Our first draw was a really nice and workable group of all Herefords and as I was walking in to the arena I was thinking I had things pretty much in the bag. Diva did a decent take pen and the group went straight up the fence towards obstacle one with no break in motion. However for whatever reason Diva suddenly decided just before obstacle one that she was dying to eat some grass and cow poop. Talk about infuriating! Here I am with my new WTCH and she is acting just as casual as can be on this drive. My group of cows was being very good and had she not been off contact they were willing to move along a nice pace. After I yelled at her to get out of it she did go back in to work and had a decent cross drive. We got all three cows through obstacle 2 as well and once again despite there being an opening on the fence for her to go through on the away Diva decided she just couldn't come to head when it was just as easy to fetch them to me :-/. I laid her down while I moved myself to block the cows. My intent was to stop things, re-organize, and send her around on a go by to do what we had done in other runs. What happened though was as soon as I started making motion to stop the cows Diva had a ye-haw idea and rushed in doing a drive by on the heads which pushed the cows right by me and past the opening to the Y. I sent her around to stop them which she did but when I asked her to walk up she once again blew me off and took a cheap shot. I actually couldn't believe that she was doing this and I know at one point I yelled outloud, "You are such a bad dog!" :-). I finally managed to get 1 in the center but Diva wasn't even trying to listen at this point and so I did what I had to do. I yelled at her to lie down, said thank you to the judge, and walked her off the field without finishing the run. She went straight into the ex pen and believe me I had a few choice words for her that left her with no doubt about my unhappiness. I suppose in looking back I could have finished and re-penned the stock. It would have been a Q had I done so but I felt in that moment that I needed to make a point with Diva. Once I had a chance to cool down some I could appreciate the significance of the fact that Diva now has enough confidence on cattle to be naughty.
Between the first and second run I made up with Diva and we had ourselves a little discussion. It was foreign territory for me to have to dial down on her when working cattle but I wanted her to show the patience and strength she has had in training leading up to this. Our draw for the last run was a group of Hereford/Dexter crosses that had been some what challenging all weekend. There was one amongst the group that didn't like to stay with the others and they leaned on the dog a bit. Diva's take pen was very good but as they came out each cow went a different direction. It took us quite a bit of work and patience to get everyone back together and to that first panel. Diva was having to work each cow individually, walk up on the head, and wait. I was actually very proud of her for this work and the pictures from this run show a very engaged dog. Once we got them through panel 1 they drove well on the cross drive and all went through panel 2. This time Diva listened and we were able to get a decent set up for the center with 2 out of 3 going through. She did a fantastic push off the -re-pen gate and that was that. In the end our score for this run was the lowest of the weekend (100) because we did have to spend so much time and effort getting to the first panel but from my view it was the best work she had done all weekend!
So now what? Diva and I have many adventures still ahead of us and though I was very focused on finishing her WTCH I also realize that there is always something to work on. We have a farm trial coming up near the end of the month and I also have my eye on heading to GA in the late fall in hopes of getting her RTDcs. Up until now I have done very little AHBA but that is another venue we will be exploring.
Before I wrap this up I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way. Without this network of friends and family I would not have been able to reach this goal. First, my husband. I know he really can't understand why this is important to me but he does recognize that it makes me happy and he supports that. Second, the lovely ladies who I am proud to call friends. Kelly, Rae, Dawn. We work in the rain, the heat, the cold, and the mud and we do it with a smile on our faces :-). Thank you for never letting me give up and for offering advice, encouragement, and places to work livestock! There are many more people who have played a role and I hope they will forgive me for not mentioning each and every name individually in the interest of saving space ;-). I thank you all!
No comments:
Post a Comment