Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Whistle for a Cure SDT Recap


This past weekend was one of new beginnings for the dogs and I. Nick and I both had a first - our first Open trial together, and it was Nick's Open debut! It was Linc's trialing debut in Pro-Novice. Surprisingly the fact that I was busier than a one-armed paper hanger working maybe accounted for the fact that I never even thought of throwing up on my shoes. I know, another first, right?

The trial field was great - Robin has spent weeks clearing out trees and brush, and has made it much more open and easier to see. The course wasn't terribly long - but it was challenging. The first day of Open a good bit of the fetch was blind, which was rather cool. The sheep were very good I thought - and though it was quite a mixture of hair sheep and wool sheep from two flocks, they worked pretty well for the most part while being a challenge as well. Nick and I traded off with Julie setting out and doing penwork along with the help from Denise, Peggy, Sandy and Dan. They were AWESOME - thank you guys! I think maybe I even prefer working up top - it's fun for me. It keeps me from obsessing and worrying, and it makes Nick happy.

We raised almost as much money this year as we did last year for Ovarian Cancer research as part of our friend Joan's team. She is such a special person that it's an honor to be a part of this and support not only the research but her too.

I'm not going to give a blow by blow of every step that was taken (I'm still too tired for that), but I'll give a decent recount if I can. Nick's first Open run he did everything I EVER asked of him and then some. He was sharp, thoughtful, listening well, and held it together really well. I was pleased to see him holding some of the lines on his own. His drive was a thing of beauty - only losing two points. Going into the shedding ring we'd only lost 12 or 13 pts. Unfortunately we wound up losing a ewe to the exhaust on a missed shed (totally my fault - I turned my back on her and she was GONE), and I retired because I couldn't see what was going on.

Dang. Shedding sure is a lot harder when you're doing it than when you're watching it. Oh yeah baby, I'm a darned good armchair shedder. In real time? Not so much. Yet. It's a lot harder to do the first time under the gun than it is just out in a pasture alone. When it's just me, my dog, the sheep, and no pressure we're like shedding fools. In the ring? Hah. For that matter there's a lot more pressure in general - there's a lot more to think about running in Open. There's a lot more that's expected and needed from the dog, and I cannot imagine how anyone could make breeding decisions when they've never gotten out of the novice classes. Open is a whole new ballgame. But really, that's another discussion. We're just at the beginning of our journey.

Our second run wasn't nearly as pretty - it took me until partly through the drive away to get ahold of Nick. By that point he had been setting out and pushing out the day before - and was quite full of himself. He buggered the sheep a bit starting his drive (and OK, on the fetch too) and was overflanking and winging around. I finally got his attention, and after that his drive was good. Fortunately the sheep were forgiving of his buggering and settled right down. I made a few novice flubs also - but we got around. We timed out in the shedding ring this time. Denise had given me some much appreciated advice (thank you Denise) after our shed the day before, so I was considering this as I went into the ring this time. I was disappointed to not have time to put it into action, but at least I was *thinking* about it. We got a score though! It wasn't a great score, but it WAS a score.

So YAY! We got a score at our first Open trial. That's not what I aspire to forever, but for the first one - with my first dog... I'm happy. Satisfied? No. Happy? Yes. I won't be satisfied to *just* get a score forever. But for today I'm floating.

Linc's Pro-Novice run was better than I expected. He gave me far more than I expected him to. I've been having a little trouble of late with him hesitating on his outruns. I was worried that this would be an issue... or that I might possibly find him hanging off a sheep on the way down the field. When he feels pressure from me he gets a little wiggy at the moment. I set him up to go left, and to my surprise he went like a champ.

He was a *tad* tight going out, but he kicked out and landed beautifully behind the sheep. He took his down whistle - dropped like a stone. The fetch was a tad off line (just barely missing the panels) but I finally convinced him to fix it after the panels. After the turn at the post there were two sheep bound and determined to head off towards the left. Two sheep were online going where I wanted, but I think he was afraid if he let off the pressure they would bolt up the hill. The two determined to go towards the goat yard were *really* determined, and I could see Linc getting wound tighter and tighter. I retired at that point - I felt like he was in way over his head. All in all I was more than pleased with him.

