True's session...

Another decent day for weather and 5 dogs worked. Worked True instead of her dad to see where we were at with her. I had a few sessions on her before Xmas and was trying hard not ending our sessions with frustration with her ONE sidedness.Sheep were co-operative to 'a point' with staying with me , I was trying to put her off balance enough to see if she'd get uncomfortable enough to go the hard way for her. You know the magic cross a dog sometimes has problems crossing over...well these sheep have it to...there is a point where they wont step across either. So that wasnt working as well as I had intended...in hindsight should of maybe slipped a rope on one to lead it over the line they were reluctant to go across. So last year with trying to end on a good note we usually worked her good side and every once in a while tried to slip in her hard side....didnt feel like we were gaining much ground.
The month off was a good break for us. I left the rake at the gate incase I needed it and used my stock stick. The start was a little rough with sheep
splitting but after things settled down we had both directions going with a nice stop on balance...a break through today for True. Couldnt be any happier with that training session. Will see what tomorrow brings in that department if it was sheer luck with the adrenline or progress.
Fly works better with the stock stick than the rake... pulling them off the fence and moving few feet down the fence line...rating is coming along nicely. Dare just gets better all the time...her mental maturity showing up in the training sessions, getting abit wider on her flanks, finds balance nicely, doing more off the fence work with her....need to get rid of the rake with her. Working Sting with the stock stick instead of rake,she's rating and covering her stock with less help from a training aide. I shouldnt lose too much time with hormones etc after weaning, she's pretty level headed.
Will fit in a few sessions this afternoon taking advantage of todays sunshine..here's hoping we have a few more decent days.

Rubber Legs...

Wow a break in the weather...been outside since 6 am doing pen checks and helping get caught up with bedding and moving hay bales around / barn cleaning etc.
One of those 'feel good' days where it's quite enjoyable just being outside. Worked 5 dogs this am....mind you my legs feel like rubber after tromping through snow in winter boots ( who needs ankle weights with those on :) but not going to complain ...overall good sessions with each dog. Dare and Fly, havent worked them since beginning of Dec....the odd cheap shot as they try to slice in. Dare needs to be reminded to stay parked when first starting out but both girls covering their stock well and settle into a natural stop on balance....pretty well things are where we left off. Even worked Sting a few minutes...she's due in just over 2 wks so a light session with a few flanks / walk ups and call it a day.Came away very pleased with the girls this am.

Worked the boys Quade and Derby. Quade out in the stubble field since we could move around with the small amount of snow fall to date. Havent worked Derby for awhile but he did just fine in the sheep pasture...worked on bringing stock to me from the fetch position and finding his stop on balance.
Suppose to have a few days of decent weather ...so tomorrow want to get in more training sessions before the weather changes.

New Years baby....

Bitterly cold out still, the big deep freeze outside hovering in the 38 below range with a wind chill factor added on to that. Checks are every 3 hours around the clock with two alarm clocks set so we can leap frog each other on who's turn to check the cows. Already had one diesel heater puke on us in the first 48 hrs. First calf of the season a lovely heifer who's head
wouldnt come up in to place for the cow to deliver without some help. She's doing well in the barn and once the cold snap is gone in the next day or so, the pair will be outside in pen with a good calf shelter/lights. Always good to see the initial weights are moderate with the new bull we used last year.
Too cold to do any training sessions until it warms up just abit more. Dogs are 2 and 3 legging it.
Both Jinx and her daughter Sting getting thicker, whelping dates end of January...guess I'd better get organised by next wk on that!
This week busy doing all the paperwork for the new business adventure and waiting on re - zoning the church property to Commerical zoning.

House of Dog....

Reality hasnt hit me yet but I've just had my counter offer accepted on an old Church in town. My hobbies have outgrown my small house and there was never a place to train at home...important when you live where snow/winter takes up the better part of a year ...or it seems to :) As well the fact that its 3 hours on the road to do classes in my location.
So I now, will own a building that will have a fully matted top floor for my Agility / Obed / Show training sessions and a basement set up for bath/grooming...the lighting is perfect for taking pictures. There is enough room to offer small classes to offset building expenses as well an area that will make a great place to park my dog library of photo albums, magazines, videos , breeding files etc etc.
Heck there is even a small kitchen for dog friends to sit around and visit over coffee.
Sounds like my kinda heaven.....

Blue Moons ...

