Ranch Champion!

We did it! We got all the way around the course and got our first herding score today. It didn’t feel out of control, we didn’t lose any sheep, I barely had to yell at all – it felt good! It wasn’t super precise, but that’s not our strength in any sport, that’s for sure. It was very FAST, or, at least, it felt like it. I didn’t have anyone video, which I really should try and do because I weirdly have had very little recollection of the two trial runs we’ve had. I usually have a very good short term memory, so something about herding trials blocks it out for me.

The weather, once again, cooperated – which continues to amuse me. The universe is really shining on herding for me and Haku. I’m glad we did our dry run trial back in January, it’s nice to know how everything works and what to expect. I enjoyed watching for a couple hours beforehand, it always makes me feel better to see much more experienced people having the same issues I have, and it’s very helpful to see how things SHOULD be done too (and how to fix things). Obviously being able to practice on the exact same set-up is also a huge advantage, I imagine things would not have gone as well if we would have tried at a brand new location. Haku knew what to expect, I knew what to expect – the question was which Haku was going to show up for the trial.

So, yeah, thankfully Good Haku decided to make an appearance – possibly because he desperate for action after being on lock down all week. Once again, I honestly don’t really remember the details, which I find crazy. We weren’t out there for long. Outrun was okay, he at least slowed down on his lift with my whistle (but did not lie down), no problem working with the set up crew and then … shit, I don’t remember. Did we get some sheep through the fetch panels? I want to say we got some, but it’s crazy that I don’t remember. It definitely went better than last time, he was still fast but not frantic and sheep were not scattering. I tried another whistle about half way and he didn’t respond, which is when I yelled to get the down (which he did). Then that put us a little off for our turn around the post though, so that was way wide, but we went into our drive pretty straight. My goal was to keep Haku moving, so I did not ask him to lie down at all on the drive. That I remember. So it was a little wobbly, but we got through the drive panels and our turn was good and our hold was real quick – and I’m like, “That’s it?”

Super happy that I felt like we were out there together, we did the best we could and it felt really good to actually get through it. I know Haku could do it, but this was a test for me to see if I could – it was nice to feel like this was something we could do together. Really helped that Haku wasn’t freestyling, so I could stay calm and relaxed – those two probably go hand in hand.

And we even won the class, which, okay, it’s the baby dog class – but that’s where we are, and I’m proud we could do it. Our first score together: 51. So we have a mug that proclaims Haku is a ‘Ranch Champion’, which I felt seemed a little exaggerating the achievement, but we’re going to take it anyway. And there is also the very real possibility that maybe we won’t get a lot of other trialing opportunities, so we’re going to celebrate every one like it’s our last. I’m perfectly happy to say we trained to the point where we could get through a trial, that’s not a bad place to get to.

We do have further goals, though no trials in the near future. I think Ian said the next local trial wasn’t until May or something. So the goal is to train to feel confident we can do some higher level stuff by then, and to train Haku how to shed for his AKC herding career with Carol as well. She is planning to take him up north in April, so we have a couple months to work on that. Hopefully. I like training, and now that we’re back to our erratic practice schedule, that doesn’t really give us a lot of opportunities to practice between now and then. So no slacking off now, we have goals.

Knock on wood, Haku looked sound today and looks sound tonight. He hasn’t done anything since mid-week, and the actual herding run WAS pretty short. Hopefully he’s back to 100% in no time, if not already. I know he had a good time today, though he thought that wasn’t nearly enough herding for him.

And Navarre was pissed waiting in the car at the trial, poor guy. It has not been an action packed week for dogs with Haku being out of commission, unfortunately. Hopefully next week we get back into our groove. Assuming we’re not snowed in – ha!