What a beautiful drive unfolds down Northern California's 101....even more so now that fall is upon us. I left behind drizzle, which I heard turned into buckets of rain, only to arrive to 77 as the temp and my overnight bag filled with long sleeves. What was I thinking?? The grape leaves are starting to join in the cacophony of color, started by the trees feeling the cooler nights. 6 girls joined my on my adventure....they have all been walked and are now doing the border collie stare....willing me to create some fabulous magic. No Wild Toad Ride or Space Mountain this go, girlies. This is a business trip so to speak.
Thank goodness for tech suave friends...my iPhone has craftily become a "hot spot" and I have Internet on the road....that makes for far less Starbucks and MacDonald's visits for sure. Now to just discipline myself to keep my lap top with me and maybe bring a cord that would allow me to down load pictures. Details, details.
I still pinch myself each and every morning, as more and more opportunities keep presenting themselves. Dog work, training, ideas for education...all of which mean I am learning and growing. I really can nor contain my excitement. The MacRae Way is being received with rave reviews. Scott Glen is up in Olympia for lessons and a shedding clinic. Or maybe that is down when compared to his stomping grounds of Alberta, Canada. I have my list of "things" for Bella and Nell...another for myself......and hope to glean as much as I can on marked sheds. Seems that those continue to haunt me. But for now, I will soak up a little sunshine...stocking up as much vitamin D as I can because unending days of rain lay ahead.
Seize the Day!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
A Little Mob Work
As I have been working the teenage girls......I've had the notion that they might benefit from some "mob" work. Seems like the advice I have been given really is true....working a big group of sheep can help make sense of the whole matter for young dogs.
So when I got "the call"...I had to go. Grace is in heat (seems to be the story of my life) so Gyp got the mob. It was fun watching her sort out her outrun and once she got them together she sorted out how to bring all 200. At one point we had this crazy whirlpool going....outside rim of sheep circling the core of sheep that were standing, knees locked and not budging an inch! Our mission was to take the mob and drive them into a paddock which sounded pretty easy. But sheep are anything but, so when the blind-in-one-eye girl got scared in the move through new territory and freaked out.... my inexperienced Gyp said, "fine, let the yotes get ya". With the price of sheep and at the end of the day, that really is not an option, so Gyp and I had to go into the paddock, sort off a group of ewes, and take those back to calm the blind one so she would come. All in a good day's work.
Bella had a go in another huge field....one filled with pregnant ewes and a big surprise to me.....6 mom's with brand new lambs. Bella's gather looked much better....not pulling in on the first volunteers to come...but those ewes and new lambies certainly brought a great lesson for this maturing girl. One ewe kept turning on Bella to protect her babe.....and when Bella stopped pressuring her, she would come along with the mob. However, Miss Bella would pick herself up earlier than the mom felt comfortable and make a fight. It was a fabulous lesson in patience for all of us.
I think I might have crossed over into the certifiable category......days when I get to go work the girls and help at the sheep ranch are my favorite sort of days. It is indescribable joy to watch the dogs sort and figure and grow and become. I'm thankful for the balance and perspective that comes amidst this crazy roller coaster ride called life.
Seize the Day!!!
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| warning: iPhone pic! |
So when I got "the call"...I had to go. Grace is in heat (seems to be the story of my life) so Gyp got the mob. It was fun watching her sort out her outrun and once she got them together she sorted out how to bring all 200. At one point we had this crazy whirlpool going....outside rim of sheep circling the core of sheep that were standing, knees locked and not budging an inch! Our mission was to take the mob and drive them into a paddock which sounded pretty easy. But sheep are anything but, so when the blind-in-one-eye girl got scared in the move through new territory and freaked out.... my inexperienced Gyp said, "fine, let the yotes get ya". With the price of sheep and at the end of the day, that really is not an option, so Gyp and I had to go into the paddock, sort off a group of ewes, and take those back to calm the blind one so she would come. All in a good day's work.
