More text below photos of the Field Test
As Shella needed
the blank pistol for Kukui, I borrowed Kita's blank pistol. Someone earlier
had borrowed my reflective collar, so I borrowed that from Kita also. For the field test, Farli cast off with
enthusiasm and ran well with drive and eagerness. Perhaps she could smell the bird field although at that elevation along the ridge the wind
seemed to be coming more from the south than from the bird field to the
west. I think she just had so much fun this am that she could hardly wait to
find more birds. We walked along the side of the hill forming the ridge
used for the start of the gun dog and the derby stakes. Unfortunately the way
the wind was blowing, we arrived at the bird field at the up wind end.
The other dog
found a bird first and I collared Farli at the judges request to avoid
any interference. The other dog handled his bird nicely and was done. I released my dog and continued walking down wind.
Farli was zooming past, in and out of the bird field as it was a relatively small area. Farli flew past areas that had scent - either at odd angles
or managing to go by upwind of where the birds were. Eventually she pointed
a bird in a clump of thorns. I managed to get the quail out and the gunner
shot for a clean kill. Farli flew out when sent. She did not initially
go far enough - the judge said I blocked her view. However she circled
out further and found the bird to delivered to hand. So now we have one
VCA field leg incase I don't figure out how to convince Farli that backing
is worth while for Senior hunter. One of my early goals when I was first reading and learning was a VC, so we might get one yet.
I took Farli
back to the van and rushed out with Kita's mare, Jenny to try watch Kukui's
brace, but almost missed it. I only saw the tail end and both judges were tolerant about my late arrival.
Kukui and Shella ran
in the third brace of open derby. I was running in the VCA field test and
missed most of her run. I did see the tail end of the run by borrowing Kita's horse Jenny and running her
down there. I wasted time trying to adjust Kita's stirrups, but they don't
go that short.
Shella and I
talked about the brace later and this is what I think happened. Shella
and Kukui got to the line just after the second brace left. The break away was on the top of a ridge that ran south from
the camping area. The Derby course was to the left or to the East. There
was a course for the VCA field test on the right (west) and the wind was
about 8 to 10 mph from the versatility side. Kukui could see and smell
the VCA
field test area and wanted to go to the bird field with all her heart.
She spend a lot of energy straining to go run and see if there was good
stuff in that direction. Shella was worried that she might wear herself out
before her Derby brace started, but didn't want to go too far away so she would be ready for her turn.
Kukui had an
enthusiastic breakaway ignoring her brace mate, Mehagian's Regal Roxy .
She looked back to see where Shella was, and since she could see that Shella was walking her way, she continued
her run. The course was a gentle slope down initially. As they walked down
hill Kukui chased a few tweety birds, hunting well in between. She found her first
quail in this section. She smelled her bird and followed the scent a bit too close, poking her head into the mesquite to flush on her own. The
quail flew, with Kukui chasing over the crest of the hill and well out
of sight. The judge reminded Shella that she had a black pistol to shoot at the
departing quail. Shella, shot, bird in the air, but a bit far for an
accurate shot (especially with a blank).
Arno's recall
training with Kukui to whistle really paid off. Shella gave a long tut
on the whistle and Kukui came flying back towards Shella. Shella waved her to continue hunting and she did. The next
section of the course was across soft, choppy red dirt with rocks (hard
to walk over). It looked like it was plowed about 4" deep last year and still
choppy and uneven. Kukui handled the uneven ground better than the walking handlers. The judges horses didn't seem to mind. Kukui continued to
ignore her brace mate she was totally focused on running and hunting.
The course turned
S, on the flat area along the power lines. As they started back up the
hill, Kukui found her next quail. By this time Kukui was well ahead, with several mesquite and other brush in between.
Shella thought there might have been a point, but could not see well. Mike Eisen (one of the judges) saw a good solid point, before Kukui moved
into flush and chase her bird. Al Lucas (the other judge) missed seeing
the point and later commented that Shella should have called "point". However
on foot there was too much brush in between for Shella to see the dog
clearly. Once she could see the quail flush, Shella shot quickly, but
still can't hit birds with a blank pistol. Once more Kukui showed her training with a swift return to the whistle.
Toward the end
of the course (by the time I got to see) both Shella and Kukui were tiring.
There were no more finds. Kukui continued hunting, but definitely slowed.
Within a few minutes of the judges calling time, Kukui ran off in a flash (perhaps she caught scent of the field test bird field again as she
was getting back close to the breakaway area. She returned to whistle for praise and a leash. Kukui pulled with vigor all the way to the van.
