field trial - Mid-South Horse Review

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FIELD TRIAL
Covering the National Championship since 1986
Review
116th National Championship
100th Anniversary at Ames Plantation
February 9-21, 2015
Shadow Oak Bo: 2013 & 2014 National Champion
(photo by Nancy Brannon)
2. 2015 Field Trial Review
(916) 296-1200
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2015 Field Trial Review 3.
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Field Trial Review
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Copyright 2015
P.O. Box 594 • Arlington, TN 38002-0594
901-867-1755 • 901-867-1755 (Fax)
Publishers — Tommy & Nancy Brannon
Staff — Andrea Gilbert
Email: [email protected] • [email protected]
www.midsouthhorsereview.com
The Field Trial Review is an annual publication of the Mid-South Horse Review, a
free monthly newsmagazine published in Arlington, TN. Yearly subscriptions to the
Mid-South Horse Review are available by first class mail for $35 annually. To
subscribe, send payment to P.O. Box 594, Arlington, TN 38002. Phone: (901) 867-1755.
Emily Allen, co-owner of Scooby Doo
(photo by Jamie Evans)
Congratulations! to All Competing
in the 116th National Championship
This is the 30th year for publishing the Field Trial Review. Started in 1986 by the late
Don Dowdle, when 34 dogs were nominated to compete in the 87th National Championship, we have continued Don’s legacy, publishing the Field Trial Review annually and
paying tribute to all the dogs, owners, handlers, and Ames Plantation, at this prestigious
event. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the running at Ames Plantation.
While every effort was made to secure photographs of all dogs, owners, and handlers,
not all were available at press time. We express our sincere appreciation to all who contributed articles, photos and information for this publication. Submitted articles have
been edited to fit available space.
EDITORIAL POLICY:
The opinions expressed in articles do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policy of
the Field Trial Review. Expressions of differing opinions through manuscript
submissions are welcome.
About This Publication
This is the 30th year the Field Trial Review has been published. We appreciate your comments about last year’s edition and hope you are pleased with this year’s issue.
Every effort is made to avoid errors and to secure photos of every dog and everyone. If
you find errors or if we missed you, we apologize.
The Field Trial Review is a FREE publication made possible by the support of advertisers. Be sure to tell our advertising patrons that you saw their ad in the Field Trial Review.
Special thanks to the Ames Plantation staff and to all contributors to this publication.
Tommy & Dr. Nancy Brannon, Publishers & Editors
P. O. Box 594, Arlington, TN 38002 • 901-867-1755
Contents © 2015
The Field Trial Review is available online at
Click on the FTR ad to link to the 2015 issue.
The archived 2014 issue is available in “Past Issues.”
Future Field Trial competitor: June, offspring of National Champion Shadow
Oak Bo, came to scope out the future competition at the 2014 National Championship. June is owned by Jack Huffman of Wellston, OH (photo by Jamie Evans)
2014 National Champion Is Shadow Oak Bo - Again!
Setters in the National
Championship: Part 2
Bo Knows…Birds
By Brad Harter
In last year’s Field Trial Review I wrote about the history of setters in the 115-year
history of the National Championship. That story ended with Shadow Oak Bo breaking a 43-year dry spell for setters by winning the National Championship in 2013. I
ended that story questioning whether or not Bo could come back and repeat that win.
A setter winning back to back had not happened for 112 years since a little setter named
Sioux had accomplished that feat back in 1902.
In 2014 Bo did just that, and he did it with a “knock it out of the park” performance!
Many of those fortunate enough to see his three hours believed Bo had even bettered
his performance from the year before. It was obvious from the moment Bo was turned
loose that he had one mission – stay with [handler] Robin [Gates], find and point as
many birds as possible, and don’t make any mistakes.
Clarke Venable, with the American Field, asked Nash Buckingham, Dr. T. Benton
King, Cecil Proctor and Ruben Scott, all distinguished judges of the National Championship, to prepare a written standard depicting the type of performance Mr. Hobart
Ames sought in a winner of the National. They did so and today that standard is referred to as the Amesian Standard. While it is understood that Bo can’t read, one might
think that Robin had read that Standard to Bo because he followed it to the tee! Bo kept
Robin’s course in mind at all times. Bo’s handling of birds, his location, and his manners were perfect in every instance. If there was icing on the cake, it had to be the way
Bo handled relocating on a covey that was attempting to elude him.
As outlined in last year’s story, setters once dominated the National, having won the
first 12 years. It wasn’t until 1909 that an English Pointer named Manitoba Rap broke
the strangle hold setters had on the title. Setters regained their domination, winning the
stake for the next four years, until another pointer named Comanche Frank won the
title for his breed. For setters, their domination was coming to a close. During the next
32 years setters won only five times with the other 27 wins going to pointers. Interestingly, during that 32-year span three of those five setter wins were provided by one
setter – Feagin’s Mohawk Pal. His wins were not back to back, however, having come
in 1926, 1928 and 1930. Today, Pal remains the only setter to be a “Triple Crown Winner” of this prestigious stake.
In 1946, Mississippi Zev captured the title once more for setters, but pointers still
dominated the winner’s place for the next 24 years. It was not until 1970 that the pointer
dominance was once more challenged, when a setter male from Texas named Johnny
Crockett walked away with all the honors.
For 43 more years, from 1970 until 2013, setters challenged the field dominated in
numbers by the pointers, but none took home the trophy. In that 43-year span there
were years when no setters qualified to compete. There were years like 1962 when as
many as ten setters competed, but still there were no winners. Tekoa Mountain Sunrise
came close in 1990, only to be bested by a “perfect 10” performance by a pointer called
Dunn’s Fearless Bud. In 1998 a female setter named Ida O Priscilla made a strong bid
in the final brace, but lost to a female pointer named Cedar Oak Kate. No setters
mounted a challenging bid until a male named Jetsetter, owned by Jim Michaletz and
handled by Allen Vincent, turned in a spectacular three hours in 2009. That year the title
was awarded to a pointer, Lester’s Snowatch, on the basis of an extremely strong ground
race and a slightly higher bird score. (continued next page)
Bo on his fourth find; note the birds above Bo's head.
(photo by Brad Harter)
The traditional winning photo on the steps of the Ames Manor House. At front
is Bo flanked on the left by handler Robin Gates and the right by Luke Eisenhart.
At far right, seated, is co-owner Butch Houston. (Nancy Brannon photos)
Bo basks in the limelight, posing for the bird dog paparazzi.
For the next three years setters made
seven more attempts to win the National,
but none were successful at putting the
total performance together and unseating
the pointer domination of the all-age
game. In that span of 113 years pointers
had won the title 89 times, while setters
had only managed 24 wins.
The evidence that this might change
came in 2012 when a setter male named
Shadow Oak Bo appeared on the scene.
Bo had already proven himself in the
Southeast piney woods and on the Canadian prairies. His championship wins had
come mostly in one hour stakes. Could Bo
go the grueling three hours of the National; could he maintain his pace and find
birds during that long time span; could he
keep in contact with his handler and not
get lost? These were questions to be answered.
In 2012 Bo began to answer those questions by rendering an extremely strong
three hours. Even though Bo’s bird score
fell short of the winner, he had proven he
was a dog that could compete in the endurance events. All that remained was for
Bo to get a break and be drawn at a time
when birds would be active and moving.
That break came in 2013. Bo had drawn
the morning course and birds were out
feeding. Bo had his first find at the three
minute mark and his last find at the end of
his three hours. Bo had disappeared to the
front when time was called. Minutes later
Bo was seen standing on his seventh
covey. On every find Bo handled the birds
perfectly, while he also backed his brace
mate on four other occasions. That performance earned Bo the title of National
Champion breaking the 43 year domination held by pointers.
A year later and Bo was back to defend
his title. A year older and maybe even a little smarter, Bo was still considered to be in
his prime. With his bird finding skills
honed to perfection, Bo was more than
ready to take on the field of 37 pointers.
Bo had been drawn to run on Saturday
afternoon of the first week. But an ice
storm had delayed the running a half day,
pushing Bo’s time to the morning course
on Monday of the second week. The
weather had improved considerably by the
second week, allowing the birds to move
about and feed for the first time in many
days.
Bo’s brace mate, Miller’s Happy Jack,
was lost to the right side of the course before the first road crossing, leaving Bo
with the course all to himself for the remainder of the three hours. Some dogs do
not do well without a brace mate to create
a competitive edge, but that was not the
situation with Bo. Bo took full advantage
and quickly settling into a bird hunting
frame of mind. When the cover and terrain
allowed, Bo took the country to the limits.
When the area and cover appeared to hold
birds, Bo left little unchecked.
His first find came after crossing Buford Ellington Road when we entered the
new pond basin area. Bo was standing out
in a mowed strip a good 40 yards from a
broom sedge patch. His location was perfect and Robin Gates, Bo’s handler, put a
large covey of nearly 20 birds to wing!
When we crossed Turner Road, Bo took
the large Turner crop field to the far end,
nearly a 1,000 yards to the front. The
Turner Pines have an undergrowth of BiColor Lespedeza and that is where Bo was
spotted next - pointing a covey which had
not been seen during the first week. Again,
Bo’s location and manners were perfect!
Bo figured out that the birds were feeding and Bi-Color might be the key. His
third find came in heavy Bi-Color to the
right of the course, once more, location
and manners perfect. In the Mary Scott
Loop, Bo was spotted pointed in heavy
cover. A rabbit bolted from the cover
nearly running into the rigid setter!
Bo was zeroing in on cover and this
paid off just before entering the lowlands
for find number four directly ahead on the
course. Number five came straight ahead
on the course with Bo standing some ten
yards off the cover. Birds appeared to shut
off from feeding, so Bo started to make
some big swings to the front, while always
staying in contact with his handler.
As the course wound back to the lowlands, Bo was seen pointed to the left side
with the wind to his advantage. Robin
spotted a fresh roost directly in front of
Bo, but he continued to flush in ever enlarging circles. When nothing could be
produced, Robin tapped Bo on the head
and the setter immediately backed up
swinging out to the right where he could
use the wind to his advantage. Forth yards
farther on, Bo zeroed in on the birds, pinning this scattered feeding covey in a
heavy thicket. As Robin approached, the
birds boiled out from the backside of the
thicket for a perfect piece of work.
Bo was not done. For the next 45 minutes Bo again settled into bird searching
mode. When we entered the Edward Clark
North field near Rube Scott Road, Bo
went up into the left corner where he could
use the wind to his advantage. Bo wheeled
and pointed into a briar patch, where he
pointed his seventh and final covey.