Bella had a go in another huge field....one filled with pregnant ewes and a big surprise to me.....6 mom's with brand new lambs. Bella's gather looked much better....not pulling in on the first volunteers to come...but those ewes and new lambies certainly brought a great lesson for this maturing girl. One ewe kept turning on Bella to protect her babe.....and when Bella stopped pressuring her, she would come along with the mob. However, Miss Bella would pick herself up earlier than the mom felt comfortable and make a fight. It was a fabulous lesson in patience for all of us.
I think I might have crossed over into the certifiable category......days when I get to go work the girls and help at the sheep ranch are my favorite sort of days. It is indescribable joy to watch the dogs sort and figure and grow and become. I'm thankful for the balance and perspective that comes amidst this crazy roller coaster ride called life.
Seize the Day!!!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Ponderings From Fire Ridge
I really had a great time at Fire Ridge! I was not in the money, nor in the points....but my girls are all working hard and running better and better with me.
Sally drew up second for the first round of open, and I did not handle her well. Her outrun was nice but I mis-read the one ewe pushing back on her and tried to fix my line too quick on the fetch. Sally did exactly what I asked....but that ewe took advantage of the release of pressure and rolled back to the set out pens. My new glasses failed me at that distance and not sorting it timely, left me retiring with four ewes. Sally's second go was nice, good outrun and a nearly flawless pen and single. All year, I've worked hard on getting Sally to want to come through for the shed and that she did! She even held the single with the enthusiasm I have not seen at a trial. Atta girl, Sal!
Nell had a couple of nice runs. Her first time out....we had a little discussion on her outrun...and after sorting that it was one of those magic moment runs for me. Her second run was nice as well....but not as nice with some fighting me for flanks and a really hard pen. The wind had picked up that third day and I needed to eat my Wheaties and maybe consider working out as I could not keep that darn pen gate from blowing out of my hand in the 35mph wind gusts! I brought my video camera and Geri filmed my first run for me. Lordy, lordy.....if I could get ahold of myself.....let's just say that Nell is a nice dog despite me. I've got some serious work to do.
I moved Bella to open at Vashon so now she runs with the big girls. She did not even bat and eye or miss a beat as she ran out both runs and worked the course. The first run I did not mess with her much on her drive....they were long and I felt holding the line was more important for us in our relationship. She looked good so the second run I worked her a bit more and she ended up high score from my pack of three open dogs. Not a lick of tension and very supple, oh and we got our shed the first go! And timely. Bella and I need to work on penning sheep that really don't want to go in the pen....she needed to push more and with the wind, I had to be responsible for the gate staying open and could not help much.
Having three open dogs is amazing! I know there will be trials where I will have to decide who runs, but when I can run all three......what a treat. I learned so much running three times in one day. Each go I tried to watch my sheep a little closer and see what I could sort out. I also taped a few runs which makes me really pay attention to the handling, sheep and dog.
Patrick Shannahan just wrote a little article over on his RedTop Website about community. We really do have an amazing community of sheepdog handlers. Dawn Pucci took all the photos of my dogs from Fire Ridge...otherwise I would not have a single one to show you. I did not even ask...she just did it. And Ray Coapman gave me a little 'learning' at the trial. He saw me sorting something I had never encountered at a trial before and came to give me the proper answer. He said something along the lines of, "I would see that again someday when I ran at the finals and it might cost me a point or two without knowing". Not only do I have more information...but somebody also believes I will run on a Saturday at the finals! And of course I can never thank enough my close friends that support me, tape my runs, let me overthink and sort, and give sage, a little further down the road advice.
Seize the Day!
Sally drew up second for the first round of open, and I did not handle her well. Her outrun was nice but I mis-read the one ewe pushing back on her and tried to fix my line too quick on the fetch. Sally did exactly what I asked....but that ewe took advantage of the release of pressure and rolled back to the set out pens. My new glasses failed me at that distance and not sorting it timely, left me retiring with four ewes. Sally's second go was nice, good outrun and a nearly flawless pen and single. All year, I've worked hard on getting Sally to want to come through for the shed and that she did! She even held the single with the enthusiasm I have not seen at a trial. Atta girl, Sal!
