Shivers down your spine....Update!

I heard today that a dog trainer in Bradford had her van and dogs stolen last night while she was locking the gates at Bierley Communtiy Centre Bradford BD4 after a training session. As you might imagine, she is beside herself with worry for her dogs, one of which is quite elderly.

So, if you see a white Vauxhall Vivaro van with paw prints on the doors and reg letters T14PAW, call the police!!

The dogs are pictured above - both had collars on and they are both microchipped.

Please keep your eyes open when you are out and about - the van could be anywhere by now, so they dogs could also be anywhere. Call 07866212047 if you see the dogs or know where they are.

News flash!! Both dogs have been found - minus their collars and tags - not far from where they were stolen. They are now back home with their delighted owner!!!!

Harrogate Agility Training Society Show

This is just a nice little unaffiliated show run at the NAWS venue by HATS to raise some funds for their club. There were about 110 dogs in all, with classes in agility and jumping for all grades and pre-competition too.

My day started on a dodgy note - straight in the ring with Bryn for Grade 3 large Jumping - now you can't go straight into the ring with him; you have to potter about the rings for about half an hour to get him over his excitement of being at a show with all these potential friends to play with.... So, after he had lapped the ring four times (yes, really!) he was ready to focus on some work. Unfortunately, I had stepped into a shaft of sunlight, blinded myself, and triggered the migraine I had been controlling all week. So we set off on the mostly left handed course, with me unable to see anything on my left side! Not surprisingly he knocked down a pole. Second run at jumping - same thing again, just I could see even less, and it was a different pole. And he was trying to work well on a very nice course.

Next up was Amber in Grade 6/7 small/medium jumping. Luckily I could see by now! A good Grade 6 type course, with some handling early and middling, but a huge run on a straight line down the centre to finish, and Amber doesn't usually like straight lines, so my hopes were not too high. First run - a pole down early, so we went into training mode, with lots of sits and restarts, breaking the course down into sections - then the cloth tunnel came unpegged as she went through it, so we got a re-run! This time she rolled a pole later in the course, so more training from there on, but we were both a lot better. Then for our second (well, by now, third) run - and it was almost perfection - no poles down, better handling, good lines - I was well chuffed!! AND she did the run for home every time without a look backwards! WE WON THE CLASS!!!!

Didn't run Amber in the agility as she had already done 3 long runs, so it was back to Bryn again for Grade 3 large Agility. First run, I pushed him quite hard but still made sure he nailed his contacts and saw the weave entry, and he got a reasonable clear round, and was lying second at the end of run 1. The second run, I pushed him still harder, instant release contacts, beautiful independent weaves, and he was definitely going faster and shaping better into his tuns, until he took out a pole on a curve, after which I began holding his contacts etc. I think he spotted his lead which the lead-person had dropped at the side of the course rather than put on the table like before, because as we came back round the same bit for the finish, he shot off to grab it. Never mind - he still came THIRD!!

I always feel guilty about Corker at shows, but once I had done my stint scribing I took him out for some walks and ball throwing in the sunshine. It was a really warm, sunny Spring day with most of us in tee shirts, and we both enjoyed wandering around the fields looking at the horses. Let's hope the rest of the summer lives up to this early promise.

What an Easter Weekend!