So it might not have been the most successful trial ever as far as scores go, but dang if my dogs and I didn't learn a lot. I was awful proud of both of them. Nick worked literally *all* weekend up top, and he held up physically and mentally - and still he wanted more.

Now we look ahead to the Lexington SDT in October. I missed the opening date of Jan Thompson's trial so won't be heading up there unfortunately. I'm disappointed, but maybe I should try paying attention. I'm tossing around the possibility of seeing if we can get in to run at Rural Hill since it's so close. That will probably be it for us and trials this year.

Later on I'll have a list of "Things I Learned Last Weekend".

17 comments:

Robin French said...

Hey, enter edgeworth! :-) good job this weekend

Laura Carson said...

Hah, you's a funny girl. Nice try. Actually, I have been thinking about it. And... thank you! It was a good trial.

Robin French said...

Just do it! :-) There's still time....you can't let Pip got ahead of Nick now, can you?!

Kelly said...

Nothing like Robin pushing you to do something huh?!?!?!?!

Laura Carson said...

The idea of Edgeworth being Nick's second Open trial and my third is enough to seriously make me want to puke. I'll think on it for a day or so but I dunno. Seems so out of our league right now.

Kelly said...

Hey...doing Robin's trial with Jen seemed out of my league. But we made it (not beautifully) and we even got a score......

Now I'm ready for more!!

Robin French said...

Well Kelly, Spottie was 8th there last year. If the time limit was long enough to drag her butt up the hill this year, you could run her! LOL!!!

Robin French said...

Aww Laura, just put a good lookback whistle on him and go for it (needed to get many dogs to even think about going out that far). Oh wait, maybe i better get one on Billy real quick too...

Kelly said...

Ha ha, it might be a long wait for Spot to get to the top to lift the sheep....like the judge might be able to run to get a bite to eat and come back to judge the lift ha ha ha ha.....I am however all geared up to run her at Rural Hill in P/N......If only I had Jen driving well enough to take her as well so I wasn't going with just one dog!

And what am I going to do in the Spring when Spottie is given top honors of working at home, but is retired from trialing???

Robin French said...

You know, it would be cool if you could keep her really fit this winter and run her at the Bluegrass next year before retiring her. She looks to me like she could use some long trots in a straight line to stretch those back and leg muscles, kind of like she'd get on a treadmill.

Kelly said...

Well she does long trots down the road to the creek here...its probably a 1/2 mile each way. But we can add on and maybe use the 4 wheeler to get more in, in a shorter amount of time.

But ummm yeah I watched your video of the bluegrass last year. I'm not sure I would even be able to see the sheep :)

Robin French said...

Uh, PN is quite a little bit shorter. ;-) Actually, the course is pretty small on the novice field (smaller than what you did this weekend) at the BG so it might be fine for her still.

Laura Carson said...

I'll think on it for a day or so. He has a look back command, but not a whistle. Not to mention if he needs a comebye whistle on his fetch I'm SOL on his actually taking it at that distance. Might need to change it.

Kelly, it would ROCK if you could run her at the Bluegrass. I am SO going to the BG next year.

Kelly said...

Ok what about like Ranch at the BG next year? Think we could finish out with Ranch there?

Robin French said...

Sure could try! Actually, at the BG, PN usually runs wed-thurs, and Ranch Fri-sat, so you could do all 4 days if you move up there. Just have to see how the old girl holds up.

The BG is awesome, hope you both go!

Robin French said...

And the Ranch course is really small too, btw.

Kelly said...

Ok I just want to learn as much as I can from Spottie about trialing to help me with Jen.
Can I plan to run Jen there too?

Robin I"m emailing you!