February 2009Class Newsletter
When someone comes out to one of the herding facilities for the first time and gets an instinct test done with their dog then makes a point to tell me before they leave "thank you for providing this service to our community", I know it is worth my sacrifice.
When a women is crying as my dog and I leave the herding arena saying "that was beautiful, the special relationship you have with the animals as you work them", I know it is worth my sacrifice .
When a student asks to be an assistant trainer, when accepted says "thank you for this opportunity", I know it is worth my sacrifice.
When the audience applause, ooh's and ah's when doing a herding demonstration, I know it is worth my sacrifice.
When a maladjusted dog comes out threatening people and other dogs, and turns it's back to the arena before his turn: When their owner tries to leave, after his turn comes up to me for a pet and goes over to the other dogs and lies down with them, I know it is worth my sacrifice.
When a student gives me credit for a leg in a herding trial saying " I heard you in my head", I know it is worth my sacrifice.
When I think of my life with Easy, Tess and Choice, I know it was worth my sacrifice.
When a person comes up and buys a handbook and ask me to autograph it , I know it was worth my sacrifice.
When a clerk at the market says " I saw you on TV.", I know it was worth my sacrifice.
When your son watches you herding on TV from a far away prison, then later recounts that experience, I know it was worth my sacrifice.
When in competition during a herding trial and I am beaten by a student, I know it was worth my sacrifice.
God has directed my life in this direction to show me how I can be of assistance to Him and has blessed me. I have recounted only a few of those blessings here. The sacrifice has been for his glory and is His present to man kind.
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Lambing...(at Long Beach)
Has been a real problem this year. It started a month late and on a ominous note. The first born was premature and still born. Next a set of twins with the same result.
At last, the next 14 are all healthy but the 15th was a bummer rejected by its mother, why we will never know. It lived two days .
We can expect as many as 10 more lambs.
Lambing affects class in several ways. The ewes that have lambed will not be worked for three weeks. This leaves us with the yearlings, the last born last year and the wethers for training at class.
Putting the sheep away after class is also more difficult because some of the newborns lose their ewes and need assistance to make it back to the sheep pen. So your help after class ends is more important.
If you come out late for class do not just take off after your runs.
Understand that we waited for you to get your runs and now you can help
those waiting to close up the shop.
February 2009Class Newsletter