That's me, no crook, no hat, no clue
This is a border collie only trial and the field is very narrow. So on the outrun it is important that your dog hug the sides to not move the sheep too early off the hay. On Saturday I knew Scot would probably cut the outrun and charge the sheep. We haven’t done enough practice / work for him to not let his excitement get the better of him.
So I wasn’t surprised that the sheep came off too fast and basically blew my run right there. But I had confidence that we would do better on Sunday. The sheep would be more ‘dog broke’ and Scot would be more relaxed.
Other than that our Saturday run was OK and we finished in the middle of the 12-14 dogs in our class.
So when Sunday came my run was toward the end of ranch class so I was able to watch several runs before mine. The most notable thing was that the sheep were coming off the hay and BOLTING toward the exhaust area. I not only noted this, but talked about it with competitors sitting around me. So when it came time for my run I knew what to expect.
So I was ready, until I got up to the post and realized that I had left my crook at my chair and my hat as well. But I was still relaxed and ready.
I sent Scot out and he stayed out well, but I was so concerned about keeping him with a square flank, which he did by the way, that I forgot to protect the flank where the sheep were escaping.
On Saturday the best place to stop your dog was 11 o’clock around sheep. But Sunday it was necessary to stop your dog closer to 10 o’clock to protect the line to the exhaust. But I was so intent on the outrun, that I brain-farted and completely blew it. Not Scot, me.
So Scot was way out of position when the sheep made their break. He made a great effort to get them back and did so with the leader, but in the meantime the other two ewes headed up into the woods. Perhaps I should have tried harder to bring all the sheep back together, but after watching nearly every run, about 40 dogs, I knew that on the off chance I did get the sheep all back together, it was doubtful I’d have much of a run. So I called off Scot and retired.
I was seriously annoyed at myself. I made sure I praised Scot when he got back to me, because he had done everything I had asked of him. It was my mistake and not his. He is stubborn and makes mistakes because of it, but this time it was all on me. I should have thought far enough ahead to realize I needed him to stop early to protect that flank, but I didn’t. I didn’t. And because of that the sheep escaped and ended the run that was supposed to be our good one. Instead I had a lesson and story.
That isn’t a bad thing just not as much fun.