Only the TOUGH wear PINK......

Klamath Falls Sheepdog Finals: Sport, Jet, and Rock



Riorun Jet and his son, Walk-Up Moses enjoying a family reunion at the Sheepdog Finals (The happy boys)

Click here for a few photos of the finals
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gvmama/

Don't let pride be your guide

Some people just don't want to pay their dues. We are all "wannabes" at different levels of learning. But, you have to put in your time to make it happen. And, the only way that is going to happen is to get out there and practice. If you don't have sheep, find sheep. If you need a trainer, find a trainer.

After 7 years in this sheepherding sport, practice makes perfect comes to mind. Well, maybe not perfect, but a hell of a sight better than without. I'm never going to beat a big hat who has oodles of acres and livestock. Face it. He or she works their dogs daily. That's okay by me. But, I did want to compete at a higher level in USBCHA. That meant I needed some sheep, a stock trailer, and a place to haul them to. I made that effort last fall. It paid off. I finally got to the open classes with Jet before he was too old to trial. We have placed a couple of times in the top 5. And, Kilt is going to move up to open this fall. Yoko most likely will be able to trial in nursery this winter. She turns 2 in January. I'm pretty pleased with how she is coming along.

Meanwhile, I practice at a fairly local 10 acre ranch that has lots of livestock, arenas, and a field. I may only get out to practice 2-3 times a week, but I do as many ranch type chores with all 3 dogs that I can do. When we go to the desert we get to practice large outruns and work on our driving.

Set goals. Practice. Be consistent. Don't rush. Don't let pride be your guide. You have dues to pay. Once you've done your time, you will start to see results.

"Grandma, what's for dinner?"

Yep, that's my granny, bless her heart, Garnet Marie deMerci. She wouldn't let anyone call her Garnet. She could hunt down dinner, cook venison, and drink a 5th of Vodka all in one day. She was a Registered Nurse during WWI. She also was quite a horsewoman. How old does that make me? Yikes...almost 60. Grandma could make a mean blueberry pie, too. I remember those days. I adored her.

What do we have in common? Well, I know I couldn't kill an animal. Though, I did catch and had mounted a sail fish that I caught while visiting her in Florida. I did inherit deMerci as my middle name. We are both Capricorns. We both are Registered Nurses. I showed horses most of my younger life. I don't think I could drink a 5th of Vodka at one sitting, but I could drink a few guys under the table in my heyday. :0)

I have always been training something...

No matter dogs or horses...you name it, I have always been training something. This was my last mare I picked up off the race track. Three times flipping in the starting gate and I got her for a darn good price. Siete Bars and I met up with the now late Clyde Kennedy. After a few fun years together I sold Siete to Susie Hutchison (still actively jumping) and to the late Jimmy Williams. Susie was impressed with Siete's jumping (double bred Three bar mare) and Jimmy was impressed with the tricks she knew. See...that trick training is just in my blood. :0)

I did my own stockhorse training. I had a little quarter mare that my folks bought for me at 6 mos. of age. I was 7 yrs. old at the time. By the time I was 16, I was winning major events across the midwest including the American Royal. That's another common thread. I did my "own" training with my horses just like I like to train my own dogs. Before dressage was such a big event, my little quarter mare could change leads down the center of the arena every step. I trained kids on her to do gymnastics and she used to drag us around the barn with us skiing behind her holding on to her tail. That mare was worth her weight in gold.

Now I have gone to the dogs. I still have enough tack to outfit a barn. But, working dogs is my true love. And, it's a lot easier on my body than landing in the dirt going over those fences. My knees have taken a few hits from wayward sheep, but all in all it's an easier sport. Mind you, I don't mind being asked to do a bit of trail riding...just no more jumping picnic tables and breaking 2-3 yr. olds. Waking up at 6 am and working sheep has replaced those days.