Willowside Fun Trial

We travelled to Willowside Ranch in Pescadero, California - just south of Half Moon Bay - for a fun trial this past weekend. It was indeed fun although it would have been more fun if the rain had held off as Sunday was run under very wet and windy conditions. Actually the weather was even more troublesome on the drive along the coast highway home.

The trial was a two day affair and we ran in Open Ranch - which was basically a short - 220 yard set out - ISDS course with pen and then shed. The sheep were set out in a "setting vee" - basically a pen at set out with an opening on one side - a contraption which I dislike because I believe it allows sloppy outruns and makes it very difficult for a dog to get a good lift as they tend to go on one side or the other of the fence.

Anyway Piper had a rough Saturday essentially where we have been struggling on the drive. She also had one ewe who simply refused to pen - not uncommon on Saturday so we never got to the shed. Disappointing as that was one of the main reasons we made the trek North.

After our run Saturday we did exhaust for about 10 of the Pro-Novice runs. Piper was a champ at this task and I literally never had to move from the post I was leaning against as she went out and retrieved and put away sheep in a very workmanlike manner.

Sunday we ran better although I betrayed her with some over handling at the panels on the drive. I especially blew the cross drive panels as I thought the sheep were already through and gave the flank whistle only to see Piper execute a lovely flank and turn the sheep right in front of the panels. Oh well. Piper got her pen and we had about 2 1/2 minutes left to try our first ever shed in competition. One failed call through lost us 5 points but she came through nicely on the second attempt and our judge called the shed. Yay. She finished in 3d place in a small Open Ranch Class on the day.

On the drive home we stopped for an hour in Los Olivos for a little lunch and wine tasting. It was a very cute town and the highlight of the stop was Carhartt Vineyards (yes a relative of that family) where owners Mike and Brooke were very gracious, We left with a couple bottles of wine and a souvenir hat.