Eventful, to say the least! Before going I'd had to borrow a battery charger as the engine on the camper was dead - despite all my efforts over the winter to keep it topped up.
Arriving at Winterton for the Dog Vegas Easter Show I discovered that the gas regulator was also dead - so no hot water, fridge, heating, cooking......... luckily brilliant friends looked after me and when Bob Scott heard on Sunday he leant me his spare regulator straight away. That hot shower was wonderful!!!
Then on the way home, just as I was cruising at 70mph on the M62 and musing about what a fabulous show it had been, the camper suddenly became possessed and careered all over the 3 lanes and the hard shoulder - several times. It took me about 2 seconds - or a lifetime as it felt - to realise that a rear tyre had blown, and I was really lucky that there was no-one beside or behind me at the time as the road was quite busy. I managed to remember not to try to brake, and to steer lightly because of the power steering, but I daren't take a hand off the wheel to use the gears to slow it further. Anyway, we finally came to a straight and calm halt on the hard shoulder, and about 40 minutes later a breakdown van arrived to change the tyre for me (I was still shaking too much to do it myself) and 10 minutes later all was over. No-one, no dogs and not even the camper was harmed or hurt - but I never want to go through that again!
Yet, despite all these things, and the drizzly weather and chilly wind, my remaining impression of the show is that it was wonderful. So many of my friends, and people who I have trained, got superb results (see the White Rose Blog http://whiteroseagility.blogspot.com/) and almost everyone seemed in such a good mood - first camping show of the new season. Bryn and Amber only managed a clear round each - not fast enough sadly, but with places only to First in Amber's classes, there wasn't going to be much hope of points for a nine year old dog. Bryn bogged off twice, but I think I know the reasons for that and can, I hope, avoid it happening in future. He dropped a few poles when I turned too sharply (Amber-turns) so I must stop doing that! But so many people including judges commented positively on his contacts and weaves - good stuff little man! And we managed to measure 35 dogs over the weekend, mostly first-timers, so it looks like there will be quite a few new human and canine faces around this season.
So, today I'm replacing tyres and regulators...... :((
PS Dad update - he's feeling fine but movement to a Community Hospital for the next stage has been delayed as he now has MRSA and cellulitis. He didn't have either when he entered hospital.....

Sunny Scunny

Sunny Scunny lived up to its nick-name - only a few minutes of drizzle early in the morning, then the sun shone - chilly wind to be sure, but it's near the Humber, isn't it?
I always enjoy judging, though I wasn't 100% sure about the courses for this show. They were ones I used about 10 years ago - at the same show! - though tweaked a bit to try to take account of the changes in handling styles.
The Pedigree Trek Pairs qualifier started with a long fast outrun round two sides of the ring, then through the weaves into a technical box-ish bit, where the handler's spatial awareness was important, then a spread and a hurdle to finish/changeover. The three top pairs were phenomenal - driving the dogs but never letting up on the control. It was great to watch.
The Graded 6 & 7 Jumping took the opposite route - first a technical section, then the weaves, then a fast run around the outside to the finish, so, hopefully, there was something for all dogs somewhere on the course. Again, the winners were amazing to watch. My heart was in my mouth, willing the dogs to drive on to the finish after completing all the rest. Quite a few handlers got a bit too focused on the early pull past, and took their eyes off their dogs for a split second - which you can't afford to do at this level of competiton.
It was nice to hear so many positive comments about the courses, both before and after the classes. I always worry about my courses, there's always something I might change with hindsight, and these kind words are so reassuring. I was especially pleased with the number of people who said it was so good to have some courses that you had to think about and work on, that were not just running courses for fast dogs and handlers - like me, they said that they hadn't worked and trained to get their dogs to Grades 6 & 7 just to run straight courses, but to show off their agility skills.
One of the relaxing features of the day for me was knowing that my dogs were being well looked after by some friends while I was judging. In fact, the dogs were so well exercised, that they fell asleep as soon as they got home, and didn't wake up until this morning! Many thanks!!!
Back to Winterton again next weekend for the Dog Vegas Easter Show. This time I'll have to get my skates on and run Amber and Bryn, and it will be me that's exhausted, I think!
PS To everyone who has asked about my Dad, thank you for your interest and concern. He is making steady progress now, and has begun physio and occupational therapy to get him walking again. It's going to be some time yet before he's back home and fending for himself, but there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel.

Update on this week.

What a roller coaster this week has been!

My Dad's broken hip has been scheduled for surgery every day - but there have been constant complications. Finally, on Saturday afternoon we were told that the complications meant that the surgery was potentially life threatening, but that it needed to be done straight away if it was going to be done at all. Family conference - my Dad decided to take the risk and go ahead.

He has a knack of making good decisions, my Dad, and all went well. I'm glad to say that he is now in recovery, and hopefully he will continue to make good progress.

It's the second time in 30 years that I have done the dash down the motorway to be at his side in a hospital, hoping to get there in time, and it's not at all nice!!!

The highs and lows....

After Ireland, I just had time at home to pick up the dogs from kennels and change suitcases before heading south for my Dad's 90th birthday - yes, 90! He and my Mum (88) are very active people, so we had a great family birthday party on Friday, followed by another celebration on Saturday at my sister's house, followed by going out for a very posh meal on Sunday (Mothers Day too!)

