Bordersprings

Thank you for the many kind words. We hope everyone supports the Reynolds Homestead Trial in October - on a new field. Here are the results... REYNOLDS HOMESTEAD SHEEP DOG TRIAL PATRICK SPRINGS, VA RANCH Trial #1: 1. Robin French Zac 2. Vickie Wilcox Glad 3. Dee Penatzer Ruthann 4. Don Whitington Jack 5. Becky Randolph Trey 6. Dan King Jig Trial #2: 1. Vicki Wilcox Glad 2. Dan King Jig 3. Becky Randolph Trey Trial #3 1. Vicki Wilcox Glad 2. Dee Penatzer Craig 3. Becky Randolph Trey 4. Don Whittington Jack 5. Dee Penatzer Ruthann Trial #4 1. Becky Randolph Trey PRONOVICE Trial #1: 1. Dee Penatzer Kelly 2. Tom Lacy Emmy 3. Richard Whorton Nate 4. Eleanor Peavy Robin 5. Jessica Ligon Pride 6. Dan King Fann Trial #2 1. Tom Lacy Emmy 2. Dee Penatzer Kelly 3. Peggy Wilkerson Sis 4. Richard Whorton Nate 5. Tony Luper Blurr 6. Terry Murray Jane Trial #3 1. Dan King Fann 2. Tom Lacy Emmy 3. Terry Murray Jane 4. Eleanor Peavy Robin 5. Dee Penatzer Kelly 6. Jessica Ligon Pride Trial #4 1. Peggy Wilkerson Sis 2. Dan King Fann 3. Richard Whorton Nate 4. Terry Murray Jane 5. Jessica Ligon Pride 6. Colin Campbell Kate NOVICE-NOVICE Trial #1 1. Laurie Anderson Pod 2. Sylvia King Vic 3. Peggy Wilkerson Holly 4. Joan Rogers Brit 5. Laurie Anderson Cooper 6. Joan Rogers Babe Trial #2 1. Joan Rogers Brit 2. Laurie Anderson Pod 3. Laurie Anderson Danger 4. Peggy Wilkerson Holly 5. Laurie Anderson Cooper 6. Sylvia King Vic Trial #3 1. Laurie Anderson Cooper 2. Laurie Anderson Pod 3. Joan Rogers Brit 4. Sylvia King Vic 5. Laurie Anderson Danger Trial #4 1. Joan Rogers Brit 2. Sylvia King Vic 3. Laurie Anderson Pod 4. Laurie Anderson Danger Open #1 (52 dogs) 1. Tom Wilson Whip 92 2. Florence Wilson Mac 89 3. Dee Penatzer Rob 89 4. Tommy Wilson Sly 89 5. Vicki Wilcox Kate 87 6. Dean Holcomb Lynn 86 7. Tom Lacy Mig 86 8. Florence Wilson Cap 84 9. Anet Haithcox Jax 82 10. Jan Thompson Spin 82 Open #2 1. Craig Rogers Jake 95 2. Sam Furman Fred 92 3. Robin French Spottie 90 4. Donald McCaig Luke 90 5. Tommy Wilson Sly 89 6. Tommy Wilson Whip 89 7. Tom Lacy Mig 88 8. Vicki Wilcox Kate 88 9. Tom Lacy Meagan 85 10. Dee Penatzer Rob 84 Nursery 1. 9 dogs 1. Robin French Zac 2. Sam Furman Fred Nursery 2. 8 dogs 1. Sam Furman Fred 2. Don Whittinton Jack Nursery 3. 5 dogs 1. Craig Rogers Brit

Colin, I had that problem when I first subscribed to Wildblue. I call technical support and after a couple of days - the problem seemed to resolve itself and I have had no problems sense. Sorry, not much help but I went through the same issue. Craig

To all handlers entered in the Reynolds Homestead Sheep Dog Trial, In light of the heat we expect to use a larger flock of wool sheep for the Open class instead of the Coopworth sheep. The Novice classes will be using a flock of Kathadins. We have also added a 3rd nursery class. Please contact me if you are interested in entering the additional nursery class. As far as the confusion about location - the trial will be held at my farm. The Reynolds Homestead is planning on having a new trial field available elsewhere in the county for the October trial. Please contact me privately and I will send you directions. Think COOL... Craig

The Reynolds Homestead Sheep Dog Trial in Patrick Springs, VA is proceeding well. The Reynolds Homestead is overwhelmed by the support from the handlers for their first venture into the sheep dog world. The Open trial fluctuates from being a few dogs over subscribed to a few under. Presently it is full but I suspect there will be a cancellation or two before the trial begins. There are still plenty of Novice slots still available. Each dog entered in a novice class will be able to run twice a day - and we will have "fun runs" if their is interest. We will run two fields simultaneously so there will be plenty of action. The Reynolds Homestead has arranged for a Celtic Band to entertain the handlers and guests after the free handlers dinner on Saturday evening. Hope to see you there. - Craig

Congratulations Mark!

