Herding Trial

We ended our weekend with 5th places in both Advanced A & B course sheep with Gorgeous. The shed was more difficult today, but I took my time and got it on the first attempt! So proud of her!

Handsome tried hard on the A course, but lost too many points on the cross drive.

What a fun time I had with my dogs and great friends. On our way back north!

The ribbons that Gorgie brought home.  One day they'll be blue!

Advanced A Course Sheep

High water in the arena made it challenging in the course today.  Gorgie ended up with a 5th place. Loved some of the work she put out. I called Handsome's run.

Good times here in Hempstead... though I wished I brought my muck boots!

Gorgeous Advanced B Course Debut!

So proud of my Gorgeous dog for our first time in Advanced B Course Sheep. We got the shed with no problem.

Just Gorgeous!

Welcome Committee!

Lonesome Bull Ranch livestock

Lonesome Bull Ranch!

We made it!

The way to travel!

We're off to New Ulm Texas west of Houston. We are staying at Lonesome Bull Ranch which is near Hempstead where the herding trial is.

Gorgeous will debut in Advanced B course this weekend. I believe we're ready to do a shed. Next month Handsome will debut. Handsome is entered just in A course this weekend.

Ready for some good times!

ROCKSTAR!

 

My copilot got me through another night, thank you Rockstar Energy Drink! Now I'm off until Monday! I'll be spending my time with two Rockstar Border Collies competing in sheep herding west of Houston!

A Gorgeous Pet Portrait at Sister Grove Park!

 

A Gorgeous Storm Ahead!

We tried to hike some before the storm came through.  I think we got a little over 30 minutes in when we were caught up in it.  Lucky for me that I know all the shortcuts through the park.  

Anyways, the dogs had a blast, so it was worth getting drenched for... plus I got a great photo out of it!

Team Gorgeous Update!

My friend and agility instructor, Elizabeth Evans, is going to try to qualify Gorgie for world team tryouts in April.  This weekend was their first trial together... my first without her! 

Gorgie hasn't ran or trained in agility in almost four months, and three out of the four she had very little activity.  She has gained some weight which I didn't see, but that's an easy fix.  I'm sure her back end won't clip the bars as much when she sheds off a couple of pounds... and when she gets back in "agility" shape.  Hiking and herding are not the same.

EE worked with her five times before this weekend to get her ready.  Definitely not enough to become a great team, but the potential is there once they figure each other out.

Team Gorgeous qualified twice in Steeplechase and once in Jumpers.  Now we can mark off one Jumpers Q out of two needed for WT tryouts.

EE said she was a blast to run and had a great time.  Their next trial together is the first weekend in November at HHAT.  I'm taking Gorgie and Handsome this coming weekend to Houston for a herding trial, so they won't be at DDS.

Also, thanks to those giving Gorgie hugs, kisses and supporting the new Team Gorgeous!  I'll be running Team Handsome next year!  We both will have to dust off our running shoes. :-) 

 Below is a photo EE sent to me of Miss Gorgie at the trial today.

Handsome 2nd place Advanced Course A Sheep!

 

This is Handsome's third weekend to trial in herding.  His last trial was in March and he had a few months off of training during the summer.  It didn't seem to effect him as he pulled a second place in the only class he was entered in.  We are still working on shedding, so once we have that down I'll enter him in B course too.

Sunday we struggled a bit more and ended up with a qualification, but no placing.  Still I was happy with his performance as he put out some nice work.  My mistake by not leaving the handler's post when the sheep were heading to the Hold/Exam pen.  It would have saved a few points as my pressure would have helped the sheep go in the pen a lot smoother.  Still Handsome did a great job doing it himself.  Love my boy!

Best Cat Ever!

Lord Bumble looks so regal.

A Gorgeous Night of Sheep Herding!

Today's Pup Portrait at Hunter's Trail!

 

Revisited this area that I took my dogs a year or two ago.  We did some Geocaching out here.  I believe the area is called Hunter's Trail... government owned property.  Lucky for us there were no hunters, but we saw a lot of shell casings. 

It was a beautiful day out with the temperature in the low 70's.

"You Are What You Eat!"

Not sure if I like this quote.  I think they make me look FAT.

My sunrise this morning from my patio.

Today's Pup Portrait at Sister Grove Park!

State Fair of Texas!

My brothers Rick and Mike.

Handsome's photo received 2nd place in Ranch/Farm Division

Third place in Humor

Starting off with onion rings.

Then we added fries to the mix.

Sausage... yum yum!

This was the best... fried Snickers!

Hot but good!

We ate 1/2 pound of these chocolate pecans.

Nice on a warm day.

Mike with the turkey leg.

Fried chocolate chip cookie dough!  It has chocolate syrup and powder sugar on top.

Where we bought the turkey legs.

Dad taking advantage of the scooter and riding far ahead of us.

Mike being funny by cleaning his hands in the water, but realized when he was done they were green.  Nice!

Richie getting a ride with Dad.

An icon.

Another view of the Ferris wheel

Mike wants to put on his own show.

Best PIzza!

Love my dad!

Birds of the World show... love it every time!

At the Aquarium, this tank is called the Trinity River.

Chinese Lantern Festival

Mom clowning around!

Another shot of Big Tex.

The End of a great day at the State Fair of Texas!