Running with the Cool Dogs

What a great weekend it was!  Cody and I were at the Bell County Expo arena in Belton for the Central Texas State Fair and Rodeo Sheep Dog Trial, sponsored by the Texas Sheepdog Association.  

The Expo Center is a great venue; it is air conditioned, so we stayed cool as we worked our sheep and watched our friends work their dogs.  Most stock dog trials are outdoor affairs, so the weather can be anything... blistering hot, gale-force winds, rain, snow and ice (sometimes all in the same weekend), so it was a real treat to be inside.  I have fond memories of this facility from my days doing agility trials with Nickie, our first border collie, before we began herding sheep.  

And speaking of border collies…I can’t say enough good things about Cody.  He has an incredible work ethic, and gives 100% any and every time I ask.  I couldn’t ask for a better partner.  Here are a few photos pulled from videos my friends took of our runs.  (Thanks so much, Lindsey Williams and Kathy Mazzola.  Having video to watch really helps to see what needs correcting.)

Cody and I often do open field trials, where it is important to finish in the allotted time, but more important to move the stock calmly and precisely though the course.  This one was what is called a time trial.   You get no points for style; the fastest time on a completed course is what counts.  It is good practice, though, because often the best time is for 

the most technically precise run. That is what we strive for...and a good pen, like this one! 

We had four trials this weekend.  Our first effort was dismal and Saturday morning’s run was a huge disappointment.  I was late with my commands except when I was giving Cody the wrong ones.  The sheep were cranky and Cody was in overdrive, which made stopping on command a challenge.  (Cody and I did have a frank discussion after the trial about the importance of lying down when told, and will be working on that this week!)  We did, however improve our times with each run, and finished fourth in our last trial.  Cody, of course, wasn’t keeping time or score; he was just having a grand time and I was so proud of him.  

Dogs and sheep weren’t the only livestock present, though.  There was other livestock in the adjacent buildings competing for ribbons and prizes.  While we were stretching our legs outside, we met these guys exercising their pigs in the cool grass.  

Our friendly companion both days in a stall just outside the arena was Oliver the seventeen-year-old Watusi steer.  His horns would be the envy of Bevo and all the "pasture art" longhorn steers we see along the road.  

Oliver isn’t just exceptional for the size of his horns, he is also a riding steer and quite the conversation piece as he strolls around the Fair.

It was a great weekend, and I’m so grateful to Lindsey and Toby Williams for hosting the trial, and to all the folks who helped out.  I also appreciate the generous support of my fellow dog handlers.  It’s a wonderful group of people; they love each other and their dogs and I’m so happy I get to hang out with them.