Walking Trials and Horseback Trials

[JayBird02]

So I'm looking at running my male Brittany in some field trials this spring but I don't see many walking trials in the PNW. Can you run a horseback trial on foot? And why don't they offer more walking trials? I could be wrong but you would think more people would be willing to be involved with AKC trials if they offered more walking trials.

[jetjockey]

Most trials are actually walking trials, with horseback handeling permitted.  So yes, you can walk a brace when someone else is on horse.

I agree with offering more walking trials.  The problem is that typically, most people who attend trials are already in the game, and already have horses.  Often times, walking trials don't get the numbers of entry's that trials where horses are permitted do.  It's kind of a catch 22.  With that said, if you see a trial you want to run in, contact the FT secretary and discuss the options with them.  Out here in the SE, people are typically very open to letting a newbie borrow a horse, and often times trials have wranglers to rent horses.  Trialing needs new people, don't be afraid to walk a trial where horses are permitted.  With that said, its going to be tough to compete in an All Age trial when walking, but Gun Dog trials have people who place while walking all the time.

[AspenBud]

It would be awesome if we could get some form of Cover Dog going regionally. We have enough grouse here to do it. At this point even some Ruffed Grouse Society fun trials along the lines of what you see in the mid west would be great.

But grounds and events have to be on both sides of the mountains.

[jetjockey]

The problem is the PNW is lab country.  There just isn't the numbers of pointing dog people in the PNW as there is elsewhere, and WA state doesn't support upland hunting like other states do.  IMO those two things keep the PNW from creating a huge draw for trials.  Down here in GA, trialing is huge, but the state, land owners, trusts, and the community all support it.  That doesn't happen in the PNW.

[AspenBud]

The problem is the PNW is lab country.  There just isn't the numbers of pointing dog people in the PNW as there is elsewhere, and WA state doesn't support upland hunting like other states do.  IMO those two things keep the PNW from creating a huge draw for trials.  Down here in GA, trialing is huge, but the state, land owners, trusts, and the community all support it.  That doesn't happen in the PNW.

Everywhere is lab country. The problem is this is big game country.

But I've seen enough pointing dog owners to think the option would be viable in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

(RGS trials have stakes for flushers and pointers)

[jetjockey]

The problem is the PNW is lab country.  There just isn't the numbers of pointing dog people in the PNW as there is elsewhere, and WA state doesn't support upland hunting like other states do.  IMO those two things keep the PNW from creating a huge draw for trials.  Down here in GA, trialing is huge, but the state, land owners, trusts, and the community all support it.  That doesn't happen in the PNW.

Not down here it's not.  You rarely see labs that hunt down here. But I've seen copies of American Field sitting on several dashboards at the grocery store.  You can't say that about the PNW.

Everywhere is lab country. The problem is this is big game country.

But I've seen enough pointing dog owners to think the option would be viable in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

(RGS trials have stakes for flushers and pointers)

[AspenBud]

Not down here it's not.  You rarely see labs that hunt down here. But I've seen copies of American Field sitting on several dashboards at the grocery store.  You can't say that about the PNW.

Down where you are I think it's more common to see labs sitting on the cart waiting to do the retrieve after the pointers find the birds. But it's not pointers that are duck hunting down there.

In five years in the Midwest I never saw an issue of American Field at the grocery store, on someone's dash, or the doctor's office. Even RGS magazines were rare. But Cover Dog exists nonetheless. I'm beginning to think it's more a matter of no one out here ever really thought to try and start it up.

[AspenBud]

So I'm looking at running my male Brittany in some field trials this spring but I don't see many walking trials in the PNW. Can you run a horseback trial on foot? And why don't they offer more walking trials? I could be wrong but you would think more people would be willing to be involved with AKC trials if they offered more walking trials.

I would look into NSTRA if I were you.

