After a good run, the pups slept all the way there.
We arrived at Kristi and Cole’s place and set up camp just in time for the second snowstorm of our trip. The dogs again had a wonderful time racing back and forth, snow flying.
We have known Kristi and Cole for several years, and have shared many a good visit and chilled beverage with them at various dog trials over the past couple of years.
Their new place is lovely, with large pastures, expansive barns and outbuildings, and a home under renovation. Their view of Pike’s Peak to the west is breathtaking. Since acquiring the property early this year, they have wasted no time returning it to what will become a perfect location for working and trialing their border collies.
In progress when we visited was pasture improvement. This flock of 100 or so goats from GoatMowers have been busy eating weeds to make way for Kristi and Cole to reseed with native grasses.
Their five dogs, plus our five made quite a pack. Complicating our visit was the fact that Meg had just come into standing heat, and had to be kept separate from Dutch and Kristi’s Keg, both intact males. The puppies, their two and our pair ran and played and ran and played and ran….until they were all exhausted. It was a doggone good time for all!
While we were there, we had the opportunity to meet Kristi’s brother, Giancarlo and his son, Sirius, who were visiting from Florida. Here is a photo of Kristi and Giancarlo.
And here is a pic of one of our meals at Buck & Blue’s Grill located at the Latino Trails Equestrian Center in Elbert. They make a fantastic hamburger!
While we were at Kristi and Cole’s, I was able to to spend time training with Terry Murray. Terry is an exceptional trainer and handler, and is even more special because she owns Pickle P, one of the pups from Dutch’s first litter with Jill Hefner’s Nan. Terry introduced our pups to sheep up close and personal in a stall with barrels. Both girls did well, and by the time we left were circling the packed pen of sheep with calm confidence. Such a wonderful way to begin their herding education! Thank you, Terry!
And,I ned also to thank Lise Anderson, with whom I spent a day working dogs at her Tabletop Ranch. We were too busy for me to get any pictures, but I’ll make up for that the next time I visit, probably in a few weeks at her Tabletop Sheep Dog Trial.
And a very special thank you, Kristi and Cole, for your warm hospitality, and for the time we were able to spend together. Can’t wait to see all you have done the next time we visit.