Except that my Dad slipped on loose gravel as he was getting out of the car - and broke his hip (the other one). So all the highs of the week ended on rather a low note at the local hospital where he is now enjoying the hospital food rather than the slap-up meal he was looking forward to.

Beannachtai Na Féile Pádraig

It always rains on St Patrick's Day....but not this year!! This year the Irish Kennel Club's Celtic Winners St Patrick's Day Championship Show was held in bright sunshine, and the crowds poured in!

Flew out to Dublin on Monday 16 March to warm sunshine. After booking in to the hotel, Sarah came to pick me up and whisk me off to lunch at a pub, followed by a trip up to the National Centre showground where she and Cheryl, Pat, Liam and Frank were going to be doing some agility training. It was so good to see everyone again! And fascinating to be a specatator while Cheryl worked with Sarah on gettin Fionn to get his up contacts. At the end of the afternoon they all helped me to set up my Premier course for the next day - but without numbers! I left them with a puzzle - try to work out what the course would be when the numbers went on - none of them got it right!

Sarah dropped me back at the hotel in time for me to have a shower and change, and go down to a meeting with the other judges and the IKC officials. Except that this was Ireland, so the meeting turned out to be free drinks at the bar followed by a fabulous dinner in the hotel. And what excellent company too! Some amazing stories were being told, with much laughter and hilarity. The party broke up at about 11.00pm as we all had to be fresh for judging the next day.

St Patrick's Day dawned bright and sunny, which apparently is completely out of character, and we were taxied to the show ground to begin judging. Bob Beesley and Steve Rutter went off to set up the obedience, and I went to the agility ring - the rest were indoors so didn't get the benefit of sunshine (or the sneaky chill wind!).

It was lovely to see so many familiar faces - and quite a few new ones too! I was fortunate to have Mary (Bailey) and Mark O'Brien as my scribe and time keeper all day, and they were so efficient! People willingly helped to alter jump heights and courses as needed - that sort of support makes judging a real joy!

The courses I set were well received, though apparently a bit more difficult than they were used to.....got that wrong then!! However, the competitors all seemed to enjoy trying something that was a bit different to what they were used to. The only potentially down point was when a spectator's boxer dog came into the ring and repeatedly tried to attack the dog that was running - not a good idea when that dog is an entire male kelpie....luckily no damage was done to either dog, but obviously the incident had to be reported to the Irish Kennel Club just for their records. When the boxer was evetually caught and reunited with its owner, the kelpie completed its round as if nothing had happened - good lad!! He was so well behaved and restrained throughout the incident.

After the agility finished and all the presentations were done, I had to say farewell to all my lovely friends (Nuala, Liam, Sarah, Olive, Frank, Mark, Mary, Heather, Orma and many others) as I was going to do some measuring training with the new IKC measurers. BUT I will be seeing everyone again in a few months when hopefully I will have a bit of time to just chat with them.

The training went well too - lots of pertinent questions, and lots of inside information about the new regulations that come into effect in May. Again, it seemed to go well.

Luckily, we finished just as Best in Show was being judged - and the amazing Border Collie Sh Ch Tonkory Move Over to Huntly won again!! He is a truly fabulous looking dog, and was a popular winner.

Back to the hotel for another shower and change, more drinks and another fine meal, regaled with stories from Geoffrey Davies who is a wonderfully funny raconteur, and a very sweet man.

Late to bed, and early to rise for breakfast and departure to the airport at 7.00am - and the long morning's journey home.

It was very sad, again, to be leaving Dublin - but it was so lovely to see my own dogs again. I had really missed them!

(Photos of the Show can be found at Blackblur Photography at

http:// wwwblackblurphotography.com/portfolio52244.html)

Pleased!

Oh, I was pleased with both Amber's and Bryn's agility training this week! Amber, on Wednesday, was working almost as well as she has ever done despite having turned 9 earlier this week! (Whoops! Missed another birthday!) She was fast, accurate, turning on a sixpence, happy to pick up FXs, RXs or BXs without a hesitation - none of this steadying into a turn for her! Just swing on your hocks and go! She did an amazing dogwalk - s**t off a shovel as they say. What a pity we weren't timing her!
And Bryn, last night, was really up for it. At last I managed to get back into a competition mindset, rather than a training one - I think I have found the cue word I need to change in competion mode now. We were, apparently, the only partnership that got the staggered pull/push through right, ie tight and straight, not loopy, and he was happy to be sent out or to work in close to me. He was a bit fazed by someone walking their dog next to the weaves while he was doing them - and I mean about a foot away!! And he began to offer me some proper waits on the start line again - all the training is starting to pay off!
So, a glorious sunny Spring day today, and a real lift to my spirits.
PS Corker is wonderful too.....just shedding great lumps of moulting hair everywhere he goes.... you wouldn't think a smooth coated dog could lose so much without going bald.

