Working Sheep

This past weekend was the Turkey Trot Benefit Stock Dog Trial at The Training Center.  If Maisie had had a different upbringing, she could have been out there with all the other kids, but a. she hates being told what to do and b. would have made a big mess of everything, running around causing trouble for everyone else...with that big tail whirling like a torpedo ;-).

I clerked on Saturday (wrote scores down for the judges) and stopped by Sunday afternoon to take some pictures.  I have no interest in learning to to do all this, but I thoroughly enjoy watching everyone else.  Actually, I like to watch everything - the dogs, the sheep, the set out horse, the camp fires...

The following is a mix of a few handlers and dogs and a few (reasonably accurate...I think) notes about what's going on. 

I think these four were getting ready to cause some trouble...without Maisie's help ;-).

Waiting at the post.  Once the sheep get set on the far end, the handlers send their dogs to fetch them. 

They head out to the right like they've been shot from a gun and make a big loop all the way back to the second hill.  If you look closely you can see the dog - it's the black dot up racing in front of the tree line.

They come up from behind the sheep to pick them up and start bringing them back to their handler, waiting at the post.  They need to come through this "gate".

Once they've brought the sheep up, they push them back out and cross the field, working through two more sets of panels.

One on the left and one on the right. 

They also have to help put the sheep in the pen.

And divide the group and also separate out one sheep. 

And all the while, there is another hard working dog (and horse) up on the far hill always bringing out the next set of sheep.

I think it's all fascinating and it's one of my favorite weekends of the year.

This trial was a benefit for the Bluegrass Classic that runs in conjunction with the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival in May.  I encourage you to stop by and see for yourself.  You might find yourself sitting there all day :-).