With time left on the clock, Bo never let
down rimming the field edges, always on
his mission to find game. When the call for
pickup came, Bo was to the front digging
into the same type of cover that had paid
dividends for the past three hours.
At this point in the stake only fourteen
more dogs were left to run and challenge
Bo’s performance. Although some of the
challengers came close, in the eyes of the
three judges, none came as close to the
Amesian Standard as Bo had displayed in
his three hours.
Bo’s pace had never varied, not once
did he shown signs of fatigue. Seven times
he had pointed coveys, some of which had
not been seen throughout the trial, simply
because other dogs had not gone to those
areas. Bo was never once out of pocket for
very long and he always seemed to know
where the front was. When opportunities
existed, Bo always took a field edge to its
limits, often going four or five hundred
yards to finish a cast. If he broke off an
edge, it was because his brain or his nose
told him to do so.
When the trial came to a close, Bo’s
name rang out from the big steps of the
Ames Manor House. History had been
made! A setter winning back to back national titles had not happened for 112
years.
The questions on everyone’s mind were
would Bo continue to be campaigned?
Would he come back for a fourth time to
the fields of Ames Plantation to defend his
title? Would setter and National Championship history be made with Bo becoming
the first setter to win the National in three
successive years?
As of this writing, Robin and Bo’s owners, Butch Houston and Dr. John Dorminy,
plan to be there. If anyone could ask Bo,
we can guess what his answer will be!
Dogs Running In The 116th National Championship
Audubon Americus
Big Sky Pete (Jamie Evans photo)
Caladen’s Rail Hawk
Cassique’s Boss
Coldwater Warrior
Connor’s E Z Button
2014 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP DVD
The 2014 National Championship was a record breaking event with the Setter,
Shadow Oak Bo, winning it for the second year in a row
Every dog in every brace is featured in this year’s DVD.
DVD available for $39 plus $5 for priority shipping
The National Bird Dog Museum has been in the business of preserving our sporting dog
and field trial heritage for the past 24 years. Our dedication to all the sporting dog breeds has
resulted in a 30,000 square foot repository of bird dog memorabilia and history.
Our Museum at Grand Junction, the Bird Dog Capital of the World, has grown from a
small collection to an expansive, modern facility - showcasing the history of pointing dog
breeds, flushing dogs, and retrievers. Our newest addition, the sporting Dog Wing, focuses
on the story of the Brittany, English Cocker Spaniel, German Shorthair Pointer, English
Springer Spaniel, Weimaraner, Red Setter, and Vizsla breeds - just to name a few.
The Museum is “family friendly.” Children of all ages enjoy our Wildlife Heritage Center
containing a vast array of wildlife exhibits. For those wanting to delve a little deeper, the
Museum offers an extensive library with a wealth of information on bird dog and field trial
history. And, the gift shop has a great selection of unique items for the outdoor enthusiast.
Previous National Championships Also Available!
Order by mail:
Pleasant Hill Productions,
4842 Pleasant Hill Road • Athens, OH 45701
by phone: (740) 593-8546 • (740) 591-6456
online at: www.pleasanthillproductions.com
You can find out more by visiting our website at: www.birddogfoundation.com.
Become a member today and help preserve our outdoor heritage for future generations.
We look forward to seeing you at the Museum - you won’t be disappointed!
The National Bird Dog Mustum and Hall of Fame complex is located at:
505 W. Hwy. 57, Grand Junction, TN.
Hours: Tuesday - Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. • Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. • Closed Mondays
Phone: (731) 764-2058
Dazzling
Dunn’s Tried ‘N True
Erin's Brave Heart
Erin’s Dog Soldier
Erin’s Full Throttle
Erin’s Kentucky Gambler
#1 ALL-AGE SETTER in the UNITED STATES
Shadow Oak Bo
Dr. John Dorminy & N. G. (Butch) Houston, III
Robin Gates,
handler
WWW.
ShadowOakPLANTATION.COM
owners
© FTR 2015
Erin’s Whiskey River
Erin’s Wild Justice
Game Strut
Highground Jax Jabba
House's Yellow Jacket
Just Irresistible
Wishing Everyone a Successful Run at the
2015 National Championship
2X CH / 5X RU CH CALADEN’S RAIL HAWK
CH Region IV Amateur All Age 2013 & 2014 | RU CH National Amateur All Age Invitational 2014
RU CH Region 5 Amateur All Age 2014| RU CH Region 2 Amateur All Age 2014
Second Place: Hobart Ames Open All Age 2014| Third Place: Buck Tuck All Age 2014
Third Place: Bluegrass Quail Classic 2014 | RU CH: National Pheasant Championship 2013
Winner: Bluegrass Quail Classic 2013 | Second Place: Buck Tuck All Age 2013
Second Place: Tootsie Hurdle Open All Age 2013 | Winner: North Carolina Open All Age 2012
Winner: Missoui Open All Age 2012 | Winner: Hobart Ames Open All Age 2012
SIRE: CH Rock Acre Blackhawk • Out of Caladen's Guard Rail Girl
Thanks to Ross Callaway for the opportunity to show this great dog!
Owner: Dr. Fred Corder of Gamemaker Kennels •
Stud Fee: Private
© FTR
Lester’s Bodacious
Lester’s Jazz Man
Lester’s Skywatch
Lester's Tom Cruise
Miller’s Dialing In (Vera Courtney photo)
Miller’s Happy Jack (Jamie Evans photo)
Quester
Raelyn’s High Cotton
Raelyn's Skyy
Rapidan
Scooby Doo
Shadow’s Full Throttle (by Ross B. Young)
Good Luck to aLL in the
2015 National championship!
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Owners: Gary & Becky Futch
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Handler: Rick Furney
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Shadow Oak Bo
Skyfall
Southwind Jetset Drifter
Stallion
Stardust Chaz
Texas Wild Agin
Three Rivers (Stacey Evans photo)
Touch’s Adams County
Touch’s Knight Rider
Utah’s Red Rock Express
Westfall’s Rampage
Whippoorwill Blue Blood
Whippoorwill Wild Speck
White Dollar
White Powder Grip (on right)
Send Us Photos of
Your Dogs!
White’s Solid Reward (Jamie Evans photo)
Zorra
Show off your wonderful bird dogs in next year’s Field
Trial Review!You don’t have to wait until your dog is officially nominated for the National Championship. If
there is even a possibility that your dog might qualify,
please send us a photograph of your top dog(s).
We would like photos of the owners and handlers, i.e.,
“family,” of the dog as well.
We need high resolution (300 dpi) and/or large, sharp
photos. Email as .jpg or .tiff to: [email protected]
Be seen in the 2016 Field Trial Review! Get your dog
a “selfie” stick!
Field Trials And
The Canadian
Army Saddle
An unusual connection and convoluted journey
from the Civil War battlefield to today’s field trials.
By Brad Harter
Do you remember your first visit to a field trial? If you
were like me, then it was a whole new world full of things
I had never seen before. Dogs were tethered on short
chains attached to longer chains. They slept in boxes that
were built into horse trailers. People led their horses from
pickup truck windows to water troughs. In more recent
years, you might see a string of horses being led from a
four-wheeler. Horses might be staked out with long ropes
covered in old garden hose.
Then there is the gear. Harness for the dogs was similar to what a sled dog might use. These are attached to
dogs with long ropes, with a loop tied in the back. These
ropes are then secured to a saddle by a funny little horn
that protrudes from the back. The saddle itself looks like
some relic of a long ago war. Hooks and rings hang everywhere on this saddle, along with ropes and the sled type
harnesses. Add to that old detergent bottles covered in
duck tape and filled with water. This field trial world is a
strange world for certain, and that funny looking saddle
may just be the strangest part of all.
Where did this saddle come from? Why do the majority of these bird dog men, that chase their dogs around,
hollering at the top of their lungs, prefer this funny looking saddle? The answer to that question is just as interesting as the saddle itself.
British “Hussar” saddle, similar to the one ridden
by General Stonewall Jackson. It was Hungarian in
origin, manufactured in England, and sold to the Confederacy during the Civil War.
sent throughout the South. Confederate officers were required to purchase their own riding equipment at a cost of
$125. By the end of the war, this price was raised to $160,
and included the saddle, crupper, breast strap, halter-bridle, and pad. [Editor’s note: Wilson Dunn sold his first
reproduction of the saddle more than one hundred years
later for about the same price.]
Many of the early field trialers had served the South
during the Civil War, or they had fathers or uncles who
had ridden in this type of saddle. So these British military saddles of Hungarian origin, brought to this country
to serve the Confederacy, would next find use on the field
trial battlefields. These some of the same saddles made
Jenifer saddle
leather piece on the back with a spoon or horn attached.
Walter Jenifer freely gave the use of his saddle pattern to
the Confederates at the beginning of the war, but he later
sued the War Department for patent infringement, winning a sizeable sum of money in his lawsuit.
A variety of these military-style saddles came to be
used during the early days of field trials, and they were
used for more than half a century. Repairs were made on
these Civil War relics, but eventually they wore out and
were discarded.
English Saddle: 1856
Field Trials came to this country from Europe, specifically from England. These competitions found their first
home in the southeast part of our country in what is called
the “plantation belt,” the area that made up the Confederacy during the Civil War. Early trials were held mostly
on foot, but soon these southern gentlemen, so attracted
to this sport, began to ride their horses as they followed
the dogs. The saddles they rode were mostly of British
military design. They favored a style that had been used
by Confederate troops, but how had British military saddles found their way into the Confederate Army?
Prior to the Civil War, most manufacturing of harnesses and saddle products occurred in the northern
states. Within days of the firing on Fort Sumter, President
Jefferson Davis sent Caleb Huse to England to secure
arms and equipment for the South’s war department. Naturally, this equipment included saddles, bits, bridles, and
other horse-related items.
While in England, Caleb selected two saddle patterns.
One was the “Hussar” pattern of Hungarian origin and
the other was the 1856 British Universal pattern. Shipped
from England by sea-going vessels, these saddles were
later transferred to low draft steamers, necessary to run
past the northern blockades. A favorite port of entry was
Wilmington, N.C., and from these ports, arsenals were
Jack T. Payne Saddle, which he rode in field trials
during most of his life. Jack’s grandfather owned this
saddle and was wounded while riding it during the
Civil War. It is an example of the crossover saddles
(western & military) possibly manufactured at the Atlanta Arsenal prior to 1864 (on display at the National
Bird Dog Museum).
in this country for the Confederate troops. The Atlanta
Arsenal produced a few McClellen saddles, like those
adopted by the Union Armies, and a Texas style saddle
similar to one on display in the Bird Dog Museum at
Grand Junction, Tennessee.
