Come to Soldier Hollow and Discover the Compelling
Beauty & Suspense of a Sheepdog Championship
Beauty & Suspense of a Sheepdog Championship
What happens at the "world's foremost sheepdog trial championship?" You will see the world's most highly trained dogs and their handlers walk out to the post in front of thousands of spectators. High above them on the mountainside, a group of wild range sheep are released. How far away? Over four hundred yards. How wild? Soldier Hollow has a reputation for the world's wildest sheep. One handler called them "wicked." They have been raised on Utah's open range where they must fight to survive in a world of coyotes, bears and cougars. When first approached they see the dog as just another predator. The dog must race up the hillside and listening to the whistles of his master must carefully gather the sheep. He must convey to those wild ewes that he can be trusted and must be obeyed. After bringing them down a rugged mountainside along a 600 yard course marked by free standing gates the dog must separate some sheep from others and then put the sheep in a small pen. It all has to be done within 13 minutes counted down on Soldier Hollow Olympic time clock. Anything can go wrong at any minute and it often does. Miss a gate, loose control of the sheep, push the sheep too hard or not hard enough and the Judge will deduct points. All the while the goal is efficient non-abusive control. Just a nip of wool results in a immediate disqualification.
2011 SOLDIER HOLLOW CLASSIC SHEEPDOG TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIP
September 2, 3, 4 & 5 at Soldier Hollow in Beautiful Heber Valley, Utah
Contact: 801-556-9229 or email us at info@soldierhollowclassic.com