Farm Trial Clinic with Matt Mason
A few weekends ago Tuesday and I participated in a farm trial herding clinic with our friend Matt Mason here in New Hampshire. We are still newbies to this whole stock dog trialing thing but I think it’s safe to say farm trials are definitely our favorite.
If you’ve ever watched a herding trial you’ve probably seen a set up in which livestock are set out or taken out of a pen, navigated through a series of panels and/or chutes and then re-penned. Of course this varies depending on the venue or hosting club - it may be in a huge field or in a smaller arena but the premise is generally the same.
Farm trials on the other hand are designed to mimic common chores that would be required of a farm dog. Tasks may include moving animals from stalls to pens, sorting specific animals and moving them through a shoot or onto a trailer. Sometimes you and your dog will work multiple types of stock in the same run - corralling ducks before moving goats to another paddock and then returning to the ducks to sort them ,etc. Courses are never the same because they are designed to suit the site the trial is being held at - typically local farms. Needless to say they require you and your dog to practice many different skills but all the work is very practical. And Tuesday and I both enjoy practical work. Abstract learners we are not.
Farm trials are sanctioned by the Australian Shepherd Club of America but there are many different breeds that participate in them. This clinic alone had everything from border collies to bearded collies to catahoulas!
If you ever get the opportunity to go watch a farm trial (or any herding trial!) I highly recommend it. Watching what well trained stock dogs can do still amazes me. As me and Tuesday try to figure out this whole herding thing I think I’m even more impressed than ever when I see a talented dog and handler team - I know first hand how much work and talent it takes!
Here are some of my favorite shots from the weekend.
Ozzy the Bearded Collie. My favorite shot from the weekend. Shaggy dogs make for great photos - he happens to be a great working dog too!
Find the third duck…
Lots of pens and natural obstacles in farm trials
Border collie, sheep, and a field. Classic!
Working in small pens and inside barns are common tasks in farm trials. Here a young kelpie works on building her confidence in the tighter area.
Young aussie Rogan learning to keep the goats to the handler
There were cows and cattle dogs too! A little something for everybody.
Thanks to Matt for sharing all your knowledge (and your patience…), Mike at Bitter End Farm for hosting and all the participants that let me tag along on your runs.