me the analogy that your dog running parallels how things are 'going' in your life.  Thus the periodic reference to the 'sheepdog journey'. I don't entirely buy into it.  However, when your life is cluttered and your energy is like the hoarder households kitchen, sure enough it's tough to find the focus needed to hold up your end of the partnership with your dog. I have witnessed very good people who go through rough life times and take it ...
Read more