2009 ends with a 'blue moon' as in once in a blue moon phenomena ...the next time new years eve will encounter a blue moon will be in the year 2028. The year also ended with miserable cold weather which is typical of the holiday season here on the prairies. Came home from a night shift and grabbed the camera...note: I need to look up how to set the
camera for nite settings but ended up with a few to reflect back on. The early morning light was some of the prettiest pink red skye line in awhile....took a few from the pasture gate before my fingers were froze stiff with the added windchill factor.
Wish I had the camera with me a few days ago as 2 days in the row were winter rainbows...think these show up with sun dogs.
You know you have damn cold weather when those are in the skye :)
2010 brings in a new decade with the new year.... what is instore for each person depends much on if you just go along for the ride or decide to get behind the steering wheel and put yourself in the drivers seat. I think people are generally happier if they take control and chart
their own courses...so what did you plug into your 'GPS' this year ?
Don't let life pass you by waiting on the next blue moon to come around....

Calving Season right around the corner....

Once Xmas is over , it's time to get things ready for calving season which starts in January here. Too early for commercial herds due to winter calving conditions....we join the rest of the Registered cattle
breeders around the country in preparing for an early calving season. Winter diesel ( different than summer ) will be delivered this wk and put in the slip tank beside the barn. We have 3 diesel heaters of different sizes for back up
if one fails ( and one usually does ) and how quick we need the barn to warm up. Inventory taken on Heat lamps & towels and the barn pens readied. The rarely used calf puller is set out in a back pen, all chains long and short are located with a set left in the barn and a set in the house ( these are the ones that you pop into your pocket for pen checks )
Freezer has a supply of colostrum milked from the older cows in the herd and stored in empty pop bottles of various sizes for those 'just incase' situations...the supply is added to each year with felt marker dates written on it. Flashlights and spot lights all get new batteries...pet peeve around here is a low or dead battery.
Cows are all given their pre natal injections of Selenium, Vitamins and Scour Guard...poor girls barely able to push their way down the alleyway that leads into the headgate they are so heavy in calf.
The calving book is looked at again to refresh memories on who is due each week so we can keep a closer eye on them. Their Ear Tag numbers are listed on a scrap piece of paper.Pen checks will start around the clock as we get closer...although our herd is quiet, the cows are walked through more often so they get used to the frequent checks and so we can watch for any changes. All cows are calved outside and then the pair is brought to the barn
asap to prevent freezing. It only takes mere minutes to freeze a calf's ears and tail so diligent care is a must. The calving sled is usually propped against the hand gate once we know we have a calving taking place so little time is lost looking for it. The trick is to flip the newborn into the sled with an anxious mother ( keep the calf between you and mom ) before he discovers his legs and skid him around the frozen moguls ( cow manure) without accidentally dumping the sled and calf.....and do this in timely manner to prevent exposure to one wet calf. The mom is guaranteed to be right on your butt roaring for her calf all the way to the barn as you go fumble with mitted hands with gate latches etc. note....I am always thankful we have fairly quiet cattle as so many serious farm injuries are at this time....that cow will take you out with her mothering
instincts running high...I pack a hockey stick with me and always make sure I have the calf between myself and her...I never ever use a dog with a new mom
as she will be on the fight right away.
Once you get the pair to the barn you give them some time to mother up before you give the calf his shots and tagged/weigh him for your records.
They spend a few days in the barn so you know the calf is not only dry & well mothered up , but also learns the light means heat/warmth...before they are put outside in large pen with a deep bed of straw with heat lamps in the calf shelter. The day they are put out in this pen they are watched to make sure the cow hasnt parked her calf by a snow bank instead of on bedding...sometimes it takes a few times to bring the pair back and the calf stuffed into the large calf shelter to find the heat lamps. Each new cow/calf pair is put out in this pen until spring arrives and they go to pasture.

Inspirational Blog worth looking at...

You know when it's darn cold out when the power lines are singing and there is that hard crunch sound walking on the snow.
Temps have been hovering around 36-38 below...too cold to work dogs who try and walk on 2-3 legs as well just too hard on livestock
outside of just getting chores done. Time spent outside is bedding and feeding extra to see livestock through the miserable cold snap.

On the Herding Canada list a discussion led to the suggestion of reading the book by Barbra Schulte a Cutting Horse trainer
'Cutting, One Run At A Time' for the mental part of training and competiting, as it could easily be used in the trial world...
What a Performance Coach! Just reading her blog http://barbraschulte.com/ is Inspirational as well truely Motivating
Just in time for the winter holidays is the entry on her blog on "The Nine Things To Know About Taking A Break'
a website well worth book marking for anyone that competes with animals.