It occurred to me today there are roughly 50 some days until the Outback trial.  No big deal except I *really* intended on trialing Rowan and possibly Quinn and, well, regular work has not been happening.  So I began today.  Of course, it had to be super hot and humid, my least favorite type of weather.  And then there were the horseflies that have decided I taste much like horse.  Or they’re deer flies.  In either case, I’m not a horse or a deer.

I do have to say that things started out super awesome.  It was the kind of moment I regret having no one there to see and not having on video.  The ewes were in the far pasture so Rowan and I headed up the alleyway around the arena to bring them in.  This has been a near nightly job for Row, bringing in either the ewes or the lambs and putting the opposite group out.  I usually don’t have a stick with me but tonight I had grabbed one and brought it along, intending on working on her outrun and fetch.  Usually a close in, slight split, look back, hey slow down! sort of outrun and fetch.  Tonight, however, was a thing of beauty.  Row started out-pacing me before we reached the end of the arena.  I let her go thinking she’d do her usual trot out into the field then turn and look for me.  The ewes were all the way across the far end of the field so a good 250  feet or more away.  Rowan turned through the gate and hugged the arena fence line until she got almost even with the ewes, then headed out on a way to me.  I never said a word, just watched from the gate to see what she would do.  This kind of distance for her is not normal.  I could see two ewes hanging back but because of how tall the grass is wasn’t sure Row saw them.  The rest of the group started moving and I was about to yell to Row to look back but she kicked out around the stragglers and 28 sheep were heading steadily toward me.  Now usually this is done at a high rate of speed with me yelling to Row to steady up.  As she turned and settled in behind the ewes I held my stick up and Row immediately slowed.  The sheep pushed past me and down the alley and Row walked up looking very pleased with herself.

And well she should have been.  I know I was.  After that, she decided it was too hot and humid to do training.  Not her favorite thing anyhow.  So I did a few things with her and put her up.

Quinn I took into the wide alleyway, opening the take pen full of sheep, stepped back into them and asked him to walk up.  He came up nice and steady, dropped when I asked, and then I made him get back.  Remember, this is our weak point right now.  I had to step into him but he went.  We did that three or four times then I took him into the small arena for the first time in a month or so.  He forgot what the get back was the first couple of times I asked for it.  Thankfully he remembered his down.  I didn’t work him very long, just enough to get two or three nice gives out of him.  Get backs where he actually moved away from me and the stock and not just wider on a flank.

One day down, 5o some to go!