Training After the Trial

We have had several training lessons since our trial. On Monday we went out to Roy Sage's to try our hand at his sheep again. They sure do act different at their own home than at the trial. They are actually harder to work at Roy's. We discussed the center pen and how to best accomplish it but I am still having trouble grasping what I need to do. Rave doesn't push the stock to the back of the arena and so doesn't have a lot of maneuver room and she ends up bringing them out of the end panel to fast. Of course at Roy's there is a huge draw back up the field to the repen. But there must be a way to have it more controlled and slower. I shall keep trying.

There was a gap that formed in the fence where two panels joined dividing the arena from the pasture. The sheep we where working saw it and took advantage escaping into their grazing pasture. Well Rave went after and forgot all about the nice controlled cover we have been getting lately. It was definitely cow pony time again! I was unable to get to her before she stopped as I had to climb the fence and run, not so easy as it once was, to where the action was taking place, so was unable to get a correction in. But these things happen and we will just wait for our next opportunity to make it right.

Today I went out to Dianne Deal's place to work cattle. On our first go we had four calves. Rave moved them around easily. No big problems, just some trouble holding the line as Rave lets them slip off to the side. We then put those back in with the group and sat out for a bit of a rest. Then I sent Rave into the holding area to bring all the cattle up for a gate sort. I handled it all wrong. I know better and don't know what I was thinking. There are two gates that kind of form a take pen between the area the calves live and the arena. Well I knew to use the gate leading into the arena but for some reason I thought Dianne wanted me to use the other gate. Well instead of questioning I just did what I thought she wanted. We got into some trouble there. One of the larger calves wouldn't move and faced Rave down. Chased her a bit. When they got to an area where there was more maneuver room Rave would and heel it back to the herd. It happened a couple of times and then I guess the calve decided that it didn't want to be heeled anymore and stopped fighting with her. Rave did get a good thump on the shoulder and carried her leg for a minute or two. But soon she was back on all fours and this evening doesn't even have a limp so I guess she is fine. She is a tough little girl. No matter what kick she has received she has never shut down or had to be coaxed back to work. Once we had six sorted out we worked them in the arena. Some nice work and slightly better on holding the line.

Accomplishments, Goals, and Plans

• Work on holding the line
• Work on pushing the stock all the way to the back of the arena
• Continue to work on pace

Desert Happenings

Today we went out to the dessert to work the sheep on BLM land. I was a bit nervous not being sure if I would ever see sheep or dog again, but I need not have worried. Rave performed beautifully. And I was surprised that the sheep did not seem a bit nervous or flighty about being dumped in a strange place. They did stay grouped well but went to grazing and looked relaxed.

My first few outruns I stayed pretty close and went half way. All went well. Rave of course not going out anywhere near as wide or far as the BC's. They truely went WAY out. But Rave was able to approach the sheep without disturbing them or causing them to get nervous. We drove them around awhile with me staying real close. Did a few more outruns and retired before something went wrong. We then watched the BC's run. Pretty amazing. There is one young dog that they are very excited about. I guess he has tons of potential and it was fun to watch him.

On our second turn I got a bit braver and asked for a longer outrun. staying just in front of her as I sent her. She handled it well, not as wide as I would like but she stayed calm in her demeanour and the sheep trusted her. Maybe to much. We got quite close to them on the drive which made it a bit hard to steer. I pulled her back some and one sheep challenged. She met it without busting to bad and we where able to drive around. Again I was to chicken to get to far from her. I asked Dianne if she thought Rave had it in her to do a bigger outrun and she said without a doubt. So I will continue to ask for more distance, if I can figure out how

Accomplisments, Goals and Plans

• Ask more of Rave
• Work on squaring the inside flank
• Trust her more
• Work on the stop

Trialing in New Plymouth

Well our trial is over now. What a weekend Rave and I had. Best trial we have done. She ramped up a little as the weekend went by but not a lot.

Club members and I meet out at the fairground/rodeo grounds in New Plymouth, about 50 miles from my home to build the courses for the trial. We had to put up an arena for our duck trial, build holding pens with small panels for our sheep trial, and set up the obstacles for our main arena trial cattle and sheep. The work went pretty fast and it stayed cool. Which was a blessing because as the trial progressed it got hotter and hotter. Sunday was hot! Lots of people with sunburns.

Friday we had a small entry for our afternoon trial. It all is a bit of a blur now, can't remember to many details. Rave did well with the ducks taking high in trial. Also had a great run on the cattle with another high in trial. Wow. Sheep was a little more exciting with her taking a grip and getting a watch it, but she settle down and we where able to get a good score.

On Sunday we had a difficult group of sheep. One kept breaking and Rave had to hold her from going to the repen and at the same time not let the lagers go. This happened last year too. Is it that Rave is lucky and gets the draw of this kind of group? Or is she doing something to cause the break? Once we had it break, Rave headed her off. The ewe was going fast and couldn't turn so she went up. Rave went up with her but didn't open her mouth. Phew. Guess the judge could see that there was no contact as I didn't even get a watch it. We had a great second run on sheep. The best we have ever done, at least in my opinion. I was able to hold her to a walk and the sheep stayed calm as they steadily made their way around the course. We had a real nice turn off the fence to the pen. I grabbed at the gate to get it open as they sheep where heading on a straight line right to the pen. And my had went through the opening of the gate and grabbed onto the side panel instead! ARgg. So I was a little delayed getting the gate open so had to reposition the sheep to get them in the pen. Then they went in only half way and stopped. We waited and watched for them to relax a bit. Rave holding her ground nicely. They licked their lips, wiggled their ears, and looked in the pen a little. Then one stomped at Rave. I asked for a one step walk up and she gave it. I asked for a one step away and she leaned. And the sheep turned and went in. Seemed like it took an hour but I am sure it didn't. . Not perfect control back to the repen but better than usual. A great run.

Our last cattle run was also going very well. We drew the jerseys for our last run. One was a bit slower than the others. Rave gave him a nice heel when I asked for it and held it to one bite. We got the steers around the panels very smoothly. Then I couldn't quite get her to make a hole to pull them off the fence. She heeled the outside steer instead of the one on the fence and they started fast trotting. Rave went out for the cover and fly by. Well it kind of got a bit exciting after that. Rave had a very fun time. Jerseys went their own way and Rave had to work to bring them back to the pen. In the end I only got one in the pen. And he still had his hind leg out to far. Rave was off rounding up the rest of the steers and I couldn't get her back to push the steer all the way in. I finally closed the pen on the singleton even though we hit it with the gate to make it go all the way in. The judge didn't call it though. I totally forgot that I could go into the pen to get the steer out and Rave was still refusing to leave the ones that had 'got away'. She would look over at me with the expression of, 'I gotta get these first before I can help you out.' So we timed out before I could do the repen.

It was a fun, long, hot, work filled week. We really have to much work for too little people. But I would do it all over again, and will in the fall Now it is back to training those weaknesses. I need to continue to work on pace, having her hold the outside on the drive, squaring her flanks better. And I guess I better work on the call off when the stock are moving!

Accomplishments, Goals and Plans

• Earned our advanced sheep and duck titles and our open cattle title
• Continue to train to have dependable control
• Have fun!