At the start of each sheepdog trial you could see in the distance on the top of the next hill over the sheep to be herded – and the Border collie responsible for keeping them in place. At this point they are pretty much specks on the hill.
Past the top of that hill there are numerous windmills on the horizon – it can get quite windy in the Montezuma Hills and the energy generated is an additional source of revenue for the ranch. In fact, we heard mention made that wind was an issue during the Friday trials.
What happens at a sheepdog trial? I may not have everything right but the following is what I observed.
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Once released by the handler the competing dog runs either to the left or right to go around the sheep without disturbing them. The handler instructs their dog via whistles at this point because of the distance between the two. The dog then must start the sheep moving towards and through the fetch panels – and then to the handler standing next to their post (literally a tall post in the ground).
From there the dog moves the sheep to an area near the pen, where the dog must demonstrate it has control over the sheep that have been chosen by the handler to be the “shed” sheep. As if this is not already difficult enough, it was explained to us that the rules of the trial called for two of the three sheep to be those marked with red on their ears along with one non-marked sheep.
We did not see any of the teams that day complete the pen phase – although we thought one team was on the verge of doing so – but they ran out of time.
I was confused once or twice when I could not fathom why all of a sudden a handler-dog team left the field mid-competition. Teams can also be disqualified for various reasons – and in one instance the dog had apparently nipped one of the sheep (according to one of the competitors sitting near us who had yet to take the field). I did not see it happen.
Only dogs that are competitors are allowed on-site, and we had a chance to observe several dogs with their handlers. We both commented on how well-behaved and friendly the dogs were – but a write-up in the program titled “So you think you want a border collie?” stressed the fact that these highly intelligent dogs are “working” dogs and not an ideal “pet”.
To my surprise I knew one of the competitors – a rural county supervisor who sits on the board of directors of the organization I had worked for as a legislative advocate prior to my retirement. It was great to see her! It really is a small world.
Some background information from the event program that may be of interest – The first sheepdog trials took place in New Zealand dating back to the 1800’s. There is also a history of sheepdog trials in the Montezuma Hills dating back to the 1930’s. After forty or so years at the Hoyt Ranch the trials were suspended in the 1960’s – although attempts were made in the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s to revive the tradition. Then four years ago Jeanne, the owner of the McCormack Ranch, restarted the tradition with the help of her Livestock Manager Ellen – who happens to be an accomplished dog trainer and handler.
Jeanne and her family go way back as owner-stewards of the ranch. McCormack Ranch was part of a Mexican land grant formed in 1844 and given to early California explorer John Bidwell by the Mexican government. Bidwell, assuming American sovereignty, later sold the land in parcels to Americans who made their way to California after the Gold Rush.
Today McCormack Ranch has 3,700 acres and it produces dry land wheat and barley in rotation with grass-fed sheep. The ranch maintains about 1,800 fine-wooled white-face ewes and sells the lambs. Lambing occurs twice a year with about 500-600 lambs born in February and 900-1,000 lambs born in October. The sheep are pasture-fed and range free, grazing in large (200-300 acres) pastures.
Comments on McCormack Ranch Sheepdog Trial?
Have you attended or participated in a sheepdog trial? If so, can you add anything about the trial rules?
See related post: 4th Annual McCormack Ranch Sheepdog Trial (Part 1 of 2)
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