Last Practice

The herding trial is next weekend.  It's at my trainer's facility, so you'd think I'd be feeling confident, right?  WRONG!  Granted, it may be our best chance for a Q because we know the facility and the stock, and hopefully the stock will remember us.  However I've come to discover weather has to do a lot with it, the particular grouping of sheep has a lot to do with it, and the dog and human's state of mind have a lot to do with it.  Throw all those factors into a ring and that's a lot to deal with for the maximum ten minutes we're allowed to qualify.  Add to that I haven't trained in years, haven't trialed since 2005 and hoo boy it could be a wild ride. 
Last week's practice was so bad a friend and I told each other we might as well just take our entry fees and have a bonfire and would have the same result.  But yesterday's practice was pretty darned good.  If only our trainer would put a special marking on those sheep and make sure I got those when it was my dogs' turns, I think I'd feel pretty cocky about right now.
The weather next weekend looks to be great.  There's going to be a lot of hard work next weekend (I'm helping out when I'm not showing) but there should be some good times to be had as well.  I always enjoy watching the advanced dogs work.  It's always thrilling to see a beautiful run.  Maybe someday, one or both of my boys will join those ranks.
But until next weekend, we wait, think about what we've learned, and hope for the best.
EEK!