Horseback Field Trials: Labor Day Weekend

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Labor Day Weekend

Posted by Harry Blaine on 7/6/2012, 10:13 am
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I can remember a time when LDW started the new field trial season for me. Gene Uhlman and I would attend the Jamestown NY trial on that date. We both loved that trial!! First of all, it was run by a great bunch of guys, including my "brother" Skip Wood. Good grounds, good food, and a holiday atmosphere all contributed.

Among my many memories, one stands out. At one drawing, Dave Hughes and I had agreed to judge the puppy stake. During the running, another puppy (handled by a first year handler) was trailing one handled by Gene. Dave said to me, "Harry, grab that puppy and take it off THAT way; I'll take Gene's off THIS way. If we don't get those two separarted Gene's head is going to explode!" And so we did, saving Gene's life - and maybe the other handler's to boot.

After the decision, the pretty wife of the trailing dog's handler approached me to ask why I hadn't used their puppy. They had run it several times and it had always placed, she said. I gave her a short course on judging, starting with the "Different judges look for different things." line and ending with "But I can't believe that any judge would place a puppy that trailed the way yours did until Dave and I got them separated." Then I had to explain "trailing" - remember, I said that the trailing dog's handler was new at the game. She accepted all this with equanimity and took the tale back to her husband.

As an aside, that young couple eventually put their puppy with Gene and it turned out to be a pretty good derby and shooting dog. And they turned out to be pretty good friends of mine.

As I said, I loved that trial!! Harry

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Responses

Re: Labor Day Weekend - Jim Tracy 7/6/2012, 4:24 pm
- Re: Labor Day Weekend - Harry Blaine 7/6/2012, 4:51 pm
Re: Labor Day Weekend - RayGubernat 7/6/2012, 3:31 pm
- Re: Labor Day Weekend - Harry Blaine 7/7/2012, 5:18 pm
Re: Labor Day Weekend - Mike Husenits 7/6/2012, 3:29 pm
- Re: Labor Day Weekend - Harry Blaine 7/6/2012, 4:53 pm
  - Re: Labor Day Weekend - Dale Hackett 7/8/2012, 7:55 pm