Hurray for education! (and Robin)

Thank you all...Dawn does seem to work - or maybe it was the fourth cat shampoo that did the trick. In any case, all the furry ones seem to be doing well. The house contents are being packed, we are living in the RV for the next couple of months, and they are about to take my computer for cleaning, so I will not be in touch with you all for a while (?). Thank you for your concern - We now have a new definition of "being blessed".

We recently had a house fire - everyone was able to get out safely. The dogs and cats were exceptionally fortunate, thus far, but they are covered with the toxic soot. Common cleaning supplies do not work to remove the soot from household goods, and pet shampoo appears to be doing a very marginal job in removing the soot from the the pets' coats. Does anyone know of a solution to removing soot from the animals? It is particulary a problem for the cats as they attempt to lick the soot off and we are seeing ill affects.

Congratulations, Jenn and Scott. May happiness follow you through all your journeys.

Sure enough...and spend $3000 more for a trailer!

Delivery Options: 1. Sent commercial freight. The boxes are placed on a pallet. The trailers can also be sent by commercial freight. Boxes are typically below the minumum weight so the cost of shipping is typically around $90.00. For trailers, I get 5 quotes and ship by the least expensive unless the customer has a specific carrier they wish to use. 2. Depending on location, distance and the availability of a dog trial nearby I generally deliver trailers for gas money. 3. I also deliver dog boxes free of charge to dog trials. 4. I have on occasion met a "trailer" customer "half-way" as well. The bottom line it is a custom order all around. Rebecca, your idea is the perfect custom order with no top storage. If you are going to put the box inside a fiberglass topper than you don't need the top storage for insulation (besides, it is hard to get to it inside the topper anyway). I would have to measure to be certain, but I suspect you could put a 6-compartment box across the back of the bed (3 on each row). The box would require two people to put put it in and take it out of the truck - but it would likely weigh only about 70 pounds (this is a guess, albeit somewhat educated)but would be awkward for one person to move. I personally use a two-dog box in the back of my Excursion. Lead time for custom orders is typically about 3 weeks. Hope this helps...

By the way, Rebecca, the "toppers" are typically for animal control vehicles. They will have double doors, and snare holes and slides to allow a person to "snare" a dog before opening up the second door, etc. They are rather expensive units - but you can often find them used. Tyically you can buy a trailer loaded for less money than a typical animal control topper. They are also rather large (as they need to accomodate many large dogs at once) and are not easily removed from the truck. However, they are always custom so you could design what you wanted if you wanted a new one (say without double doors, with compartments that are borde collie size rather than St. Bernard size, etc.).

Two-dog boxes with a top storage start at approximately $450. Things to watch out for: 1. make sure your dog box is welded construction, not riveted - a mechanical fastner box will not hold up long. 2. be certain to buy a box with top storage as that is where MOST of the insulation come froms (radiation heat transfer much like a space blanket). 3. Have a very good reason for getting a four dog compartment box (and a full size truck) that sits on the tailgate end of the bed as the outside compartments will be too small for most full grown BC's (fine for pups or for short rides). A 3-dog box is fine. 4. Most dog boxes (99% are sold to coon hunters and gun dog people) are used for multiple dogs in a dog compartment, hence the reason for the long depth. BC people seldom put more than one dog in a compartment so generally only need 38" depth vs the 46" depth. 5. If you are towing a 5th wheel, your tool box type box should not be more than 28" in depth or it may get "crunched" by the trailer when making a sharp turn. 6. Have a good reason for not wanting a box for top storage (the most common is because of a trailer they are pulling or if it will be used inside a vehicle or building) as the top storage is where most of the insulation comes from. Tip: If you have a dog box, please be certain to close the top storage when you are not using it so that you can take advantage of the insulation that it provides and keep your dogs cooler in the summer months. When buying a trailer - 95% of all trailers are now sold with forced air ventilation that are ducted to each dog compartment (about a $500 option). A 6-dog trailer starts at $3499 plus options. Most people get a water storage tank mounted on the tongue, lights for inside the storage areas and a couple of external lights along witht the forced air ventilation. Most gun dog people get 8-dog trailers (as they generally travel with friends, etc). Essentially all trailers are custom built by all companies as most everyone has a different set of options they desire. All most no-one buys a standard - no option trailer. Most dog box companies will make custom dog boxes but expect the cost to go up rather significantly as they can not use their standard jigs and fixtures. I suspect that about 20% of the boxes I sell are custom however.

I can not speak for Herbert and the board, but I think the USBCHA will be using a similar approach to solicit bids for the 2007 Sheep Dog Finals. Thank you, Christine, for the lead. I will be certain they get a Bid Solication Package.

The USBCHA, under the leadership of Herbert Holmes, has produced a brief Bid Solication Package for the Cattle Dog Finals that will be ready in the next week or so. We will be sending this package to every state Dept. of Agriculture and Tourism in hopes of generating interest in hosting the USBCHA Finals. It is also our desire to provide assistance for local communities in securing finanical and advertising support from their state to support potential bids. If you know of an organization, local community, or exposition venue that may be interested in hosting the Finals in 2007 or 2008, please send the contact information to me and I will be certain that a package is sent to them as soon as they are ready to be distributed. Your assistance in helping to inspire bids to host our Finals is greatly appreciated. Craig Rogers Patrick Springs, VA 800-637-9784