These saddles were referred to as “cross-over saddles.”
They had features of both the western saddle and the military saddle. It was a saddle that Jack T. Payne rode in for
many years as he followed his bird dogs throughout the
country. This saddle had belonged to his grandfather, who
had ridden in it during the Civil War. Stories relate that he
was shot from this saddle, but survived his wounds.
Other saddles, like the Jenifer, were built, which became one of the more popular saddles. It had some of the
features of the Union Army’s McClellen saddle, but also
incorporated some of the British features by adding a
Original Canadian Military Saddle. This saddle is
shown with cavalry style saddlebags also popular with
bird dog field trialers. Ridden for many years in field
trials. (on display at the National Bird Dog Museum.
Other southern style saddles, like the Kentucky Stitchdown and the Buena Vista, replaced them. But there was
still interest in the old British Saddle, maybe because it
was what dad and granddad had ridden. During the early
1900s field trialers went to great lengths to get their hands
on these old-style military saddles.
Here the story takes another strange twist of circumstances. Dog trainers had found out early in the century
that they could go north in the summer and escape the oppressive heat in the south. There was much they accomplish by training on the young prairie chickens and
sharptail grouse found in the northern prairie regions.
Most traveled by rail and usually didn’t take their own
horses. They would borrow or rent Canadian horses that
were often draft or draft crosses. They were not great to
ride, but at best, beat walking.
This was around the time that Canadian Cavalry units
were on their way out. Used army saddles were fairly
commonplace and could be bought for less than $20.
These saddles resembled the southern military saddle;
some were actually (Continued on page 16, Saddles)
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138
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or more than 30 years, Tucker has
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Original trooper purchased in Canada by Jack Harper. Jack rode this saddle
One of the last of the originals made in England, 1940 for use by the Canadian
when he won the National Bird Dog Championship. Jack did the repair work himCavalry. It was purchased in Canada from military surplus; has never been ridself, and the repair served him well for many years.
den in; and in possession of its original owner.
(Saddles, continued from page 14) identi- England. Wilson had a young man named of these saddles, and took the tree to the
Other saddlers found themselves recal and most of them had that strange lit- Bob Payne working for him at his store in Southern Saddle Shop in Chattanooga, pairing these Canadian military saddles,
tle horn coming out the back. These Grand Junction, Tennessee. Bob’s mother Tennessee. They agreed to build the tree, some as far away as Canada by saddle
saddles had definite advantages. They had been a war bride from England and with a furniture company in Minnesota men like Jack Haggis from Hyde Park,
were light in weight, fit most horses fairly still had family living there. Wilson con- bending of the wood. The arches of the Ontario. Jack worked on Canadian
well, and were not hard to repair if needed. tacted her, found that she had a sister who original saddle were made out of steel. Mounted Police saddles and repaired some
They were also very plentiful and the price would help him, and through Bob’s aunt, Wilson took these to a foundry in Birm- originals for his field trial friends.
was right, some being bought for as little Wilson located a company called Barow- ingham, Alabama, where they made a
Steve Tucker from Memphis, Tenas $10. Many of these early trainers Hupburn & Gale. They had been one of mold from the original and agreed to cast nessee was just starting a saddle business,
brought the saddles home with them and the last original manufactures of this mil- the arches for Wilson. Back in Grand also repairing some of the originals, like
then used them on their southern gaited itary saddle. They had produced their last Junction, the arches were attached to the those owned by Buddy Smith and Billy
mounts. Since they would fit most horses, saddles of this design in 1941, but they wooden bars in a small shop behind his Blackwell of Collierville, Tennessee.
and with their suspension seat, they were still had the patterns. Wilson asked them store. These pieces were then sent to J.B. Being business entrepreneurs, these two
comfortable to ride in all day long.
to produce some for him and they agreed Wilson in Mississippi, where the leather- men each found ways to improve the origBy 1940 the Canadian Cavalry was al- – if he would order at least 50. He took a work was completed. Then they were sent inal design. Bronze alloys replaced the
most totally out of business. The company chance, ordered the first fifty, quickly sold back to Dunn’s Supply and sold to field steel arches, and the trees were made
in England that built their saddles manu- them, and then ordered fifty more.
trialers around the country for the reason- stronger and shaped better for the modern
factured the last ones in 1941. These sadBeing a “made-in-America” type guy, able price of $150. That was about the horse’s back. Winner’s Circle Saddlery
dles, along with many others that had Wilson set out to find a way to produce same price Confederate officers had paid Shelbyville, Tennessee produced the M &
never been placed on a horse’s back, went these saddles in this country and avoid im- for the saddle by the end of the Civil War. W Trooper saddle. Tarpin Hill Saddle
on the surplus market. Jack Harper, John portation and freight. He disassembled one But the story continues.
Company in Illinois and Christie EnterGardner, and others of that era purchased
prises in Texas all followed suit with their
many of these surplus saddles.
own special refinements.
One of those early trainers with foreThe field trial world would be blessed
sight saw a great opportunity: Gene
with a variety of sources for the reproducLunsford of west Tennessee. Gene had
tion of this unique Canadian military sadmarried a Canadian girl and, through his
dle built in Great Britain. What had
family connections, located a ready suporiginally started as a Hungarian, susHome of the handmade
ply of new army saddles. He began to
pended seat, military saddle had found its
carry them back to the south and sold them
way to England. From there the saddle
Christie’s
to many of his field trial friends. These
traveled to the South via the Confederate
early trainers even found a unique use for
Army and later was adopted by the Canathat funny horn in the back. It was ideally
dian Cavalry. From the northern training
suited to place a loop in the check cord
grounds of dog trainers, this saddle came
that was used to road the dogs in front of
to rest once more in the bird dog fields of
the horses. Four dogs could be put on two
North America. The route had been paved
ropes and the ropes looped over that horn
by the people like Jefferson Davis,
in the back. With the dogs pulling in harStonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, Jack
ness out front of the horse, one rope on
Harper, John Gardner, Gene Lunsford,
each side and pulling from behind the
Wilson Dunn, Steve Tucker, and Jack
rider, this was a perfect set-up.
Haggis. This funny looking saddle, so well
Throughout the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s
suited for the sport of field trials, had
these Canadian Army saddles served the
found a home and a very bright future.
field trial world very well. But hard use
Today there are five major companies
again took its toll as it had in the late
that make quality reproductions of this
1800s. Here’s where this story takes anoriginal “Trooper Saddle” They are
other unusual twist.
Tucker Saddlery in Cordova, Tennessee;
©FTR
Small local saddle shops would do reWinner’s Circle, making the M&W
pairs and keep many of these saddles in
Trooper in Shelbyville, Tennessee; Haggis
service. A young, enterprising businessSaddlery in Hyde Park, Ontario, Canada;
man named Wilson Dunn saw an excellent
Tarpin Hill in Salem, Illinois; and Christie
To learn more, visit our websites:
opportunity for someone who could find a
Enterprises in Afvord, Texas. Trail riders,
christieenterprises.com | www.christiesaddlery.com
source of new saddles with this same,
field trailers, and mounted police units
British military design. Wilson had often
have found this saddle to their liking.
helped some of these dog trainers get their
Everything points to this style of saddle
saddles repaired. Looking over them
being in use for many more years to come.
closely, he noticed they had been built in
Christie Enterprises
Quality You Can Depend On
Trooper Saddle
Ultimate
Field Trial Saddle
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National Bird Dog Museum
annual Fish Fry
© FTR
Thursday, February 12 • 6:00 pm
at the National Bird Dog Museum
Home
Home of
of the
the M
M && W
W Trooper
Trooper Saddle
Saddle
505 Highway 57 W • Grand Junction, TN
Field Trial Fans
Welcome!
Sponsored by: Nestle Purina • Anheuser-Busch • Avery
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MW Trooper
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www.wcircle.com
©FTR
Good Luck To All Competitors in the
The 1989 National
Championship
By Brad Harter
The stage had
been set: 1989
would be remembered in the sports
world as a year of
records. Wayne
Gretzky set two
records in professional
hockey,
scoring his 45th
hat trick and his
tenth season with
40 plus goals. Kareem Abdul-Jabar
became the first
NBA player to
score 38,000 career points; and
W h i p p o o r w i l l Brad Harter (Chris Mathan photo)
Rebel, aka “Jake,”
became the first dog in the history of the sport to compete in four National Championships, twice walking away
with the title, and racking up a total bird score of 40 covey
contacts and two woodcocks in those four stellar outings!
Where do dogs like “Jake” come from? Are they accidents or plans that go right from the very beginning? History shows that a few dogs have found themselves
standing on the steps of the Ames Manor House more by
accident than anything else. But for the great majority, design plays a more important role. Jake was part of a master breeding program designed to produce the best all-age
bird finding dogs in the country.
Dr. Jack Huffman left Ohio in the late 1960s, coming
south to raise his young family and produce the best bird
dogs possible. After a brief time in west Tennessee, Jack
located his bird dog operation on Whippoorwill Farms,
just stone’s throw south of the Tennessee State line, in the
red dirt of north Mississippi. Whippoorwill Farms, once
owned by Hugh and Nash Buckingham, was only 12
miles southeast of the historic Ames Plantation. The history of this place was part bird dog lore and part National
Championship lore.
With Dr. Jack’s purchase and ownership of the farm,
the future of this piece of ground became forever entwined with some of the greatest bird dogs to ever compete in the field trial world. This is where Jake was born,
where he first learned the secrets to finding Quail. With
heavy liver markings, Jake was given the early call name
of “Checkers.” There was something special about
Checkers from the beginning. Today’s juvenile psychologists might be quick to label the precocious pup as OCD,
and “obsessive compulsive” best described Jake’s insatiable desire to find birds. Weather, cover, terrain – nothing seemed to hinder his efforts. Jake had one focus in
life and that was to find those little Quail and to make
them fly! Pointing and holding those birds in a rigid pose
for very long was not high on Jake’s list. But finding them
and making them fly was a lot more fun!
Dr. Huffman’s close friend and mentor for his bird dog
activities was S. R. “Tate” Cline. Tate met Doc in the
1960s when Doc was finishing his medical training at
Ohio State University, and the two became lifelong
friends. Doc knew that Tate would fully appreciate the
potential in this young, heavily marked pup, so a gift was
made and the dog was registered under the banner of the
Ohio sportsman.
