Introducing Amanda

I don't have an Iphone, so my blog entries are apt to be more sporadic than Bev's.  Furthermore, I am not retired, so I don't have all day to sit around and consider my blogs.  I dream of my rich sister Bev,  my rich sister Bev.   I sure dreamt of her last weekend when I was sandwiched in between her two dogs again in the results.  "First Prize goes to Bev Lambert and Hemp.  Second prize goes to Amanda Milliken and Clive. Third prize goes to Bev Lambert and Mirk."  That is the story of my life.  I will be working to change that over the next couple of weeks, just so that she doesn't think I am being charitable and letting her win out of kindness.

Bev is going to the Zoerb's trial.  Not me.  This western trip is already too long away from my life, which any onlooker would be shocked to learn is quite good, considering how much I take to the roads.  I could not pad another weekend onto the six weeks it is likely to require–the Canadian Championships, Soldier Hollow, Meeker, and then an endurance test to the National Finals two weeks later, with a painful return drive afterwards.  I am not so much a dog handler as a road rider.

I am training two Nursery dogs that I will be taking on the road.  One is already handy, Roz, who has won an open trial or two already.  Hands may recall the story of her being lost in an accident in Wyoming last year.  I worked her on Monday morning on the Waupoos sheep, while waiting for the trucks to return for the next load.  I have never won the Nursery.  Several times, people have expected me to do, but I never have.  There is an adage about history repeating itself.  Monty is Roz's cheerful younger brother.  He has been surprising me pleasantly for a few months now.  He is only one and a half, so good for next year's Nursery too.  I thought I detected some pressure cracks in him a couple of weeks ago, so I laid off which was easy, being so busy with the Kingston Trials.  He is being a good drug for his handler again and he loved the Waupoos sheep.  That makes me love that dog.  Both my Nursery dogs are from Ethel, by Stuart Davidson's (my) Star, the 2002 International dog.  The Star ones are running well for me.  Clive is one too.

Roz

My open dogs seem a little more complicated.  Clive is running well.  Ethel was spayed three weeks ago and had a post-op bleed that required rest.  She did not run in Kingston.  Now I have to get her back in shape to run her, not easy for a ten-year-old bitch.  Bart has severe spondolosis and does not have the pliability I like to run with.  If things go all right so does he, but if things go wrong, so does he.  I could run Roz, but she lacks experience.  I will have to see how everything transpires.  So many choices.

Clive

These five will be riding with me.

I have not yet organized my farm for my absence.  It is a busy little place.  If that doesn't work out, neither will my western trip.  and Charlie Torre will be a happy guy.  I'll stay home.   Bev will be there.