Shaunavon Classic

This weekend I traveled to Shaunavon, Saskatchewan.

The hard working Jamie VanRhyn puts on a trial every year. Jamie works her butt off to raise money and put on a good trial. 

Instead of talking about my runs I am going to show some interpretative pictures.

The "toilets"

"Garbage" can

And finally
A pile of cow "shit"

Couple days home to regroup and then off to Cranbrook for the Canadian Border Collie Finals and The Western Canadian Fnals.

Working, Show or Sport Bred

I know the sheer title of my blog gets hackles up and people automatically get defensive. In this case I am not talking about border collies. I have already said my peace about that many times and all to many times on the Internet. In this instance I am talking about my Range Rover. 

My Range Rover is working bred

He often in need of a bath. Has been used to chase sheep through fields while I am whistling away to my dog. Also has been seen carrying an escaped guardian dog in the back seat. His inside is covered in dog hair, dirt and some sort of hay or grass on the floor. A very useful machine around the farm. I sometimes feel bad when we go to town and the show Range Rovers point at mine and laugh at how much dust and dirt is on him.

In comparison below is a picture of the show Range Rover.

Yes, shiny and pretty but really what is it good for.
Needs to be kept indoors.
Can it go off pavement and drive through puddles to check on cows. 

Can it handle gravel roads at 110 km. 

Can it pull out a truck from a snow bank.

I was unable to find any pictures of the elusive sport bred Range Rover. But I imagine it is hard to live with. Can't keep it in the garage. Probably uses alot of fuel because it always wants to go fast. Maybe has some flashy colors on it and driving around with some sort of cooling device on it's roof. 

After writing this blog I feel bad for my little guy. I am going to give him a bath and maybe even take the matts out from behind his wheels.

Maybe someone in the house will save me

Our big tough guardian dog is not so tough when it storms

Bow Valley Classic trial

I really have not much to show from this trial. I took one picture and the only money I came home with was a refund cheque from scratching Craig from Nursery. This year Ian and JoAnn moved their trial to a different location. Equally as much terrain and challenge as the old place. As always they ran a good show.
The first day Meg and I had a good run. Even shed and penned for a score of 85. Any other time that might have been good to place but not here the top scores were in the mid 90's. That's why I love trialing in Alberta just when you think you bring your game up everyone else has as well. Keeps you on your toes.
Second day we ran in the afternoon with the temperature very high and the wind blowing. Meg couldn't hear, her fetch was way off line. At the drive away panel she just lied down and looked at me "what the heck do you want" So I walked off.

Monday top 12 dogs got to play in the double lift. 

I was recruited to do some setting so Wendy could have a well deserved break. Me who had not been on a horse for two years and a dog who had never been worked from a horse. It took meg a couple seconds to figure out where I was. She only tried to heel the horse once.

Below is the only picture I took the whole weekend.

Congrats to Scott Glen and Maid on their double lift win.

Craig update

We are at the six and a half week mark now. Only a couple more weeks left until we go back to the surgeon for  x-rays and he can decide if Craig's leg is good to go or another couple of weeks extra. We are all hoping for the OK sign. Last week Craig developed a skin infection on his foot and upper leg due to the moisture the builds up under the bandage. So my vet opted to remove the bandage and let his skin heal. It took a little getting used to being able to see the screws sticking out of his leg.

Joe is still sitting by Craig's x-pen not because he is concerned for Craig but he wants to eat his food.  

Calgary Stampede final Chapter

I have started this blog about 50 times and then something happens and I forget to save it. As always Calgary did not disappoint this year. Some people go to Las Vegas once a year not us we decide to enter the Calgary Stampede instead. Yes the entry fees are high and it can be a pain to get parking or camping but it is so worth it in the end. This year was no exception. There was lots of food, some liquor, a rodeo and even some sheep.
The first go went well for both my dogs. We were among the few who actually penned. In the end of day one Meg was third and Isla was 7th. Day money is always a good thing.
Day two started bright and early. All 66 dogs ran through starting at 8:00 Am with the finals that night. Isla ran first and didn't get the pen. I wasn't to concerned because if history was to repeat it self one pen and a good chute time would get you into the finals. Meg had a really good run and penned her sheep. Meg and I were among to few with two pens. Which meant we were defiantly in the finals. I am very happy with little Meggie she is getting the hang of this arena trial thing.

The afternoon we blew off some stream and went to the rodeo.

The good news after the rodeo was that both my dogs had made it to the finals. I was one of only three handlers who qualified two dogs. Isla ran first and had a stand off with a cheviot ewe. Never a good thing with Isla who lacks patience. In the end she gripped off at the chute. Meg ran toward the end. She had a good run but we ran into trouble at the pen. It took me what seemed like forever to get the sheep penned. After some quick cutting horse moves from me I finally got them penned. Not quick enough to make any money but good enough for 6th place. Below is the video thanks to Kristi Oikawa

Stunt double or Butt double????????

This weekend Joe met his doppelganger.

I was all keen to sign her up to be Joe's stunt double for his up coming acting debut.

Meet Penny owned by Judy Burtleson

Penny was less than impressed to meet her long lost twin. Joe tried all his tricks but Penny was having nothing of that. There was talk of needing a butt double for his budding film career but Joe took offence 

"Nothing wrong with my butt"