Amanda: trust betrayed and then renewed

Monty has never before betrayed every trust. Before his final run at Soldier Hollow, I enjoyed complete confidence in his ability to do it well. He could meet every obstacle presented with poise. The toenail problem has dogged him, admittedly. He has resented the attention required to get him not noticing it so much, and it has spouted blood from time to time if he knocks it. But let’s forget the excuses. He did not take his redirect on the first outrun. A near cross. He bucked at the comebye flank on his first fetch, not quite missing it but close enough. Monty knows how to go back, so why pretend not to know on the final day of Soldier Hollow? His second fetch went well, the only part of the run. His drive was silly. As the sheep went high on the crossdrive panel, I asked for right flank. No dog. Because he was busy pissing on one of the many spruce trees that obscure the course. The shed went badly.

I drove as far as Vernal, Utah that night. We had a date with outfitting guide, Bruce Clatterbaugh, in Meeker. And quite a day fishing trip it was. We rode up to 9,000 feet to the flat top. Spectacular. A gorgeous little lake, flanked on all sides by mountains, clear blue. Mich caught a fifteen inch cutthroat, dazzling as it exited the water, so bright and colourful. I got a Brookie, maybe a foot. We enjoyed a Hamburger lunch and made our long decent. Mich and I took it hard with welts on the bums for so long in the saddle. We cooked up the trout for supper with some steamed fingerling potatoes. Wine took care of the pain problems.

Meeker is such a cheery trial. Everyone is excited. We all still have a hundred points. The first day’s running was a little sad. Clive was DQ’d for a get going grip at the post. Barbara Ray lead the day with a 75. We barbecued salmon and celebrated the hopefulness of the day.



Today Monty is leading the running with an 84, but there are lots of good dogs to go.