Tommy Davis also saw the early potential in this pup
and Tate entrusted Tommy with Jake’s early
training. Unlike many all-age potential puppies, Jake did not show extreme range or the
burning desire to vanish over distant hills.
What was obvious from the beginning was
that, when you saw Jake, he was almost always
involved with birds. He had an uncanny ability
to be around when birds were in the air. That
same uncanny ability to find birds was present
when Jake made his first trip to the prairies. By
the end of Jake’s first training season, Tommy,
Doc, and Tate all knew they had the makings
of a great one. The molding and polishing job
was left to the master, Tommy Davis.
In the spring of 1981, Checkers won second
place in the derby at the Rend Lake Trials in
Illinois. The following year, in his first all-age
season, Jake, as was now known, won second
in the Saskatchewan Open All-age. His first
major endurance championship title was the Free For All
the following spring at Jimmy Hinton’s Sedgefield Plantation. That was also the year Jake won the coveted Purina
Award for the 1982-83 season.
Then, double disaster struck. Two dogs attacked Jake
on a stake out chain, one from each side. Jake was nearly
killed and his tail was permanently damaged. The second
came when the young, talented professional Tommy
Davis made the difficult decision to go to a private shooting plantation in the Deep South. That left Jake in limbo.
Not all dogs make an adjustment to a new trainer easily.
Jake was first placed in the hands of a talented trainer
from Missouri: Bill Hunt. After a short stint with Bill,
Jake ended up in the string of Collier Smith. During his
year with Collier, Jake managed to win the International
Pheasant Championship, but his obvious “connection”
was still with Tommy.
Tommy could not resist the lure of the field trial competitions. Within the year Jake, was again running under
the whistle of Tommy and winning! But Jake’s challenges
were not over. A torn tendon at the Quail Invitational in
1986 put Jake under the knife of Dr. Horn of Collierville,
Tennessee. Six weeks later he was winning again, first
with the Mississippi Classic in January and then his first
National Championship title in February 1987. Jake’s
wins that season earned him enough points to be awarded
his second prestigious Purina Award.
Whippoorwill Rebel was not to be a “go” dog for the
drawing of the 90th running of the National Championship. His career on the bird dog fields was over, or so
everyone thought. Had this grand old bird dog not done it
all?
Whippoorwill Rebel, “Jake,” had captured the Triple
Crown of bird dog endurance events. He had won the Free
for All, the Quail Invitational, and the National Championship. No other male dog in history had ever accomplished that feat! He added the Southern, another
two-hour endurance event to his list of titles. Jake won
championships on pheasants, Quail, and prairie chickens,
competing from the northern Canadian prairies to the
soggy cotton bottoms of the Deep South. Jake’s placements totaled 17. Seven of those placements were championships, three others were runner-ups. Jake had run and
won under the whistle of three different handlers, including that of his owner S. R. “Tate” Cline. To ice his career
cake, Jake had twice won the coveted Purina Award,
1983-84 and 1986-87. Jake had accomplished all of this
in an era that many regard as the most competitive in the
sport of bird dog field trialing. What more could he do?
Tommy Davis, the man who had developed Jake and
handled him to most of his placements, felt that retirement was in order. Twice in his life Jake had suffered injuries that would have ended the career of most any dog.
Jake would be ten years of age in a few short months! Retiring now only made sense in Tommy’s mind, but Jake’s
Whippoorwill Rebel (1989)
owner Tate Cline did not agree. Tate had missed Jake’s
winning performance in the 1987 National after being
hospitalized from a horse fall at the West Tennessee trials.
Tate returned in 1988 to watch his dog’s gallant, bird finding bid for the title. Tate knew that somewhere in his heart
his old warrior had one more win left in him! Both Tate
and Tommy were strong in their separate and conflicting
positions.
In the eleventh hour before the drawing, the balance
tilted in Jake’s favor. Tommy’s wife, Verna made the final
call: Jake was a “go” dog and would run his last field trial
on the Ames Plantation in 1989. Jake was qualified to run
in the National for life, having won that title in 1987. But
Jake’s last fall on the field trial circuit was not one of his
best; he had not placed in even one trial.
With the approach of the 1989 National, Jake appeared
to be out of shape to many observers, maybe even a little
overweight. Jake had not gone north that summer and, in
Tommy’s mind, Jake was in semi-retirement. What folks
failed to realize was that Jake’s brain and nose were just
as sharp as ever. Jake had one more show to put on before
he closed the curtain on a career that many believe will
never be duplicated!
Under brutal weather conditions with a light snow
blowing horizontal to the ground, Jake scored on 13 coveys. This was in the days of all wild birds. Maybe it was
the weather; maybe it was pressure from avian predators.
Whatever the reason, on this particular day, birds were
bad about running. On five of Jake’s coveys, the old master was required to relocate, sometimes as far as 100 yards
in order to pin his quarry. With only minutes left in Jake’s
three hours, he capped his performance with a Woodcock
find, buried deep in a thick tangle of briars. Jake was credited with the Woodcock, but a large covey lifted nearby as
Jake was being put on Tommy’s horse to be taken back to
the barn. No one will ever know for sure what scent
caught the old boy’s nose that day. The nearest competitor to the grand old warrior scored only seven finds in a
three hour bid! The two highest bird finding scores added
together that year could not equal Jake’s performance.
Jake’s bird finding exhibition would not be duplicated
in the next 25 years. In fact, Jake’s bird finding total in
the four years he ran in the National has not yet been
equaled. Jake had eight finds in 1986; nine finds in 1987,
when he won the title for the first time; ten Quail contacts
and a single Woodcock in 1988; and 13 Quail and another
Woodcock in 1989, capturing his second title. That totals
40 Quail contacts and two Woodcock in four years. A
great record for one of the greatest bird dogs in modern
day history!
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The Horse
Whisperer:
John Rarey
By Brad Harter
The notion that horses could be gentled
and trained using some form of almost
magical “horse whispering” has been the
buzz topic in the horse world for more
than twenty years. Any of us who subscribe to one or more of the many popular
horse publications probably first became
aware of this, seemingly, whole new training method through the work and writings
of the Dorance Brothers. Ray Hunt was a
student of these two brothers and Ray may
have been the first in recent years to bring
the horse gentling methods that he had
learned from the Dorance Brothers to the
forefront. Many others were quick to follow with their own twist on these basic,
kinder, safer horse training methods, trainers such as John Lyons, Pat Parelli and
Monty Roberts. A complete list of all the
modern day “horse whispers” would probably far exceed fifty individuals. Add to
that list all the other individuals that have
paid to become certified and the list would
go, no doubt, into the thousands.
What seems to have been lost to the
modern day horse person is that these
“kinder, gentler” methods have been
“John Solomon Rarey: a man who bore to all the world the message that in kindness there is power. His message - kindness to animals, especially the horse; the
rule of love is the condition of greatest achievement in the use of the horse. His success exemplified the power of love and kindness.” -- Sara Lowe Brown
around for much longer that most of us realize. Since man first became convinced
he could tame and gentle horses for his
benefit, there were individuals who studied equine social relationships and experimented with gentler methods of taming a
beast that was several times the size of a
man. Early recorded history gives a sense
that some form of “horse whispering” existed for years.
One of the more interesting and successful men to gain international recognition as an early “horse whisperer” was
John Solomon Rarey, who hailed from
Groveport, Ohio. John was born in 1827,
in an era when horses were needed as part
of everyday existence. By the time he was
in his early teens, John found that he had
a special gift for dealing with unruly
horses. John was able to find plenty of opportunities to experiment with various
methods of training, methods that he felt
were safer and more productive than what
many of the older and larger men in the
area were using.
By the time John reached age 25, he
had written his first book on the art of
training horses using gentler and kinder
methods than were popular at the time.
John’s unique style of training evolved
from combining some of his own methods
with the more traditional Arab methods
that he had observed from Denton Offut, a
renowned trainer from Kentucky. By the
time John was 28 years of age, he moved
to Texas where he began to practice his
methods on the wild horses of that region.
Public appearances plus the money John
had raised from his horse training manual
financed his first trip to England in 1857.
The first to notice John’s skills with
horses were the officers in the British
Army. That recognition led to an appearance before Prince Albert and Queen Victoria and, as they say, the rest is history.
Touring Europe and performing before
large crowds with his unique methods that
combined kindness, firmness, and patience created a fair share of skeptics.
Some observers felt that John was using
drugs or forms of witchcraft or voodoo on
the horses. The worst of the unruly horses
were brought to John and, time after time,
he would leave the crowds spellbound
when his methods produced gentle, manageable mounts, often in less than an hour.
John’s best known test came when the
Earl of Dorchester presented him with a
rogue stallion named Cruiser. Said to be
the fastest horse in England, Cruiser was
too unruly to race and had even killed two
grooms charged with his daily care.
Cruiser had not been ridden in three years
and he had to be kept chained and muzzled
just to enter his stall. Using a combination
of kindness, firmness, and the one legged
hobble, John was able to bring Cruiser to
his knees and onto his side. In less than
three hours John was riding Cruiser, having acquired both the trust and the respect
of the horse that no one else had been able
to manage. The Earl was so impressed
with Rarey’s skill that he made a gift of
Cruiser to John. Cruiser and John then returned to John’s hometown of Groveport,
Ohio.
International fame and wealth followed,
which allowed John to live comfortably
and to pursue perfecting his talents as one
of the country’s earliest “horse whisperers.” His method was adopted as the official training procedure of the U. S. Army
from 1862 until the advent of the Jeep. The
English magazine Punch suggested that
the Rarey method be practiced on obnoxious politicians, and Harper's Weekly recommended it as a cure for wayward
husbands.
Despite his great success with horses,
John had personal health issues. He suffered a stroke in 1865 and died just one
year later at the age of 39. Had John lived
longer and been able to share his talents
for much longer, one can only guess at the
impact John would have had on the world
of horse training.
Despite his short life span, John Rarey’s
contribution to modern day horse gentling
was significant. The foundation principles
of the “Rarey Method” are the same principles that are promoted today by the majority of modern “horse whisperers.”
Winning the horse’s confidence, gaining
his respect and trust, and placing yourself
above him on the pecking order are the
major reasons for everything John Rarey
was able to accomplish with horses.