[JayBird02]

I have looked into NASTRA and it's something that I still might do I'm just worried about the size of the bird field at a NASTRA event.
I've been to hunt test, and pointing dog events around WA and one thing I've noticed and I'm not trying to be rude but you don't see many younger people at these events. Traveling to a trial and entry fees cost enough but adding in a horse to care for adds up pretty quick. I think if they offered more Walking Trials you would see more of an interest at lease here in Eastern Washington.

[JayBird02]

I know I could send my dog and pay to have someone like RJ campaign him but I'm not looking to spend that kind of money and honestly I take pride in knowing that I trained my dog.

[jetjockey]

Not down here it's not.  You rarely see labs that hunt down here. But I've seen copies of American Field sitting on several dashboards at the grocery store.  You can't say that about the PNW.

Down where you are I think it's more common to see labs sitting on the cart waiting to do the retrieve after the pointers find the birds. But it's not pointers that are duck hunting down there.

In five years in the Midwest I never saw an issue of American Field at the grocery store, on someone's dash, or the doctor's office. Even RGS magazines were rare. But Cover Dog exists nonetheless. I'm beginning to think it's more a matter of no one out here ever really thought to try and start it up.

GSP's and GWP's are very popular duck dogs down here. Heck, when I was in South Africa in June, the PH's stated they use their pointers in the duck blinds on a lot of occasions.  But, it's obviously much warmer in SA and down here in the South.  I think that's why we don't see many labs down here.   Your much more likely to see a Cocker or Boykin in the cart than you are seeing a lab as well.  Some of the cover they need to flush the birds from is ridiculously thick.  Labs have a hard time getting through.  But, back to the original question, there's a lot of people who walk in puppy, derby, and gun dog trials that are open to horses.  Hell, I ran my derby in Iowa in September against a guy on foot.  The guy was a machine, and his dog did a nice job. It just needs to be advertised more often that most stakes are walking stakes that are open to horses.  In the Brit world, our Amateur Gun Dog Nationals is a walking National with horses not permitted.  They have done that to try and open up trialing to more people.

[JayBird02]

Thank you for the response JetJockey. The only walking trial that I'm interested in is down in Madras which is about an 6-8 hour drive. I guess I could run at Scatter Creek or Suavie Island but I've heard the grass gets real tall at both of those grounds.

[AspenBud]

I have looked into NASTRA and it's something that I still might do I'm just worried about the size of the bird field at a NASTRA event.
I've been to hunt test, and pointing dog events around WA and one thing I've noticed and I'm not trying to be rude but you don't see many younger people at these events. Traveling to a trial and entry fees cost enough but adding in a horse to care for adds up pretty quick. I think if they offered more Walking Trials you would see more of an interest at lease here in Eastern Washington.

Are you worried the field will be too small at NSTRA events? If so I know of at least one gentleman who runs Pointers in that venue and his latest dog is straight out of All Age stock. If your dog handles, and retrieves, it can play in NSTRA. No horse needed.

I agree with your observation about walking trials. That's why I brought up cover dog, as those are all walking trials and God knows we have the habitat for it practically right out our back doors in the Northwest. It would also provide people another opportunity to show what their dogs can do on wild birds.

[AspenBud]

Not down here it's not.  You rarely see labs that hunt down here. But I've seen copies of American Field sitting on several dashboards at the grocery store.  You can't say that about the PNW.

Down where you are I think it's more common to see labs sitting on the cart waiting to do the retrieve after the pointers find the birds. But it's not pointers that are duck hunting down there.

In five years in the Midwest I never saw an issue of American Field at the grocery store, on someone's dash, or the doctor's office. Even RGS magazines were rare. But Cover Dog exists nonetheless. I'm beginning to think it's more a matter of no one out here ever really thought to try and start it up.

Heck, when I was in South Africa in June, the PH's stated they use their pointers in the duck blinds on a lot of occasions.  But, it's obviously much warmer in SA and down here in the South. 

Those Pointers are also not like what we breed here.

[constructeur]

I think in general the AKC could do a better job of marketing their events.

You may find some luck by searching each of the breed clubs in the state, gsp club or wa, etc. that kind of stuff.