In our blog series of Trial Tips from Top Hands, this one comes from Herbert Holmes, a long-time trialist, twice former President of the USBCHA, a busy clinician and judge, and a talented hand with a dog. Hub and his family are multi-generational ranchers in the hardscrabble country of south Texas where they raise Corriente cattle for breeding stock and events such as team roping and steer wrestling. His wife Alison is a top hand as well and together they are a formidable team to beat on any trial field.
Hub has this to say:
When you walk the course or plan how to run it, what are you looking for? I watch for someone walking the drive, none of the other parts of the course. Mainly looking for landmarks in 4 spots. The first, 30 to 40 ft in front of the drive-away panels. The second spot is 15 to 20 yards inside the drive away panel, on the cross-drive line. The third spot is in front of the fetch panels, on the cross-drive line. The fourth spot is on the cross-drive line in front of the second panels.
More times than not, you can’t find markers directly online. So, look for readily available markers, then note how far offline these markers are so you know you have to be xxx ft above or below said markers. More importantly, once you have your markers, then watch other handler’s runs, so you get a feel for what the sheep look like as they pass your marks.
It is also very important to note that shadows come, go away, then reappear differently throughout the day. This will change the look and feel of the course all day long. So, in multiple-day events, try to watch runs at the same time of day you expect to run. I think good lines are developed thru the feel for the course and the sheep in combination, not necessarily by “hitting” all your markers.
Certainly, find markers, but watch enough you are aware of being off (or on) by knowing the lines. This comes from watching sheep go over the course, multiple times. How do you know which way to send your dog? Look for obvious pitfalls, choosing the best side based on fewer pitfalls. And use your dog’s best side given all other things are equal.
I don’t use my whistle close-up very much, probably for no particular reason. Except for turning the post. Nearly always whistle there. I am not handy enough to switch back and forth. I get dazed and confused! Shedding is probably the most screwed-up part of the in-bye work. There is a very high degree of difficulty in doing it correctly. And people coming up through the classes have done it less often. Moving up from PN to open, be prepared to be on the short end of things for a while. Those open handlers and their dogs are very good. It can be daunting for a while for some people. Be patient with yourself and your dogs.