Hunting Irish Setter - Prairie Training - August 27-30

August 27th continued

The afternoon was mild and we're planning on hitting the hills early on Thursday. Doug in camp and Stan is preparing his famous Tenderloin on the grill and dinner was a big hit. Most of the Painter's made it but Janet. We sat out and visited and had a fun night. Got real cool and it looks to be great out tomorrow. We'll be ready.

Thursday, August 28, 2008 - cool crisp morning and we're planning on going north and do the look across Seidel's pasture and over to the loop the back way. Should be a good day for dogs.

Hills: ran on the pasture just south of the bull pen – had good birds last week.

• Annie & Buck - Bonnie's and Betty's dogs – Buck strong and front with a very good find on a nice bunch of chickens. Annie reached for birds and was near them but never in the exact right place to work them. A big running , smooth going and fun to watch. Buck just a class dog and a force to be reckoned with on the SD circuit. 45 min. Seen a minimum of 20-25 birds and pointed 1 bunch.

• Lea & Baily – while this was a fun pasture 10 days ago – the cactus and sandburs were out in force and these dogs just had a tough time staying with it. Baily a nice improvement from her 1st time on the hills but not up to her owner's expectations. Lea tried but was having cactus catching up in her already tender feet and not a great day. A STF on some sharptails and a non productive for Baily – maybe 20 – 25 chickens and grouse in 4 different flushes but nothing really well defined. Hit the meadows at 34-40 min and Lea hit it like a pro with a strong finish on much more friendly ground. Baily got her 2nd win and the dogs finished with heart. 50 min. Lea will miss a turn or 2 with pads worn raw. Getting hot now.

Meadows: Getting hot so we took the easy country.

• Bart & Bonnie's pups – not as good as yesterday – dogs had a few moves but never really got it going in a big way.

It was getting warm and we called it a morning and decided to lay low and birdwork later. We all visited and got our chores done. Around 6 we took out some dogs for birdwork.

• Sorrel ( wanted a staunch dog for Baily to back and she came out and backed with very good manners but not a lot of style. She was mannerly for the flush and shot on Sorrel's very nice piece of work.

• Annie – on a checkcord just to get her to know there are birds here – she worked in as the breeze was almost still and got a solid flash point before the bird broke and she chased – shot over and now the chase was on. It took a bit to gather her up but 'mission accomplished'.

• Ross's English Setter – was cut loose and hunted out of the box. A very well handled and stylish point for this dog – she was steady until the flush which was what he expected. A good piece for this one.

We had a very nice evening and Ross & Betty headed out to a field trial on their way home to Tennessee – good trip for them but quite exhausting. We'll see Betty in Booneville.

Friday, August 29, 2008 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Her 5 day reign with me as the oldest one in camp was over – we're back on the same year – for 360 days. We had a easy going day for her but she's improving consistently now and she has hopes of making the rodeo this weekend. Go Linda!

A cool morning with the promise of heat later. Bonnie packing up and heading to a retriever trial and a NAVHDA test for the weekend. She's a busy lady. Does a great job for AKC .
Hills: - decided on hitting the meadow around Hitchcock's lake. We haven't been there all year. Stan, Doug and I headed out.

• Erin & Brenna – cut them loose and worked the big meadow nicely with Erin working the mots in a consistent reaching pattern – Brenna hunting but not with the same pattern. We say some deer, then more deer and more deer. The dogs didn't appear to chase but we were in heavy cover and heard Brenna off barking – not a good sign. We almost walked our horses on some deer and this brace just didn't get the job done. Grounds too overgrown in some spots and no birds seen except a few hundred ducks. We decided to move on. 37 min.

• Midge & Shauna - ran the Triple Gate pasture and had a full load of cactus. These 2 started out nicely but not as smooth as they could be with the grounds – Shauna observed under a chicken and corrected – Midge a turtle find and NP – Shauna tried but the weather was now warm and cactus just giving us fits. 30 min.

• Robbie – Stan's 1st horseback brace with her – ran her on the meadows and got a nice forward pattern with good hunt and drive. Took her around the meadow and had her hit what was formerly named " Hun Alley" - she worked into the cover with scent in her face and established a stylish find when a hen Turkey and 4 young flushed – she broke and was lightly corrected but very good for this young dog. We renamed this area –Robbie's Turkey Hollow – at least for a day or two. She finished hunting nicely. 25 min.


Doug stayed around and we went out and checked the johnie houses and found the turkey had come back to the same spot. Hadn't seen them all summer and now they're here – go figure. Doug packed up and left and Stan spent the afternoon packing up for his trip home. He's taking Jimmie and Mary's new horse –Bart_ home and I'm taking the others. Stan will also have Ernie – Charlie will be able to take better care of his foot which is looking much better at this point.

We made pizza ( Lou Malnalti's ) for Linda's birthday and Stan, Linda and I had a very relaxing night. Robbie put on the string and she wasn't too happy about that. Stan's off at 6:00 am and it will very quiet here tomorrow.

Saturday, August 30, 2008 – Stan called me early – the horses didn't want to load into a strange dark trailer – but we got them and he got off by 6:30 – should be a real nice day for traveling.