Your reach will exceed your grasp - and that's a good thing.

A man's reach should exceed his grasp. Robert Browning. 

I bet his friends called him Bob or Bobby! Bob - things have changed a bit in the last few decades...women are no longer expected to be pure, passive, or submissive. Let's hope things stay that way. Also, we are kicking ass on the trial field!  

However, one thing hasn't changed:

If you want to get ahead in this sport, your reach will exceed your grasp regularly. 

Here are three quick examples from my own journey:

1. The Great Forest Retrieval

I bought my first stock trailer. FREEDOM!. No more practicing in my dinky little home field!

Never mind that that dinky little field is more than big enough to develop pretty much all the skills a good stock dog needs. I needed to spread my wings! 

Off I went to my neighbour's gorgeous field - rolling hills surrounded by forest. I kicked the sheep out, let my dog loose and set up for our first outrun.

The sheep kept going. Out of sight. Over a hill.

My field - was starting to feel comfy rather than dinky - it's fenced. 

Given that the sheep were now out of sight behind one of those beautiful rolling hills I may have panicked just a tiny bit...and sent my dog. She disappeared. A little while later she appeared, as did the sheep. I watched them all head in the wrong direction over the next little hill. The next time I saw them they were headed into the forest.

Nothing in the books I had read mentioned anything about "retrieving sheep out of the forest". My only option was to start running in that general direction. The rolling hills were looking bigger and less beautiful by the second. Thankfully, when I got to the top of the second one, I was surprised to see my dog and her sheep pop out of the woods (by then I had assumed they were all breakfast for coyotes). Huh. Apparently Border Collies are bred to bring stock to us - even if we are incompetent. 

After recovering my breath - and my wits - we practiced some TINY outruns - and called it a day. 

2. The Pond Sheep (and a lesson in humility)

I was a brand new Open Handler and proud of it! I went to what is now my favourite trial of the year.

Let's just say - it didn't go entirely to plan.

I came off the field after my run - having chased one of the sheep into the pond - it turns out sheep can swim quite well and she spent the rest of the day watching (and judging) me from a cute little island. 

Still licking my wounds from my less than stellar run...the trial host approached. She had one simple question.

"Can you exhaust these sheep?"

I swear it's my favourite trial question ever now. That question has actually become a saying  - except now we add

"Are you an open handler?" 

I did say yes - and I did exhaust the next set. I was also much more humble. I also clued in that there's more to being an open handler than completing a course. 

3. The One That Got Away

Just last year,  I loaded up the sheep and dogs and headed to another field. I knew there was a ewe in the group who could be "tricky". I love a challenge.

I worked three dogs. By the time I finished up it was hot and humid. Being satisfied with their work, I packed up and grabbed the young dog to load the sheep - one last bit of training. 

We couldn't get it done. 

Tried my open trial winner. No luck.

I tried two dogs as a brace - thinking that between the three of us we could cover all sides. Nope. 

Noting that it was now HOT and the dogs were exhausted, I finally abandoned the sheep, drove home, attached panels to the trailer, drove back, built a giant pen off the mouth of the trailer and finally got the sheep loaded. 

A few years ago that would have crushed me. But at this point? My ego is so battered and bruised I took it all in stride. Called a good friend when I got home.

Guess what. Same thing has happened to them. 

Bottom line: I wouldn't be where I am now if I hadn't taken some risks. Pushed myself. Tested boundaries. 

And, when you are watching top handlers lay down near perfect runs, remember that they are still having wrecks. They just aren't posting them on Instagram.  But they are laughing about them in their inner circles. 

Stick around long enough, and you'll find your way into that circle too.