Sunday

Sunday afternoon Bryn and I went training with Janet Nero. It wasn't bad, but didn't exactly go as planned....
I went early so I could do some start line training outdoors on my own before the indoor session began. So it hailed and rained and I went to have a coffee instead.....
I had gone with the intention of trying to get back into a competition frame of mind, and out of the puppy-training mind-set. Janet had similar ideas for us, as she began by applying some pressure - a £10 refund for the person with the fastest clear round on the mini-course! I don't respond well to pressure - I already provide enough internal pressure of my own, and obvious attempts to pressure me lead to me opting out. So, instead of being competitive, I very deliberately put in a training round - doh!!! And once in that mind-set, I couldn't get out of it - damn!
BUT the boy did some good stuff - kept his start lines (yay!!!); nailed his contacts, easy-peasy weaves each time; layered - all good stuff - took the 'out' command a little too literally (oops!); the 'steady' work led to a complete stop - maybe need to lighten up on that command a touch LOL!; and he didn't eat too much of the wooden chipping that makes up the floor surface.... I got a chance to refresh some handling, not recently having a dog that would work away from me so well as Bryn, particularly some shaping through spaces.
Came home pleased with the boy, less pleased with my mental attitude though.
See Rob's account of the same session at http://robandmaggie.blogspot.com/

Two Down, One to Go...

Just heard the good news that Rupert is safely back home (via the police station....)

So, Corker's home; Rupert's home;.....just leaves Freddie to prove that the superstition about things going in threes is correct......please!!!!

Missing!

These last couple of days have been filled with missing dogs.

First I had a call to say that Freddie, a missing Border Collie belonging to a friend of mine, might have been sighted about 7 miles from where I live. So I drove over to the area, spoke to the person who saw the dog, and it sounds very hopeful. I left some food down where she had been seen, and it had gone when I went back this morning. BUT of course, it might have been eaten by a fox or cat or another dog or...well, any animal. So, we can't raise our hopes too high yet, but this dog has been lost for nearly a year now, so it would be marvellous if it turned out to be Freddie.

Then I heard that another friend's working Cocker Spaniel Rupert had run off from home, and hadn't been back for two days. He is very friendly, and hopefully is being looked after somewhere and will be home soon, but so far there have been no sightings (not even by highways at the side of a road, which is good news)

Then, to make sure I really understood these friends' anxiety and stress, Corker disappeared while we were out for a walk this morning - just vanished in a twinkling of an eye. Luckily for me I found him half an hour later scavenging around some tents that had been set up across a footpath in the Nature Reserve (I ask you!!) about half a mile from where he went missing. He was unimpressed by my anxiety....We have had 'yoofs' tenting before and these seemed set to continue the practice of leaving their litter, empty beer cans and cider bottles around for the rest of us to clear up, judging from the mess around their pitch (not all due to Corker's efforts!) I hope he peed on their tents!

So, not a good few days at the moment. I can't help worrying about Freddie and Rupert and hoping that they will be back home safe and sound soon.

Agility Cattle Dogs!

I spent today with a group of Australian Cattle Dog handlers and their dogs (and one or two other breeds) working on their agility skills. The group's aim is to compete in some team events as an ACD team, but first we need to get them all up to standard. We worked on contacts, turns, send ons, positioning and line, and some weaves. The youngest dog was a 6 month old, gorgeous red girlie, so we were able to talk about how important interactive play is, and how to prepare a puppy for agility in small doses. We did tiny recalls and send ons over poles on the ground and through a wide weave channel (just 4 to 6 weaves) and through a tunnel. Quite enough for a baby!!

The most experienced dog/handler partnership was Kylie Birch and her blue boy Tooey (sp?). High drive, accuracy and suppleness - just some tweaking to do after his 3 month layoff. Watch out in the ABC Qualifiers!

