[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Herding @ the National

From: Diane Wright <diwri@xxxxxxxxx>
To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 12:35:58 -0800 (PST)
From what I know...
Affordable sheep have not been located to be brought into Springfield for HT, 
PT & A Course. One fellow's quote was (imo) highway robbery. 
 
Trucking in sheep is the most expensive way to do herding at the National. 
Sheep cost per head, per day or per run plus trucking cost, plus feed, 
plus stall rental for the flock at night & lodging for the sheep hauler. In 
addition to livestock expenses, you must rent the pavilion, fencing materials & 
sturdy men (to build the course) from the fairground.
 
Suitable herding sheep are not easy to find. In a perfect world (imo) someone 
with an advanced level dog (GSD) would test the stock prior to contracting for 
the National. If an advanced level GSD cannot work the sheep, they aren't 
suitable for the National no matter how close or affordable they are. The 
object in herding tests & trials is to see a dog demonstrate his ability to do 
certain tasks. If the sheep are pinging off the walls in terror, you can't 
fairly evaluate the dog.
 
Even the best sheep are a bit spooky when they're trucked in. Sheep are not 
know for their courageousness & everything at the new site is potentially life 
threatening. Ideally sheep should be trucked to the site a couple to a few days 
prior to the event to give them a chance to acclimate to the sites & sounds. 
This step add to the expense.
I
The existing trial site in OH, which is a couple hours north of the National 
site, is fully equipped (sheep, fencing, sturdy men, etc) to put on HT, PT & A 
course trials. The trial sheep live there.
 
C course sheep have been located. Their fee is much more reasonable. The C 
course sheep are essentially equal distance from both sites. The course 
will need to be built at either site,  building materials are a question at the 
Nova site & stall rental at the fairgrounds is more expensive. Before the April 
board meeting, a committee person is supposed to go to Nova to check the 
suitability of this location & availability of fencing materials. The C course 
sheep are not accustomed to being separated into groups of 3 or 5, so would not 
be suitable for HT, PT, instinct testing in a round pen or A course.
 
Diane Wright
 
 
 
 

      
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[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Herding @ the National

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