John may not have been the first human
to take one of the horse’s front legs away
using a strap as a one legged hobble, nor
might John have been the first to ever lay
a horse down to begin the gentling
process. How John learned to perfect these
techniques may be lost to history. What we
do know is that John Rarey made an effort
to share and to teach these simple, yet effective methods that he used so successfully throughout his life.
Why taking one leg away from the
horse, giving it back and repeating that
process is so effective is difficult to understand – until you fully appreciate how
the equine mind works. Gently laying the
horse down can also make very little sense
when we try to rationalize the process in
our own minds, since the horse has the
“fight or flight” frame of mind. Both situations put the horse in a vulnerable state,
in which flight becomes difficult, if not
impossible. It is in this vulnerable moment
that we have the perfect timing to convince the horse that we are not the predator, but instead someone who can be
trusted. That trust is the necessary founda-
tion on which to build everything else that
we will ever accomplish with our horses.
Be cautioned: eroding that trust is just
as easy as gaining it. If we tie a horse up,
confine him to a stall or, worse yet, lay
him on the ground and beat him for an act
that he previously committed, we will accomplish the exact opposite of what we
want. Any trust that we may have had, or
hoped to have, will come into serious
questioning by the horse. Anytime our
horse does something we are unhappy
with, such as kicking out, striking, biting,
or not being easy to catch, we can no
longer get control of the horse. We take
away his option to flee, and then punish
him for his earlier behavior.
John’s methods were simple and they
worked because they conformed to the
horse’s metal processes. John had no special gimmicks that you needed to purchase: no carrot sticks or special halters,
no videos or DVDs – only his simple book
that gave the reader all of his secrets and
why they worked so well. The tools
needed to accomplish the same results
John achieved are just as simple: a leather
strap with a ring sewn in 12 inches from
the end for the one legged hobble and a
soft rope to aid in laying your horse down.
This and the hand at the end of your arm to
reward the horse when his actions deserve
your praise are all that is really needed.
John neither peddled nor sold anything but
his books, yet he earned more than a
$100,000 a year traveling throughout the
world and astonishing everyone who witnessed his methods of gentling horses.
John Rarey not only tamed the most vicious of horses, he also demonstrated
these same techniques could work on any
animal. History claims that John once
trained a brace of elk to harness and gentled a zebra to the saddle. His methods became so famous that anytime an animal
was successfully gentled it became re-
ferred to as “Rareyfying” that animal.
Nancy Bowker’s book John Rarey:
Horse Tamer is an interesting read. In this
book Nancy relates how John Rarey challenged his generation like no man before
him to use the higher qualities of their
minds and hearts in training horses, rather
than their anger, fist, and whips. Nancy answers the question that many have long
thought about: Do we have to accept the
violence and abuse done to horses – in the
name of training, economics, or sport – as
just the way it is, or can we do something
to change it? In our horses, our dogs,
everything living that we come into contact with, do we not have the power within
us to speak up for what is right and
“Rareyfy” those animals in our care? I believe we do!
Read more about John Solomon Rarey
at: http://www.rarey.com. His book is still
available and you can read excerpts from
it at: http://www.rarey.com/sites/jsrarey/jsrbook.html. There are some interesting articles available, e.g., in American Heritage
magazine, AP. 1969, vol. 20 #3, which are
accessible on line. At World Cat libraries,
find a list of 33 books, articles and images
about John Rarey with online links:
http://www.worldcat.org. Read the biography, Rarey, The Horse’s Master and
Friend, by Sara Lowe Brown at:
http://thompsonrarey.com/jsrarey/
The Complete Horse Tamer book image
from: www.horsebooksplus.com
Training The
Field Trial
Horse
by Larry Whitesell
As a horse trainer, once I put a handle on
a young horse and have it “green broke,”
then I need to take the horse out of the arena
and expose it to real situations. My customers want safe horses. I like to load up
two or three horses and go for the weekend
to a field trial.
I will ride each horse in a couple braces
each day. I don't want to ride too many
braces as they are young and their muscles
are not developed yet. The terrain of the
field trial, dogs running around, the commotion of riding in the gallery, gun shots –
all are teaching the horse to listen to me for
help. Riding in the braces helps the horse
become forward while staying light in the
bridle. If a horse becomes heavy in the bridle when you add speed, then he is not truly
forward, he is just running away.
I enjoy watching the dogs work and I
find the people I meet at field trials very
nice. It makes riding my horse not as intense since I am enjoying myself. This positively affects the horse in what, to him, is a
stressful situation. As a horse trainer, it does
bother me the way many of the horses are
ridden by well meaning people. I understand that we are there for the dogs and the
horses are just a means of transportation,
but they are living creatures and deserve our
kindest consideration.
Since my horses are very young in their
training, I ride them in snaffle bits. Other
riders have asked me why I ride in a snaffle,
commenting that they wouldn't be able to
control or stop their horses in a snaffle. I
explain that I teach my horses to respond
promptly and efficiently to my cues, rather
than have to use harsh equipment and/or
brute force to get a response and slow or
stop as needed. So if a rider believes that
his/her horse needs a big shank bit and two
acres to stop, then that horse could eventually pose a problem for others in the gallery.
Riding in a large group over varied and
sometimes treacherous terrain means that a
horse must be responsive to the rider’s cues,
controllable, and well-mannered. A harsh
bit used too early in the horse’s training, or
too often, will damage the horse’s mouth
and leave him mentally fearful or protective
of his mouth – eventually unable to respond
to a soft touch.
Spending more time building a proper
training foundation for field trial horses can
actually benefit the competitors and make
the ride more pleasant for riders in the
gallery. A well-balanced horse in a round
posture and softer in the bridle will not wear
out as fast. That horse will be more able to
go all day without getting sore and fatigued,
so that he is ready to go again the next day.
A horse that is responsive to a light touch
of the rider’s cues allows the rider to give
more attention to the dog action, rather than
having to hassle with an unresponsive
horse. Plus, a horse that is ridden with a lot
of contact will be sore and tire more
quickly.
A lighter, softer horse will have better
balance, making him more athletic and able
to move in rough terrain easily. No matter
how fast I go I want my horse to remain
light and responsive. If contact increases
when you ask for more speed, or turning or
stopping, then the horse will tense his back
and hind end joints. He then doesn't move
efficiently, causing him to wear out faster.
If you spur a horse to send him forward,
or even kick with your heels, the horse will
learn to respond only to a harsh cue. In addition, the horse will tense up and lean on
the forehand, making him heavier in the bridle. A horse should learn to move forward
with energy (impulsion) from a light touch
of the calf. If the horse doesn't respond to
the light calf, then teach him how to respond, rather than punishing him with the
spur. Taking more time to prepare the horse
to do the job will make him a far better field
trial horse.
Most field trial riders have more than one
horse. If every year, one of the horses is
brought along by just riding in the gallery,
when they aren't running the dog, the horse
can become very confident. A horse exposed to a field trial season, paying attention to lightness with correct riding, could
be worth upwards of $7500-$10,000 to another field trailer or a trail rider. I have customers who would pay that much for a
good, safe horse.
People want horses that are broke and
trained – but there is a difference between
broke and trained. A broke horse usually
won't spook; isn't buddy sour; doesn't run
away; and you can mostly count on them to
be safe. But Broke horses can become dull
because they are often trained with domination. Trained horses are more responsive
and have a better understanding of the aids
and what the rider wants. They can sometimes be reactive, which can make some
riders uncomfortable. A broke and trained
horse is safe without being dull, and responsive without being reactive.
Because a field trial horse has a job that
keeps him focused, and if ridden with more
attention to his education, then he will become a really good horse – ultimately becoming the ideal field trial horse. If I were
a bird dog trainer, I would produce at least
one well-trained horse every year to sell and
cover my expenses. I could do that just by
"correctly" riding a horse to do my primary
job of dog training. The dog usually runs
one brace a day, while the horse often goes
many times. The horse that provides safe,
responsive, reliable transportation for us deserves to be ridden with respect.
Find out more at Larry’s website:
www.whitesellgaitedhorsemanship.com
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An Alarming
Night at Ames
By Dr. Allan Houston
The phone rang at 2:26 a.m. and
brought me up out of bed like a hoe handle
coming alive when some unfortunate soul
steps on the blade. A call in the night is
usually nothing serious; but every alarm
must be checked out as if it is important.
A shrill phone call in the night is a
klaxon-call, of sorts. The droning voice on
the other end told me an alarm had gone
off in a building at Ames. This sort of
thing happens frequently enough to have
a routine to it, but there was also a growing sense of caution.
I’d listened long enough to get the gist
and handed the phone back to my wife
without saying word. I was trying to preserve those last vestiges of sleep.
She listened to the phone for a moment
and said, “This is a real person,” and
handed it back.
I took the phone, listened a couple of
seconds more.
“Oh, well, I guess I do,” came my
vaguely surprised reply. We passed a bit of
information between us to verify who I
was and I hung up.
“Intruder alert,” I told my wife Becky,
“I’ll be back in a bit.”
I threw on whatever clothing came first
to hand: a sweatshirt that had seen better
years; a pair of camouflaged overalls that
had been washed so many times the leaves
looked like they were covered in snow. I
plopped on set of run-over boots without
tying the laces. A toboggan completed the
early morning ensemble.
Once in the truck I evaluated the situation. Intruder alerts could be a real intruder, but more likely it was a
malfunction, a bird in the room, or snake
wound around the sensor, or maybe a curtain gone astray. But the word “intruder”
whispers thoughts of danger to the brain –
a word that cannot be ignored!
I stopped by the first building and heard
no alarm. I went to the second and there,
too, was greeted with starlit silence. This
was strange, so I went back home to get
my big flashlight - an item most likely to
be forgotten when most needed.
My 100-pound golden retriever Timber
met me at the door, obviously put out with
me for going off into the night and leaving him home. He was completely delighted to get the invitation to go now, and
his toenails scratched a frantic bend
around the garage’s concrete as he dashed
toward the truck.
With the quiet camaraderie of two old
buddies, I let him sit up front with me. He
is very dignified when allowed to sit in the
passenger seat. In the pick-up bed, he acts
like any fool dog, running from side to
side, tongue lolling out and a pure grin of
delight on his face. But up front, he acts as
if he’s entered hallowed ground and sits
quietly, solemnly watching the scenery go
Nancy Brannon photo
by. He is so serious about it that I’ve considered letting him drive.