In between we had all the range of experience, which made for interesting work as we needed to break things down for some dogs, and extend them for others, so spectators (if they were watching) could see what the foundations should be and what sort of progression to expect.

After a chill out at lunchtime, we tackled a couple of courses using the morning's learning. I was really impressed with the progress made, in handling and in the dogs' confidence.

The day was held at Staverton near Daventry, at the ground used for the agility trials for the European Open team selection in April, so you get some idea of how spolit we were with facilities, equipment, and warm welcome. And the sun really shone, and the day was mild, and all the dogs were lovely, and the handlers were great. Hope we can find time to do it all again sometime!!

For more details of ACDs, go to : http://www.acdsocietyofgb.com/

Mad March

I'm really looking forward to March - it's going to be a fairly mad time for me, with a number of very different, exciting things to look forward to:
Firstly, there's the Agility Training Day that we are running specifically for Australian Cattle Dogs. These dogs have so much energy, enthusiasm, suppleness and drive that it's going to be great fun! perhaps this will be the first of a few get-togethers for ACD agility dogs?
Then, it's off the Dublin to judge the agility at the Irish kennel Club's Celtic Winners' Show aka The St Paddy's Day Show. Dublin on St Patrick's Day - woohoo!! The craic will be good I expect....
Immediately after that it is my father's 90th birthday celebrations - guess why he was called Patrick by his Irish descent mother? And Mothers Day too, so both parents get to be cossetted and fussed.
And then it is the Final show in this year's Northern Agility Winter Series, with the final results of the Championship League, the distribution of the glitzy Champion rosettes, and the donation to Tia Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue - we are hopine someone will come to the show to receive the cheque, which is looking healthy at the moment.
And somewhere in amongst all this, I will be training my dogs ready for the onset of the outdoor Agility Show Season in April.
Ain't life grand!!

Of shoes - - and ships - - and sealing-wax - -

I always loved Lewis Carroll's books as a child, and thought this was quite a good description of trivial talk.
So, some more trivial talk.
Had two lovely walks with the dogs today. First with Bryn on his own - he was racing around the hillside, chasing and retrieving a ball on a rope, when suddenly we were joined by a very fast, very spunky little terrier cross called Millie, and the pair of them flew around together having a great time until we came to a parting of the ways. What an amazing agility dog that little one would make!!!
I took Bryn back home and brought Amber and Corker out, and lo and behold, we met Millie and her owner again. Now Amber isn't usually too sure about strange dogs, especially strange female dogs, and Corker is always a bit 'in your face' but again a huge game developed, with Millie teasing the Cattle Dogs and getting them to play fast dodging games. It was lovely to see Amber and Corker playing with someone else's dog. Later in the walk Poppy, a lovely black lab, came to join us. Poppy is a regular companion with her owner, so again a game developed, and we were then joined by a big red and white border collie (descended from the fabulous Mr Chips of Mary Ray and looking so like his great-great-grandfather) Now, Corker isn't too keen on red and white collies, nor large, entire males, and this was both, so I held my breath.... but needn't have worried because yet again it was 'game on'.
And the sun shone..... and it was mild.......and the birds were singing.......and all was well with the world.

(Just for the curious, here is the verse from 'The Walrus and the Carpenter' that gives this bit of trivia its title:
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings.")

Training on Sunday

I take Bryn to Janet Nero's 4PawsAgility club each week - it's great to be able to concentrate on training my own dog rather than feeling I need to watch other people, help them, design exercises etc, and Bryn has come on well there. So I jumped at the chance to join an extra 3 hour training session yesterday afternoon, especially as we have had no agility training all week because of the snow and ice.
Initial aims: to stop him from going off to visit people and to reinforce the wait on the start line. Anything else - a bonus.
Lots of bonus then!! There were only about 6 of us, so we had plenty of opportunity to try out different ways of working exercises - flick flacks, box work, sendaways, redirects, run pasts and more - all focusing on higher drive, better lines, better positioning and cueing. I really enjoyed the afternoon, and Bryn was a good boy! And we had results from the initial aims as well - let's see if they carry through.
As we were leaving it was just starting to snow again, and we had another inch or so overnight. You can have too much of a good thing.......

Why be different?

Everyone is busy posting pictures of snow, so this is our 'playground' today.

This is where we walk everyday, but it doesn't always look as magnificent as this!

What have I learned?

