"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.

Setter Blues for Setter Folks, Folk music for Bluegrass Lovers

The best and most interesting brace of the 2009 National Bird Dog Championships is over, that is if your a Setter lover.

Setters strike out at bird dog field trial


Hytest Skyhawk
Jack & John Elliott
Knoxville, TN Ray Warren

Jetsetter
Jim & Sherri Michaletz
Goodman, MO andDr. Berry Winn
Muskogee, OK Allen Vincent

Hytest Skyhawk: Picked up at 1:43Jetsetter: Ran a strong, well applied, forward race; finished the three hours with 3 finds and 1 unproductive

Jetsetter made a respectable bid and this youngster will be back, I'm sure.

So in celebration of that unique brace....y'all get to see some of the same 'ole boring pics of Teigen pointing birds(I promise, soon I'll mix it up!). Today marked the first sighting of paired up Partridge on two finds today, although on the third find the covey was still intact, I'm quite confident that it's that time of the year. What's great about working the dogs on pairs are more opportunity's and since we're talking mature birds this time of the year, they put off quite a bit of scent, during ideal conditions and hold extremely tight. Great for experienced dogs and young pups.

Jim joined us today, sans John and he had three opportunity's with a face full of scent and birds.

If you want to fall into some unique and inspiring music matter, check out Harry Smith's Archives and the documentary, The Old, Weird America: Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music, with performances by Nick Cave, Beck, Lou Reed and Elvis Costello.

2009 National Bird Dog Championship (Part II)

So the braces are set and the first two braces are scheduled to begin today, let the games begin! Today's hourly forecast, in my opinion doesn't look favorable but the early brace may turn out to be ideal if cool and a lot of moisture is in the air. However, the extended forecast and beyond Thursday, is about as good as it gets below the Mason-Dixon line. Coincidentally, Skyhawk and Jetsetter are facing off in the same brace, scheduled, weather permitting, for Friday afternoon.

I found these articles to be interesting...

National Field Trial to be held at Ames Plantation

No settling for Sky Hawk

Warm days may be tough on bird dogs

Trainer Larry Huffman ends talk of curse, trains trio for bird dog field trial

Back in wonderful Montana, February is being kind to us...so far. Highs in the 30's and 40's and clear sky's have us all busting out the Muck boots, Fly rods and dogs to increase our Serotonin levels.

John and I got together Sunday morning and ran our pups on Wild birds. His young 5 1/2 month old GSP, Jim tagged along and got some good opportunity's and overall, the conditions made for some fine dog work.



Here, Jim and Pepper back Teigen.

Pepper has got some run in her.

The first covey find up on top.

Deacon had two nice finds...one on some Sharptails that we were able to watch down and allow Jim to work and another covey find at the end of our run.


I'm a bit disappointed that these coveys seem to taken a little hit from the harsh conditions we've had over the last couple of months.

Perhaps I should not have neglected his Rabies booster...

2009 Ames Plantation National Champoinship

Its that time of year again and Ames is a buzz. Once again, the Pointers are the majority and there are only Two Setters representing. I'll admit to being disappointed that Patriot is not a representative of the breed, however there are two fine Setters, Jetsetter and Hytest Skyhawk. Of course I'm on the setter bandwagon because I am fortunate enough to have a fine AA bred Setter, so all you fellow proud Setter owners put on your fluorescent Orange rally caps and terrible towels and hope the stars align for prime conditions during their braces.

Scheduled to begin Monday, I believe the braces will be determined Saturday night. I'm aware that some fellow Bloggers have pups out of Jetsetter, so I'll have to put my hopes on him.


Jetsetter




Hytest Skyhawk