Nell had a couple of nice runs. Her first time out....we had a little discussion on her outrun...and after sorting that it was one of those magic moment runs for me. Her second run was nice as well....but not as nice with some fighting me for flanks and a really hard pen. The wind had picked up that third day and I needed to eat my Wheaties and maybe consider working out as I could not keep that darn pen gate from blowing out of my hand in the 35mph wind gusts! I brought my video camera and Geri filmed my first run for me. Lordy, lordy.....if I could get ahold of myself.....let's just say that Nell is a nice dog despite me. I've got some serious work to do.
I moved Bella to open at Vashon so now she runs with the big girls. She did not even bat and eye or miss a beat as she ran out both runs and worked the course. The first run I did not mess with her much on her drive....they were long and I felt holding the line was more important for us in our relationship. She looked good so the second run I worked her a bit more and she ended up high score from my pack of three open dogs. Not a lick of tension and very supple, oh and we got our shed the first go! And timely. Bella and I need to work on penning sheep that really don't want to go in the pen....she needed to push more and with the wind, I had to be responsible for the gate staying open and could not help much.
Having three open dogs is amazing! I know there will be trials where I will have to decide who runs, but when I can run all three......what a treat. I learned so much running three times in one day. Each go I tried to watch my sheep a little closer and see what I could sort out. I also taped a few runs which makes me really pay attention to the handling, sheep and dog.
Patrick Shannahan just wrote a little article over on his RedTop Website about community. We really do have an amazing community of sheepdog handlers. Dawn Pucci took all the photos of my dogs from Fire Ridge...otherwise I would not have a single one to show you. I did not even ask...she just did it. And Ray Coapman gave me a little 'learning' at the trial. He saw me sorting something I had never encountered at a trial before and came to give me the proper answer. He said something along the lines of, "I would see that again someday when I ran at the finals and it might cost me a point or two without knowing". Not only do I have more information...but somebody also believes I will run on a Saturday at the finals! And of course I can never thank enough my close friends that support me, tape my runs, let me overthink and sort, and give sage, a little further down the road advice.
Seize the Day!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
The Most Beautiful Things
~The most beautiful things in the world can't be seen or even touched, they must be felt~
Seize the Day!
All photos by Aye Sea Ewe Pics-Dawn Pucci
Seize the Day!
All photos by Aye Sea Ewe Pics-Dawn Pucci
Monday, October 17, 2011
Solving The World's Problems
One cuppa Hot Chocolate at a time.....
Why YES that is indeed my Nell on my over stuffed mug! You too can enjoy a beverage with my Nell by checking out Vicki Close's goodies.
Seize the Day...and another cuppa!
Why YES that is indeed my Nell on my over stuffed mug! You too can enjoy a beverage with my Nell by checking out Vicki Close's goodies.
Seize the Day...and another cuppa!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Oh Yea, Life Goes On.......
It's a JM kind of day...yet I can not imagine "long after the thrill of livin is gone". I so don't feel that way. Not one single passe` kind of day goes by in my life. Yesterday....I finally kicked myself in the rear and, with the help of my eldest son and a few fabulous friends, I got my hay in for the winter! 200 bales all stacked in the hay loft ready to be tarped this morning. Thank GOD for friends and sons because we did another 90 bales for another friend and I could not seem to lift a single bale above knee level that last load. Today, I am going to burn and then maybe see about hauling in some big round bales. Those make feeding the sheep so much easier with the whirlwind of weekend activities coming my way for the remainder of October and November.
I've decided to buy Miss Grace. I've had a lot of summer fun with this girl and want to spend the winter seeing where we can go, the two of us. She fits into my little pack nicely and the big bonus is, my husband likes her. Now the challenge begins of training up litter sisters and remembering they are unique and different...so train each how they need to be trained! Grace and Gyp had a lesson with Patrick Shannahan last week and it was fun to chat about each afterwards. Same/different....like Nell/not like Nell.....what I have seen before/what is new to me in a dog......makes for some fabulous over thinking material for the longs drives I have coming my way.
