Fly...

Plan was to trial Fly this summer on stock. Trial we did with 2 days of rain leading 'up to' and the 2 days 'of the' trial....4 days of rain on a clay base arena
translates to boot sticking and I mean boot sticking mud. Waiting for your stock to be let out meant moving your feet constantly in place to ensure you were not stuck. My worst fear was getting stuck in the quamire and having the dog push the stock completely over me as knew I'd never get out the way in time....had already kissed it in the clinic the day before :)
Fly gathered her stock and we managed to settle them nicely before moving them around the course...score sheet reflected only a few points lost there.
We managed to get all stock through the obstacles ...only to grip out after the second panel on first two runs. Fly still feels the pressure going in between the fence and her stock and does a 'fly by grip' on her way through...something I'll need to help her work through. Even though we didnt pick up any Q's I was still pleased with her performance given the little training this year....basically working with instinct and hodge podge training over past few years.
Have 1 day of AHBA & CKC trials after Sheep camp at Dog Tale Ranch next month. Now to get 'Stella back in the groove again'
Reno's continue at the training building - lighting this time. Next wk puppy classes start with Sheba as demo dog.
Haying season starting. Ditches walked for garbage clean up before the swather goes...and then again before the baler. Can be hard on the equipment
if the wrong piece of road trash feeds through either implement and minimizes hard wear problems in the livestock. A few magnets kept on hand to put down
with a pill gun if needed if a person suspects hardwear when feeding ditch hay in the winter.
Sheep prices good this year. Smallest lamb $120 - $150 for oldest lamb. Down to 4 head now which is a treat for chores. Last year to use the pink metal Ketchum tags...by Jan 1/12 everything has to be tagged like the cattle population in Canada with RFID ( radio frequency id )