"In Like a Lion"

Its 4' out... and there is a Winter Storm watch for Central Montana.

I put Jack in my Jambalaya and you know what, it is quite good.

I once trained Walking Horses during High School as a Summer job. Endless hours, early and late to avoid the hellacious Louisiana heat. Up until this past weekend, I haven't been on a Horse since those days. Well it was like riding a bike. I jumped right on and picked up where I left off...in 1987. Look out Eric! Following big running dogs on Natural Walking Horses is something any outdoor enthusiast and dog lover should experience.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to run my Setter in a regional Horseback trial held in Great Fall and put on by The Big Sky Field Trial Club, part of Region 14 AFTCA. Glenn Conover and his wife Shawn were great host and all the folks affiliated could not have been more pleasant. Glenn set me up with a Horse to ride as well as a tracker collar to run Teigen in the Open Derby Stake. Throughout the weekend I rode his two Horses, following brace after brace and trying to figure out the scene. Gorgeous weather and ideal conditions led to some good dog work and the trial grounds were in pretty good shape, without any snow on the ground.

Teigen ran in the 4rth brace overall and the 2nd that morning against a fine young Pointer handled by Austin Turley. I speculated that he would be put off a bit by the Horses, he's never been around them, nor a gallery, or some dude "singin'" to his dog. But he settled in after a while, never stretched it out like he is capable of doing and ran right through a single Sharptail. It was good exposure though, perhaps next time he'll settle in and do his thing.

Here are some pictures from the weekend.


Steve Owen and Luke, Teigens littermate and owned by Tim Powell await the start of their brace.