The training day with Di Talbot was cancelled today because of the snow, so off we went for some snowy walks, and I discovered:
that Bryn's sparkly white bits are actually creamy beige;
that Bryn doesn't really know how to play with other collies;
that Amber leaps like a kangeroo when chasing snow balls though snow drifts;
that Poppy the local labrador can run faster than Amber in snow because she has longer legs;
that Corker can still find someone's lost tennis ball from under 6 inches of snow;
that all the dogs think that Zak the local JR cross terrier is an amazing playmate in the snow, despite dispising him usually.......
A few inches of snow and this country comes almost to a stand-still, and the adults all revert to being kids again - one of the neighbours deliberately parked his van across the road so that the local little kids could use the sloped top of the road for sledging! Lots of fun - and the mulled wine was good too.

Tagged! Thanks Leanne...!

Okay, so here goes:

The instructions were …Open a document or file folder

Click on the fifth folder and then the fifth photo

Post the photo and describe it

Then tag 5 other bloggers

Okay, so it happens that this is a photo taken at the Irish National Stud last summer. This is an amazing place to visit - on the Naas road out of Dublin. As well as exquisite race horses and foals to look at, and a fantastic gift shop and cafe, there is the Japanese garden, where this picture was taken - a tiny garden but packed with surprises around every corner. It really leaves you feeling tranquil and relaxed. Definitely a place I would recommend for a visit if you are in Dublin or the area.

So, who to tag?

http://amazingpaws.blogspot.com/

http://robandmaggie.blogspot.com/

http://lilyfudge.blogspot.com/

http://flyinkai.blogspot.com/

http://bryningbcs.blogspot.com/

Training Last Night

I only worked Amber for a short time last night - half the course just to demonstrate where to go and how to get there(!) - and to practice our contacts and send aways. I also did some focused work on pull throughs with her as I always have problems with handling multiple pull throughs, and we haven't done them for some time - in denial I think!! Anyway, she was great, as ever - very noisy and full of energy and concentation. Working Amber is always like a very fast, energetic, noisy game of Master Chess!!

So, to the Boy. I asked people to be quite tough with him (not harsh - just not welcoming) if he came visiting. I started working on the pull-through sequence, teaching him what I wanted. I knew he would find this quite boring to start with, with too much concentration required before he had checked out who was there. Yes - I set him up to want to go off and see people.... and he did, but what a surprise he got! No welcoming faces at all. He was quite obviously a bit put out as he returned to me and worked quietly and with the focus I had come to expect. So, the damage done last weekend, when it became too exciting for him to remember he was supposed to be working, has been partially put right. We have, of course, been working on the 'stay with me' fun exercises when out for walks etc too.

I then put him over the more difficult of the 2 courses, with a tight wrap start; tunnel avoidance flick flack (that's a 'flapjack' for Lee Windeatt and any other southerners reading this!) and tough A-scale/tunnel discrimination, with both ends of the tunnel well out in front of the A-scale, which of course was the one to be taken. Later in the course it was the tunnel that had to be taken - again, not problems. Every contact nailed; weaves like a pro - no pulling out before the end, so progress there too.

All in all, a really good night's training for my dogs! (Just a bit guilty that Corker My Main Man doesn't feature at all.... so I've included him by using his picture at the top..........)

Consistency

Well, the trend from the last few days has continued at flyball training, and then at NAWS - Bryn bogging off to 'meet and greet' what he believes is his adoring fan club/audience. This is really frustrating, and will not do! He has too much promise at agility in many ways for this naughtiness to be allowed to remain. Some reward based obedience is called for I think....

So, we went weave training tonight - he did it again a couple of times, but people were primed to send him away and he came back readily enough. We also managed to consolidate his weaves again - he had started to bob out towards the end if I ran past him or went off at an angle. By then end of the session he was weaving well wherever I was - alongside, recall, sendaway etc. His weave entries are ace! Especially for a young, immature dog.

And that is the crux of the matter I think - immaturity. I may have been asking too much from him in terms of independent working, and he may have thought it meant 'do your own thing'. Perhaps I need to step back a bit, and support him a little more for a while.

Amber was working well at NAWS, but as I was helping to run the show, I wasn't as good as I needed to be. Lovely courses - wasted by me! I have noticed that, at almost 9 years old, recovery time is a bit longer these days. Must keep an eye on her.