We arrived at the first building and he
came boiling out behind me. It occurred
to me that he would be a good intruder detector and, sure enough, his huge head
swung off toward the darkness and his ears
went up like radar on high alert. Then, he
was gone. One moment he was there at my
feet and the next, gone off on a direct line,
disappearing into the darkness like a heatseeking missile on a mission.
I thought, “An intruder. We actually
have a prowler on the grounds!”
Then, nothing. Just darkness and a
flashlight two batteries short of a full glow.
Not a sound.
Then, something. An incredible smell!
I looked down and there he was, reeking with an odor that would have driven
every flea and tick screaming off him, flying like confetti. If you have never been
right on top of a recently skunk-sprayed
dog, then your sinuses have never truly
been completely cleaned out. If stink
could glow, the dog would have been
pulling TVA’s full output of electrical current.
He made a few mad dashes around the
yard, laying his face on the ground and
running as if he hoped to plow his head
under. He flopped onto one side, then the
other, scrubbing himself in the grass as he
spun turns in a circle. Then, dog-like,
oblivious to his stench and stenchibility,
he jumped up and looked at me with a
“what’s next, boss?” look and made a mad
dash for the truck. I had left the truck door
open.
It was a race between him and me, and
from the smell of things, the skunk was
along for the ride, too. I know how to say
“no” in five languages. I used them all
and made a mental note each time that
none rhymed with “yes.” Timber beat me,
but, thankfully, had the good manners and
a sixth sense of preservation that made
him stop short and ask for permission.
I put him in the bed of the truck and returned to the job at hand, working my way
through the building only to find everything OK. I went to check the next building.
There is the unavoidable fact that a person is not actually spared skunk scent,
even if he is not directly sprayed. To be in
the immediate vicinity of a skunk’s version of gas warfare is to become collateral
damage. Secondary fumes do not reek
with quite the impact of a direct blast, but
they make hide’n’seek impossible for any
seeker who has the olfactory prowess of a
brass monkey. There was no mistake. We
were a pair, the dog and I – sad troubadours in a malodorous harmony, singing
our woos at an upstairs window.
After working my way cautiously
through the second building, I found the
problem, fixed it, and locked the door behind me. Suddenly from around the bend
came two Sheriff’s cars, as if having lain
in wait like predators. I found myself in
the harsh spotlight – definitely not two
batteries short.
I looked like a bum, smelled like a
skunk and had a pistol in my hand.
The first car pulled up alongside me and
the window rolled down, about as slowly
as my spirits. As the window disappeared
into its channel, the imagined officer’s
stare seemed a complete pronouncement
of guilt.
I pleaded, “Officer, I live here and am
investigating the alarm; and I am armed I have a pistol in my left hand.”
None of that seemed sufficient. I
wanted to add my dog’s compliance in the
matter, but somehow it seemed a bit imprudent to implicate a dog in the earliest
stages of an anticipated interrogation. So,
I just stood and stank.
There was a long pause within the darkness of each car and I had the sinking feeling that maybe I was just speaking to two
hunks of metal that would suddenly transform into something big and hideous. But,
the pause may have had more to do with
what the officers suspected might be under
their car, given the reeking fog that was
wafting around, although my singed olfactory system was not processing at full
capacity.
Country cops are tough, thorough, professional, and usually good humored.
These quickly sized up the situation,
laughed about the dog, avoided covering
their noses with shirt collars, and gave my
pistol the best possible commendation by
telling me to let them know if it came up
for sale. They did not pet my dog.
Once back in my home I counted the
seconds as I traced the smell’s path up the
stairs and into the bedroom. On the count
of 14, a shadowy figure appeared, asking,
“Where did you go and why did you take
the dog? ... And why does Timber smell
like a skunk?”
I was a bit miffed that she thought I
might be off task, but also pleased that she
would assume it was the dog who chased
skunks.
As I shucked my clothes outside - all of
them – I was careful to avoid the dog, especially his cold nose. Timber’s slowly
wagging tail and intelligent eyes were
plainly asking if he was in good enough
graces to play whatever game this was
shaping up to be. We had never run around
naked in the dark! He was disappointed to
see my untanned back-side make its
ghostly way into the house.
After a shower and three trips back
downstairs to find what it was that still
stank (a hat), I plopped back into bed, but
there were no vestiges of sleep left.
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Thoughts
from the Dog
Wagon
By Chris Mathan,Strideaway
Chris Mathan (left) and Mazie
Last year,
(Jamie Evans photo)
Davis
after attending
the Florida
Championship, I spent
a few days
photographing
Dixie
Plantation,
home to the
Continental
Derby and All-Age Championships. This
winter, the opportunity to be in southwest
Georgia for two months allowed me to
photograph the Continental All-Age
Championship, which proved to be challenging.
From my vantage point of the dog
wagon, it occurred to me that I was watching a collection of some of the most extraordinarily knowledgeable people in the
world of bird dogs. What a vast amount of
experience – from the trainers/handlers,
Reflections
By Chris Mathan, Strideaway
As many bird dog and field trial enthusiasts, hopefully, know — Ed Mack Farrior’s daughter, Emily Watts, kindly gave
Strideaway permission to republish her father’s book: Reflections on Bird Dogs and
The Men Who Handled Them. The original
book is no longer available and it seemed
a shame that such an important part of the
sport’s history could no longer be shared
with new field trialers. We had hoped to
have the book available for last Christmas,
but that schedule proved to be unrealistic!
Most of the original photographs could
not be located, so much time was spent
scanning and attempting to clean up the
photos from the old book. We also thought
it would enhance the text to include many
scouts, judges, marshals as well as owners and other gallery attendees – was gathered in this one glorious place in the
world. (Many of the mid-south
trainers/handlers were competing in the
trials closer to home so were not in attendance at the Continental.) And all share
what cannot be put into words to the unsolicited – the quest to see another great
field trial performance.
As competitive as the handlers are, and
as much as they plan for that great performance to come from a dog on their
own string, a truly great winning performance from any dog is usually acknowledged by all those who witness it.
Perhaps it’s the element of luck that comes
into play in all wild bird field trials; the
weather and its effect on scenting conditions; and the movements of the birds that
keep everyone humble. Humble, but also
yearning for the next chance for their dogs
to put on a show, well-prepared for by
their genetics and months and years of development and training, both on home
grounds and summers spent on the
prairies.
As I watched scouts, who in the previous brace were handling dogs, glide crisscross behind the gallery, it occurred to me
what camaraderie there exists between
this top tier of professional and several accomplished amateur handlers who commore photos and images of the dogs and
the people Ed Mack wrote about, as well
as some of Ed Mack and Ed Farrior’s field
trial win photos from old American Field
issues. Andrew Campbell kindly offered
to transcribe the book, as no digital copy
exists. Both Tom Word and Bill Allen have
added their “touch.” We think, even for
those who are lucky enough to own the
original book, the new version will prove
worthy of ownership.
Now in the proofreading stage, the
book is designed and otherwise ready to
send to the printer. Please keep in touch
with us on Strideaway for the book’s availability in the Strideaway Store early this
spring (2015). In the meantime, read some
excerpts on the Strideaway website:
strideaway.com/strideaway/uploads/ChesleyHarris_EdMackFarrior.pdf
pete on this circuit. We all wish our sport
were more accessible to a greater number
of people, ensuring its continued
longevity. But unlike so many popular
sports where winning and fame seemingly
have the effect of making the athletes arrogant, pompous and self-centered, our
“stars” are genuine, down-to-earth, and
generous – helping one another and unaffected, despite being amazingly accomplished. Just a few years ago, my
Strideaway cohort, Mazie Davis, and I
were bemoaning the state of the all-age
game. Where were the younger handlers?
Watching the Continental in 2015, it looks
like the all-age still has the attraction it has
always had.
On Saturday morning’s running of the
callback, I was joined by Jennell Appel,
DVM and Certified Canine Rehabilitation
Therapist based in Tallahassee, Florida. I
met Jennell last summer at the Purina
Sporting Dog Summit where she was one
of the guest speakers. She had not witnessed a bird dog field trial, so I invited
her to the Continental. As luck had it, she
got to see the eventual winner, Erin’s Wild
Justice. Both Robin Gates and Sean Derrig had attended the Summit and were
happy to see Jennell, recognizing her immediately and expressing their gratitude
to Purina for hosting such an important
event. As Jennell and I rode the dog
wagon, I pointed out some of the handlers
and scouts, telling her about the long line
of field trial families several came from
— Robin Gates, Andy Daugherty, Fred
Rayl, Luke Eisenhart, and others. Despite
not seeing as much of the dogs’ performances as I wished she could have, Jennell
left thoroughly impressed with this sport
and the athleticism of the canine, equine,
and human participants.
While competing at the Continental
Derby and All-Age, the trainers/handlers
also had dogs to take care of and prepare
for the next big trial, the National Championship. Talk about a sport involving
hard work! Almost all of the top all-age
handlers have dogs qualified to compete
in that grueling three-hour endurance
stake and will be making the drive to
Grand Junction, Tennessee in the coming
days. Mazie — all too familiar with the
routine — and I wish them all luck with
their dogs and a safe journey.
As for me, I will watch the Big Dance
from afar. My dogs have had enough of
traveling and are ready to point some
South Georgia quail! I am truly proud to
be part of the fraternity of this great sport
of field trial bird dogs. What a wonderful
collection of people dedicated to producing and developing the finest bird dogs in
the country!
Life at Ames Plantation
By Nancy Brannon, Ph.D.
Field Trials at Ames
This year, 2015, marks the 100th anniversary of continuous running of the National Championship at Ames Plantation,
although it is officially the 116th running
of the National Championship. The event
originated in 1896 in West Point, Mississippi and was held there for a couple more
years. Then a smallpox outbreak forced its
move in subsequent years to several other
locations in west Tennessee and north
Mississippi. Then in 1905, Hobart Ames
first invited the event to Ames Plantation.
The event was held on the Ames Plantation two more times; then in 1915 the famous field trial found a permanent home
on the plantation.
The first year that Ames hosted the
event (1905), Mr. Ames’ English setter,
Allen Bomb, qualified to run in the National and, low and behold, his dog won!
“When your own dog wins on your home
ground, everybody immediately thinks
there may have been a little bit of ‘home
cooking’ involved,” said Dr. Rick Carlisle,
Ames Plantation Director. “After that Mr.
Ames vowed that so long as the event was
held on Ames Plantation, he would not
compete should he have another dog qualify. Mr. Ames was true to his word despite
his dogs earning invitations many times in
the following years.”
