Herding Days at High River

SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2009

Herding at High River

Oh, boy,

What a great two days of herding for Token and Mesa at the Rottwieler Club of Canada Herding Trials at Phantomridge Farms, High River, Alberta, July 16 & 17th. Finished Token's Herding Tested title and got a "Q" of 85.5 with Mesa under Judge Shelley Fritzke. Not only that, but, thanks to the Rottweiler and Aussie Clubs, we received a beautiful Rosette and stock stick by placing High Scoring German shepherd! Better yet, we were 1/2 pt. off the High in Trial score! Yikes! That is scary stuff, considering who was working the dog. It felt really good seeing the girls work. I was most impressed with Mesa's pen work. She went in quietly and the sheep trotted calmly out of the pen and settled right away. I felt really confident working Mesa because she doesn't operate at the speed Token does and that gives me time to position myself better. But I gain more confidence when I can work Token and have her pass because she has more energy and she reads her stock better so she is often right when I am not. Probably always. Well, maybe not always, but most of the time, I think.

Sunday, Token didn't have to run because she had finished her title and I had hurt my knee while

taking the girls out for a run at 5:00 a.m. and was definitely not able to do any herding. Lore came to the rescue and helped me hook up the trailer and get ready to go home as I was sure I wasn't going to be able to get my 'handler' to work Mesa in the started class as she was also stock contractor. Jerry and Louanne drove the dogs and me back and forth from the field to the arena so I could watch everyone. Woody volunteered to move the dogs from their tie-downs to wherever I needed them. Gwen had the perfect spectator tent set up so I could sit in the shade for the day.

And, when told about the situation, the other competitors and neither judge had any problem letting Louanne work Mesa for me and she got our second score towards our Started title with 84.5 . As a matter of fact, Shelley, who has the highest scoring

German shepherd herding dog in Canada ever, volunteered to handle Mesa if Louanne was not allowed! How special is that????

Anyway, Louanne had no problem steering Susie around the course and obtained a score of 84.5 ! Yes!! Two passes. Grrrrrrreat!

The entire two days were spent in the company of the best people and their chosen breeds of dogs. There were Aussies,

Rotties, German shepherds, Cardigan Corgi's, a smooth collie, a Shetland Sheepdog, and two border collies. It was so

neat to be able to watch the different styles. Even the upright breeds had different working techniques. What an impressive

group we all were!!! I was so impressed with the stockdog class. Green with envy at the distance work and so excited to see them all work so hard over 30 minutes to get all the chores set out for them accomplished. From a handler's point of view, that was the most impressive class, but from a spectator's view, nothing takes the place of arena work for precision. Two steps too far and without a quick reverse, those sheep were gone to the 'far side' ... of the arena, that is.

Although not everyone qualified in the class in which they had entered, every handler and every dog had moments of absolute brilliance and we all appreciated the work that had gone into preparing for the tests. Those advanced dogs and handlers amazed me to no end. How Gwen can run backwards without falling on her butt and how Cathy Bishop can out-manuever Quade while he moves just short of the speed of light is beyond me. Gwen's sister, Deb has the quiet, smooth handling style we all wish for. Lore has given her corgi, Razor, such confidence, while Gloria and her corgi, Pearl, showed us just what can be accomplished by these little dogs with big dog attitudes. Fido will provide Gloria with all the fitness exercises she will ever need over the next year or two, I am certain. Loved the smooth collie with his easy-going manner around the sheep. And, speaking of sheep, there were sheep for every dog and its ability level. This is a science, for sure, and the stock and stock-handling was superb!!! Great concession booth. Fabulous photographer. Judges Barb Davenport and Shelley Fritzke, who were encouraging and fair. Weather beyond belief! Who couldn't enjoy the time?

And, bonus.......... Mesa and Token got along all weekend with no hair-raising experiences at all. Even rode home together in the extended-cab. Probably helped that Token spent her trip hiding on the floor and Mesa slept flat-out on the seat. Worked well for both of them.

Anyway, as soon as this knee thing goes away, I am off and running again! Whoa! Just remembered. I have Swayze entered in

Rally at AKC. Something tells me I should be working with him so that we don't look like ditzes. He works great at home.

Time to get out in public right away. But I'd rather be herding.