Amanda: The Big One, Day 4

Things wound up at the Big one today with a handful of open dogs followed by the ranch /nursery. Dorey’s run had some redeeming features but mostly it was a bust–a first encounter with western fine wools. I spotted a lot of sheep from horseback on foreign types of saddles, cowgirling up way over the top.

Just when you think you have seen everything, Marilyn Terpstra goes to the post. Her dog fence runs and crosses the road allowance over two fences and embarks on a fanciful outrun across a huge Dakota sized field. The set out crew saw her, alerted the bottom and Marilyn set off to find her on an atv. The next dog ran, but part way through the run, Tom Kok spotted the bitch running back to where she came from (home never looked so good) with an antelope chasing after her with astonishing ferocity. She chased her for 300 yards that we saw. Plainly the bitch had encountered her, with a new fawn and boy, was she going to teach her an unforgettable lesson. I don’t think she ever run through two fences again. When the antelope had her at the fence, the bitch made a mild attempt to defend itself at which point, Marilyn and Michelle Howard arrived on the scene. The antelope had a go at them and the bike. Such breath taking dangers, trialling in the Dakotas.

Joni changed around the trial field end for end. It’s a whole new experience. Another spectacular field. The sheep are charmingly difficult–newly shorn, yearling fine wools. We ran twenty dogs this evening and I get to run about seventh tomorrow. I hope no antelopes show up.