Clarjo Farms

After the Anita Ramsey clinic, we stayed another day for the Playing in the Pressure Clinic with Terri Chisman at the Isle of Calais. Counting for Day 3 of the 100 Day Challenge.

Notes for Mandy: Must remember to get the dogs flanking the opposite direction if the flock mob the knees, and keep the pressure low, rather than looming, especially for Uke

This was Rory’s first real clinic. She was very powerful on sheep, and we had to back her off in the barn, as the sheep were hovering around my knees, even when she was totally in the barn. We got her through the pressure exercise, and as she came up to the stock to get her to stop, before flipping her to the other direction. She really enjoyed the shortcut through the center of the inside, so I had to help her get the right way around the stock.

Ukulele, I had to keep the pressure low. We did the backwards pattern in the barn to get her to help hold pressure and patience. In the donut, I had to send her, then follow her to let her know she was right, and as the stock crowded me, I stopped her, walking back through the stock to push her in the other flank direction. We didn’t pen in the final exercise, and rather worked on rate. I walked backwards and kept the stick pressure low to help her pace and slow down. Getting her to stop at the correct point to open the gate was key.

Mazikeen, we did a few sends around the donut to teach stop and patience, we were able to open the pen, walk in, and pen sheep with her at the entry. I was able to leave both donut gates open, and made her stop at and flank around the outside, rather than through the middle. We got some strong, independent flanks, and got good, patient walk up and holding pressure for steady pushes of the flock.

I for sure will be going back to the IOC.