Star man learned a valuable lesson this week about who sets the pace and when to call it a day. It's hot here, and I gave him the benefit of the doubt, but I make the rules, and all of the decisions. This week's lessons:- Flow and go
- When not to brush up
Here's an excerpt:
Star man made a very nice move today. I sent him on a little gather without noticing that the sheep had split. A few were brushed up under a tree about 25 yards behind the others. He started to turn in on the first group when his head swiveled as he noticed the others. Without any help from me, he smoothly kicked himself back out and gathered them all. I almost cried. I get so excited when a youngster's little bulb begins to glow. Today it was all about drive, drive, drive. We cross-drove, drove away, flanked off the pressure and turned the fetch into a cross-drive, drove sheep away after turning the post, flanked beautifully inside and out while driving, and we had fun doing it! There is still a little hesitancy about starting a flank while driving, but it is diminishing each time I work him.
I put Star's name on an entry form this week. I plan to run him at the Canine's and Ewe Trial over New Years. I have no expectation for success, but Star is ready for some experience and this will do wonders for his self-esteem.
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