The coming weeks are filled to the brim with my version of Disneyland activities....the FireRidge Sheepdog trail, a visit with Jack Knox, my third shedding clinic with Scott Glen (I will get this...or die trying!) a couple of fun, one day, local winter trials, the release of Patrick Shannahan's second DVD and onward to another on-line project, this time with the Glens. To keep up-to-date on the exciting, hot off the press training "like" Little Horse Mountain Productions on Facebook or visits http://www.sheepdogtrainingcourses.com/
The excitement continues to mount as we head to the KICK OFF date for the MacRae Way. October 24th starts this on-line training class...filled to the brim with training and handling from the MacRaes. After the christening on the 24th of October, people can register at any time, and the class will start for them with that registration. I would liken it to "pay for view" movies....you buy it and then you can view it. The class is like that...you sign up and purchase the sessions...and then your classes starts that very day and unfolds as the weeks do......sessions each week allowing plenty of time to watch, learn and assess application.
Instead of a dreary winter....longing for spring, this winter I am excited for all the "training" that will be going on. I had better keep to the to-do list to prepare for winter.....off to burn, baby!
Seize the Day!
I've decided to buy Miss Grace. I've had a lot of summer fun with this girl and want to spend the winter seeing where we can go, the two of us. She fits into my little pack nicely and the big bonus is, my husband likes her. Now the challenge begins of training up litter sisters and remembering they are unique and different...so train each how they need to be trained! Grace and Gyp had a lesson with Patrick Shannahan last week and it was fun to chat about each afterwards. Same/different....like Nell/not like Nell.....what I have seen before/what is new to me in a dog......makes for some fabulous over thinking material for the longs drives I have coming my way.
The coming weeks are filled to the brim with my version of Disneyland activities....the FireRidge Sheepdog trail, a visit with Jack Knox, my third shedding clinic with Scott Glen (I will get this...or die trying!) a couple of fun, one day, local winter trials, the release of Patrick Shannahan's second DVD and onward to another on-line project, this time with the Glens. To keep up-to-date on the exciting, hot off the press training "like" Little Horse Mountain Productions on Facebook or visits http://www.sheepdogtrainingcourses.com/
The excitement continues to mount as we head to the KICK OFF date for the MacRae Way. October 24th starts this on-line training class...filled to the brim with training and handling from the MacRaes. After the christening on the 24th of October, people can register at any time, and the class will start for them with that registration. I would liken it to "pay for view" movies....you buy it and then you can view it. The class is like that...you sign up and purchase the sessions...and then your classes starts that very day and unfolds as the weeks do......sessions each week allowing plenty of time to watch, learn and assess application.
Instead of a dreary winter....longing for spring, this winter I am excited for all the "training" that will be going on. I had better keep to the to-do list to prepare for winter.....off to burn, baby!
Seize the Day!
Monday, October 10, 2011
It's HERE.....The MacRae Way
This is the dream I have been eluding to for...oh.....the past 9 months! On line training with the MacRae's! You can check it out at Sheepdog Training Courses where you can find all the details...including Frequently Asked Questions: FAQ and a syllabus with course descriptions. Here is how it will eventually work:
Sign up and watch the first session. You can watch it as many times as you like! If you have questions about the material presented in the session, you will be able to submit those questions. Questions and answers will be posted for all the participants to see. As the week goes on, your homework will be to think about your dog and how/if the training presented might be applied in your training. At this time, most of the courses have 4 weeks worth of sessions with some time at the end to catch up if sessions were missed or to watch again if that material intrigues and fascinates. The cost is $99 a month or $237 for three months if you buy them as a package. The MacRae Way Course kicks off October 24th!
Here is what I LOVE about this program.
* The sessions are filmed with the MacRaes and their very own dogs, or their client's dogs, so these dogs are started with the consistency of the MacRae method of training.
*I can train with the MacRaes from home without having to drive hundreds of miles, stay in a hotel, and eat junk food...which I seem to do when I travel!
*Too hot to work dogs in the afternoon? No problem...I can watch the lesson for the week and then work my dogs in the early morning cool. Snow on the pass....no problem because I don't have to travel!
I could go on and on.....but I do have to say, I am very excited about this. What an amazing opportunity to learn from one of the best and most widely respected trainers and handlers in the world! And how incredibly to share this experience with the world.
http://www.sheepdogtrainingcourses.com/ A dream come true!
Seize the Day!!!!!
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