Amanda: The Big One, Day One

The day started hard.  Everyone assembled for a six o'clock start but it took two more hours to get the trial sheep into the holding pen.  I regretted not having a camera.  The sheep were on top of the gigantic bute a couple of times with several people climbing up on foot with dogs, atv's left at the bottom–too steep for motor vehicles.  They poured around making quite a spectacle disappearing and reappearing in the distance.  A long wait for me, the first dog up. Clive nearly crossed.  I hope he cuts that out as the season progresses.  He makes it the second day, but what good is that?  The rest of the run was hairy.  the sheep charged all over the place.

I have a theory about the range ewes and panels.  When they see trial panels, they assume them to be the edges of a cattle guard, and refuse to go through.  I missed them all.  Then by some miracle, I had a pretty good pen, with no time to shed.

Clive and I set out on horse back for a couple of tough hours.  There were so many places to run and only only place that was right to be put out.  Cowgirl.

Jim Swift had the beginning of civilized runs of the day.  He and Zac are locking horns with Roz and I for a plate awarded to the combined high point dog.  Swiftie is planning to sabotage my dogs tomorrow.  We better not let him do any set out. Herbert Holmes had the high score of the day, leading the trial with 83.

The running continued until eight, when Gloria and Harry Kerr, who host the trial, had a dinner for all the hands at their ranch house to finish off the evening.  Very kind hearted North Dakota hospitality.

Ten dogs remain to run tomorrow.