Other field trials at Ames:
Hobart Ames (Jan. 12-17, 2015)
• 52 All Age dogs • 20 Derbies
• 54 dog finds pointed
• 15 coveys “ridden up” by the gallery
Amateur Invitational (Dec. 8-10, 2014)
• 42 finds by dogs
• 18 coveys “ridden up” by gallery
Ames Amateur (Dec. 29, 2014-Jan. 2,
2015)
• 50 Coveys pointed
• 10-12 coveys “ridden up” by the
gallery
“These first three trials were really
good!” said Dr. Rick Carlisle. “We should
have adequate birds to challenge the dogs
[at the National Championship]. Everyone
is enthusiastic about having birds!”
Birds
What conditions account for the increased number of birds this year at
Ames? “We put more birds out this year,”
answered Carlisle. “Previously we put out
3200 birds, 160 coveys with 20 birds per
covey. This year we put out 6100 birds –
305 coveys with 20 birds each. In addition, when working the field trial course, I
left more cover, more fallow fields standing to provide habitat for the birds.
Whereas I usually use a 15-foot bushhog,
this year I used the 7-foot bushhog. So survival of the birds has been really good so
far.”
A Triple Crown winner?
What is the likelihood of Shadow Oak
Bo winning the National Championship a
third year in a row? “The odds are astronomical,” Carlisle said. “The odds are
even higher this year [than last year]. Nobody thought he would win two years in a
row, but he did. He could do it again. But
in field trials, the results are often at the
mercy of nature – the weather conditions,
whether or not birds are moving, etc. Nobody knows until it happens.”
“Only one other dog, Whippoorwill
Rebel, won the National Championship
twice (1987 and 1989) and, if there had
been a second place, he would have placed
second in 1988, putting him closest to
being a ‘triple crown winner,’” Carlisle
said. “He had 44 finds in 4 years. He had
a helluva nose! Buck, the best dog Mr.
Ames had, looks a lot like Rebel.”
College Student Dog Owners
“Something interesting in this year’s
National Championship is that three of the
owners are college students,” Carlisle
said. They are: Mary DeVoss of Colorado,
who owns Just Irresistible, a pointer male
handled by Jamie Daniels. Emily Allan,
co-owner with Preston Trimble of Scooby
Doo, a pointer male, handled by Allen
Vincent. Emily is Vincent’s granddaughter. Maeve Derrig, daughter of Sean Derrig and owner of Erin’s Whiskey River.
Sean Derrig is the handler. “Field trialing
has the reputation of being a ‘gentlemen’s
sport’ and it is interesting to see it being
‘infiltrated’ by young, female college student owners,” Carlisle said.
Trapping Predators
Doug McKenzie, Predator Management Solutions, was back at Ames trapping all kinds of “critters” until February
4th. He comes every year in January to
trap beavers, raccoons, opossums, skunks,
coyotes, red foxes, and bobcats.
“I come to Ames every January for two
to three weeks,” McKenzie said, for predator management – wildlife management
to enhance game population, specifically
for quail at Ames, but his work also benefits wild turkey and deer populations. He
targets quail predators: raccoons, coyotes,
foxes, bobcats, skunks, and opossums. He
doesn’t trap hawks, owls, or eagles.
“Some new science in wildlife management by Dr. George Hearst at Mississippi State University found that 80% of
the damage to ground nesting birds is done
by raccoons,” McKenzie said. He said that
Delta Waterfowl, an organization similar
to Ducks Unlimited, also found that ducks
are impacted each year by predators. Their
research was done in the Dakotas, where
all the waterfowl along the Mississippi
flyway go to nest in the summer. In March
through June there, when trappers take out
predators, especially red fox and raccoons,
their nesting success rates soared, McKenzie said. “My job is to benefit and enhance
quail populations, and also protect young
calves from coyotes.”
McKenzie lives in Madisonville, TN
and his main animal control business is located in east Tennessee. There he mainly
traps coyotes and does “nuisance wildlife”
control, for when skunks, squirrels, and
raccoons take up residence in people’s
houses, or when beavers are damming
streams and flooding crop lands.
In other areas, he says otters can become a pest, especially when they eat all
the fish out of ponds and establish their
“toilets” on docks. He also does “deer
management,” through night hunting, in
places where deer are destroying crops.
One of the big problems he sees is feral
hogs. “About 38 states now have feral
hogs; Texas and Florida are the main ones.
They are prolific, having two and a half
litters a year, or three litters in 14 months.
Their offspring can breed at six months of
age and the litter size is around 4 to 8.” I
asked if they are edible. “Yes, all the ones
I kill are eaten,” he said. “They do carry
diseases, so you have to be careful handling them. If you cook the meat to 165°
then it should be OK. It makes good barbeque!”
At Ames, McKenzie says he uses “humane, laminated off-set traps with rubber
or cushion jaw and inline swivel points.”
He doesn’t want to hurt non-target animals, he says. The traps he uses depend on
the target animals. He uses body traps,
called conibears, for animals like beavers
and otter when trapping in water. He uses
cable restraints, snares, for feral hogs and
coyotes.
This year, McKenzie says he only
found two skunks at Ames, but he found
multiple opossums, 14 coyotes so far, 16
raccoons, 2 bobcats, 3 red foxes and 1
otter that got caught in a beaver snare.
McKenzie is a retired wildlife officer,
serving 32 years he as game warden in the
Tellico Mountains. For more information
about his services, visit his website: predatormanager.com
Ames Manor House
“When you have a house built in 1847,
there’s always a lot of maintenance to do,”
said Dr. Rick Carlisle. This past year, the
kitchen was completely remodeled, including adding a new 100-year-old wood
floor. “We completely gutted the kitchen
at the Manor House,” Carlisle said. Chris
Weatherly re-plastered the walls and
helped with restoring the brick wall. The
Mennonite folks did the brick work: retuck-pointed the bricks, then the bricks
were sealed with polyurethane.
“The floor was unlevel – three inches
lower by the refrigerator and two inches
lower behind the stove,” Carlisle said. So
first the floor had to be leveled, then
“new” 100-year-old oak flooring was installed. The boards are a full one-inch
thick, six inches wide tongue and groove.
The flooring came from Vic Hood, who
also helped restore some of the cabins in
the farm stead. Chris Weatherly put in the
floor, stained the boards, then sealed them
with polyurethane.
They made new cabinets below the
sink, installed ceiling fans throughout the
house, and installed track lighting in the
kitchen. Chris also re-worked the shelving
in the pantry.
Brick Barn
History was made in the Brick Barn this
year: a wedding! Jamie Evans’ daughter,
Stacey and her new husband Matt, got
married at the brick stables on December
13, 2014. This was the first wedding ever
held in the brick barn, complete with tables in the aisle with fine china.
Crops
“We had the best crops this year we’ve
had in a long time,” Dr. Carlisle said. “We
had sufficient rain” for the corn, soybeans,
cotton, grain sorghum, and wheat crops to
flourish.
Handlers Competing In The 2015 National Championship
Randy Anderson
Weldon Bennett
Dr. Fred Corder
Jamie Daniels
Andy Daugherty
Tommy Davis
Sean Derrig
Luke Eisenhart
Rick Furney
Robin Gates
Travis Gelhaus
Robert “Lefty” Henry
History At
Ames
by Nancy Brannon, Ph.D.
Heritage Village
This year, Cedar Shake roofs on three
cabins in the farmstead were replaced,
Jamie Evans reported. In the next couple
of years, the cabins will require more
restoration work, but roof leaks had to be
fixed first.
The 17th annual Ames Plantation Heritage Festival brought history to life on
October 11, 2014. Rain put a damper on
this year’s activities, “but it was not a
washout,” said Jamie Evans, organizer of
the festival. “We still had 1,737 people attend, lots of good food, good music, and
many educational demonstrations. Even
though we had adverse weather, we still
had a really good day.”
Ames Historical Society
Evans says the Ames Historical Society
continues to flourish. The 14th annual
meeting was held January 24, 2015 with
114 people attending – a record number!
The guest speaker was Carla Maitland of
the Tennessee Genealogical Society, presenting An Introduction to Genealogy. The
group has 228 active members from 13
states, who provide monetary support as
well as do volunteer work. In 2014, members put in over 500 hours of donated time
– work that included log cabin maintenance, historical document research, and
putting archived documents on the web.
The group has collected over 71,000 historical documents from the 19th century –
information on Ames before it was Ames
Plantation. These documents detail the
lives of early residents, and it is a monumental task to organize, catalog, and post
in the web these documents. “But we want
to have all this information available on
the Ames website,” Evans says.
For more information, visit www.amesplantation.org/historical-research
Ames Plantation field trials and historical research are featured in the February
issue of Tennessee Magazine, published by
the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. The feature article by Trent Scott,
“Trial by Briar,” shows a Jamie Evans
photo of Shadow Oak Bo, as he readies for
his award-winning run. Read the article
at: www.tnmagazine.org/2015/02/trial-bybriar
Field School
Historic Site: The summer archealogical field schools are continuing their excavation of slave houses from the Fannie
Dickens plantation. In one of the slave
Ceramic artifact found in 2014
archealogical field school at the historic
site.
houses excavated, they found evidence
quite different from what was anticipated.
What they expected was a typical log
house, with brick piers, a brick fireplace,
and wooden floor, much like the buildings
in the farm stead. They have an 1841 deed
so know the house was a slave house. But
what they found, instead, was a house built
on the ground; no piers, possibly a dirt
floor, and no apparent fireplace. All the
brick fragments they found made up only
one brick. The house was probably not
heated and there was no cooking done in
the house. Jamie says that they usually
find evidence of a foundation from their
excavations. But here there was only
sparse evidence of window panes, so perhaps the house had no windows? Or the
window openings were covered with cloth
or hides? They found no evidence of cooking utensils. They did find fragments of
ceramics, suggesting that food was eaten
here, but not prepared here. Conclusion?
This was a seasonal house used only at
times when the slaves were working the
Plow“designed and hand made for
Hezekiah Teague of Madison County,
Alabama in 1847
field crops. In bad weather and winter,
they were housed elsewhere. But there is
much more to be learned and the work will
continue in the upcoming May and June
2015 field season.
Prehistoric Site: The summer field
school students continued their research
on the same excavation site, and dug
deeper. They have found foundations for
approximately three houses in this particular mound. They dug deep enough to find
what was probably a “root cellar” - a storage pit where residents dug holes to store
foodstuffs underground. Interestingly, they
round remains of corn, part of a corn cob
– grown there 1,000 years ago! This was
an agricultural based community, supplemented by hunting and gathering, but still
relying heavily on grown crops. The found
corn cob was small in diameter, about the
size of a writing pen, but it substantiates
the fact that corn was an important part of
their diet. And it is amazing to Jamie that
folks are still growing corn in this same
area, albeit different varieties.
