March Madness

March Madness

2014










     First of all, it is hard to believe that it is already March ... again.  The days ARE getting longer.  The weather, albeit a mild winter, with the moisture, the bulbs are coming up and the pastures are greening. We are lambing late on purpose, but the cows are calving nicely.  We've logged some wonderful hikes, cross country ski and snow shoe adventures to clear the minds and exercise the dogs.



     Dogging has been good.  Mostly taking advantage of quality time at home.  Working on getting acquainted with my new partner Feist.  Eternally working on my whistle.  Tone.  Volume. Timing.  
     I have focused heavily on my handling skills.  I have homework to practice... at home from my friends who are much better at this than I am.  I aspire to be a handler.  I do not aspire to be trainer of others...ever.  But I seek to understand the art and the mastery of this incredible magical sport.   Now it is time to find some of my own rhythm and rhyme. 
    The kind of dog that I like is a dog that teams up.  Has biddability.  Has a nice feel for the sheep.  Presence is there, but doesn't have to be announced from the next atmosphere. 



     Had a wonderful chance to spend time practicing with my good friends in Idaho.  I have been so tethered to work and home, I have had very little opportunity to see them.  These are the core peeps who inspired and encouraged me into this terribly in depth addictive lifestyle. 




     My day job is all about animals.  Every single minute that is not with my family and not at work, is spent with my dogs.  When the humans get 'dicey', I joke with my local friend and trainer "don't you just love dogs?"  The answer is always, yes!!!






     Amongst everything else, we are still working through finding the consistency of the stock needed to have consistent dogs.  The Mecca is not being built, it is already here.  The Mecca is being discovered. 


     Now for March Madness.  Sonoma.  Zamora. Rio Vista.  If I am lucky to make the cut.  I will be sending my teammate an insane distance to bring rank sheep to me to try to handle appropriately.  As an open handler.  Standing alongside the people I look up to.  It does seem a little mad when I think about it.  So lets not think about it.



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 Northern Nevad
Read more

Hindsight is 2020

Image
2020 Thankfulness         I started this year with a New Years resolution to work on building up my mental strength. In all general purposes, my mental strength is pretty decent, but I thought it could be honed a little better. Be careful what you ask for. The year 2020 has been a whopper for sure.    Most everything on my agenda was changed. The global agenda has been waylaid. The time of national instability, for the first time in my existence, has arose. Growing up and flourishing in the decade of excess and following in the footsteps of the Baby-boomers has been an easy ride. Inadvertently I was not wrong to focus on mental strength this year. In hindsight it was truly more about my sheepdogging performance and becoming sharper and quicker on my decision making process. Secondly, I think I had in mind, trying to formulate a smooth exit strategy to slide into some form of semi-retirement. Maybe I was hoping to formulate at least a pencilled out version of the next chapter.       Now
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 Ray and Stella Meeker Jag the younger Watching opening Meeker Ceremonies from the top of the bluff
Read more