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Handlers Competing In The 2015 National Championship
Larry Huffman
Steve Hurdle
Gary Lester
Mark McLean
Rich Robertson
Lori Steinshouer (Jamie Evans photo)
Ike Todd
Sheldon Twer (Jamie Evans photo)
Allen Vincent
From the
Continental
Chris Mathan send some photos from
the Continental Derby and All-Age Championships in Georgia. Enjoy some of the
action!
(left) Brace 10 Breakaway
(left center) Continental Derby:Allen
Vincent and Andy Daugherty:They are always scouting for each other even though
they are competing against one another.
(lower left) Luke Eisenhart and Lee
Phillips braced together in the 10th brace
of the 2015 Continental Open All-Age
Championship
(below) Mark Haynes and Tommy
Davis at breakaway.
(bottom) Brace 12: Larry Huffman and
Ike todd.
P.O. Box 610 • Holly Springs, Mississippi 38635
Phone: 662.252.8855
Fax: 662.252.5601
www.FitchFarms.com
Relaxing Accommodations
Select from five newly restored cabins, all rich with
history yet invitingly modern.
CUSTOM HUNTING PACKAGES
To book a hunt, call Sonny Jackson
QUAIL
Two-Day Hunts
include Lodging and
3 Meals Per Day
Day Hunts:
Meals included
Lodging available
3 Gun
Minimum
Hunting Dates
Oct. 1 thru Mar. 31
© FTR
TURKEY
AND DEER
Day Hunts:
Lodging and
Meals Extra
Guide Provided
4 Gun
Minimum
Open During Reg.
Hunting Season
CALL
Sonny Jackson
901-487-8054
662-551-2280
Randy Downs:
Dog Trainer &
Handler
662-340-0383
Adventures
with Old
Grayback
By Dr. Allan Houston
FeeD yOur HOrSeS THe BeST...
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aRMS
Proud Supporters
of the 116th National Championship!
2 Tons of All-Grain Horse Feed Donated
for use by officials & Ames horses
during the
National Championship
THe DiFFereNCe BeTweeN Our
CuSTOm milleD FeeDS & NATiONAl BrANDS:
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7 am - 12 pm ~ Saturday
662.564.2920
3107 S. Red Banks Rd.
Red Banks, MS.
662.526.9100
206 Hwy 51 South
Como, MS
© MSHR
Nancy Brannon photo
I was in mid-air when it occurred to me that
I’d been here before – in a funny-looking position like a Russian ballet dancer’s leap. From
the standpoint of mathematical physics, I had
just attained the impossible: becoming a 175pound bumblebee with no wings, hovering
above a deadly gray line. I landed on the other
side of the snake and churned up the leaves in
an adrenalin-fueled circle to come back to
where I’d started. There he lay, apparently
oblivious to the whole shenanigan.
I was congratulating myself on having not
been bitten when my colleague asked me if I
didn’t want to say “sorry” to the other snake
that I’d nearly stepped on. And sure enough,
there lay a very big snake, mouth agape revealing the snowy lining that gives the viper
his name - cottonmouth. He was showing us
his fangs and he seemed to mean business. But
that’s what threat displays are all about. We
were standing in the middle of a winter den.
The cottonmouth’s scientific name is Crotalinae Agkistrodon piscivorus. The Crotalinae contain all of the world’s pit vipers,
including the American copperhead and rattlesnake. Akistrodon designates the cottonmouth in particular and piscivorus means “fish
eater.” The cottonmouth is a semi-aquatic pit
viper. Fish are a main part of his diet, but he is
not likely to turn down other fare. Amphibians,
birds, rodents, small turtles and even other
snakes are on the menu.
During the course of scientific work and
other projects in the bottomlands, I’ve had
considerable experience with the cottonmouth.
I’ve never been bitten, but probably rank as the
one that “got away” among the snake community – I’m not much of a trophy.
Last year I was breaking a beaver dam to
lower the water and develop duck habitat. I
had poked among the bushes to be sure there
were no snakes present and then went about
my business. At one point I was bent over
with my backside pointed toward the dam
when I happened to look between my legs and
saw a sizeable cottonmouth peering down at
me. He’d probably been there for some time.
He had a good purchase on the bank and had
about 8 or 10 inches of his body in the air. I
made one of those “other world” jumps even
though he’d already had a chance to bite me.
Almost certainly, he’d heard me splashing
in the water and had come to investigate. I’ve
seen cottonmouths come towards splashing,
maybe thinking that food is in the offing. I’ve
seen them “fish” in the shallows by driving
their body against the shore much like a
sidewinder, trapping small fish between themselves and the bank.
Not long after beavers came back into this
country, I was working on a research project
along the river. We’d spent five hours in a 50acre beaver impoundment that had been
trapped-out and drained. The 50-acre beaver
pond was now only about 5-acres of water; and
50-acres worth of cottonmouths were concentrated in 10% of what they’d had. During that
five hours, I encountered a cottonmouth every
12 minutes. We co-existed with no problem,
except that I was very careful not to fall and
not to put my hands on anything - at all!
In another study we examined cottonmouths as possible indicator species for environmental mutagens. The study established
baseline DNA values for the species. We began
one early morning and 2 ½ hours later, we had
25 snakes. As far as I know, we documented
the only cottonmouth having three sets of
genes, being triploid. The snake was neither a
he nor a she, being somewhere in between.
Usually if you give a snake room, he’ll
leave you alone. In fact, most often you’ll
never know he was there. I once had a graduate student take a nap on a sandbar with a cottonmouth within 3 feet of her feet. She moved
with admirable alacrity after this was discovered and was never teased again about a lack
of athleticism. The snake never budged.
Old grayback doesn’t want trouble and you
can walk right over him and never know it. But
he can make a realistic bluff, and if pressed,
he’ll fight. He’ll run away if he has a chance.
But he also won’t run away – depends…
It only takes one snake to give you an everloving respect for the exceptions of the world.
Some years back, I was beaver trapping with a
good friend and mentor, Ray Henry, in the bottoms of the North Fork of the Wolf River. We
had waded cut-grass and ragweed to our hips
all day and had gotten careless with the necessity of having to hurry and the fact that we did
this nearly every day.
I came to a small patch of water where I
would need to take a long step across to keep
from getting in over my waders. It looked like
every place else I’d been all day and maybe
even a little less dense with vegetation. Ray
had just made the jump and was ahead of me.
He was fine. Once I made the jump I could actually see the ground, unusual in such a place.
I also made the observation that I was standing
on a very large cottonmouth. Apparently Ray
had nearly stepped on him, because the snake
was extremely irritated. Somehow, he thrashed
up and onto the thick grass and was in my face
with every intention of latching on somewhere. He was so close to me that I could only
see one side of his great wedge-shaped head.
That one eye was a vertical slit beneath a perpetually arched brow, black and backlit against
a hard green that I’d never seen before. His eye
was focused on mine.
I brought my “beaver stick”- a modified
hoe that we used to pull down beaver dams
and reach things on the ground - into play with
a spastic swipe. I missed, but so did he, barely.
He was a big snake and his purchase on the cut
grass and stiff weeds was just slim enough to
make his strike short. The last impression I had
as he went by was “fangs.”
He nearly went down my waders! He
flailed into the grass, and as he turned to make
another stab at it, I had enough time to manage
my own awkward strike. I got a back-swing
down hard enough to swipe through the tough,
summer-hardened grass. I caught him midlength and crippled him sufficiently to be able
to end the thing, but not before he wrote his
final message on the wooden handle with a
stream of venom. From first glimpse to mangled head, the whole affair lasted only about
five seconds, but it takes me about two minutes
to tell the story in every detail.
After the encounter, I was struck by the
powerful odor - and not just what was coming
from me! When disturbed, cottonmouths often
emit a musk secretion from anal glands. Unfortunately, there is a weed in the bottomlands
that smells similar if it is crushed underfoot. I
have often stepped on the weed and wondered
if a snake is underfoot. But I have never
smelled the actual snake and been uncertain. It
is a sharp pungent order that says “look-out!”
Harmless water snakes are often mistaken
for the cottonmouth. Generally water snakes
flee quickly and when swimming only their
heads appear above the surface of the water.
The cottonmouth has the eerie ability to swim
as if it is gliding on top of the water. If the
snake is sufficiently alarmed it will give a
threat display that includes vibrating its tail and
throwing its head back with its mouth open to
display the satin-white interior. Water snakes
do neither. The dead giveaway are the pits that
all pit vipers carry on the forward side of their
snout.
Several years ago, I was getting pictures of
a Tupelo stand for a national magazine. It was
just breaking daylight and I was easing out into
the slough, barelegged with water to the chest.
I was feeling my way along with a high-dollar
camera and tripod, pleasantly contemplating
the fact that cottonmouths can indeed bite underwater, when here comes a cottonmouth gliding business-like along on top of the water! We
stopped and looked at each other, then went our
separate ways.
It is said that vipers can “dry bite,” i.e., bite
but inject no venom. This is true. They can
“miss,” inject little or no venom, or unload the
whole sackful.
Years ago, a colleague and I had several cottonmouths for teaching purposes. For reasons
that he never explained, he tried to out-quick a
snake and reached into a box to retrieve one. It
nailed him on the thumb. I jumped as if it were
me who had been bitten! My colleague had
long experience with reptiles and immediately
expected that this was a dry bite. We stood
around for several minutes as he monitored the
bite, and after a while went about our business
none the worse for wear.
Big vipers are strong and quick and make
their living catching mice and fish. Cottonmouths are usually fairly chunky and strong. I
once had a big one in hand for lecture purposes
and as time went along, I relaxed a bit because
the snake had been docile. She suddenly gave
a heave and I simply could not hold her. She
jerked her head free with a surge and waggled
out in front of me like a fire hose. She never attempted to bite, although she had a fine chance;
once I had the presence of mind to drop her, she
just tried to crawl away. I do not handle snakes
anymore!
Mostly the old gray backs are not keen
about biting something as big as a human. But
they can bite. What should one do if bitten? I
once asked a doctor that question. He gave me
a long, considering look and said, “Don’t get
bitten.” He continued his answer, saying that
the recommended field first-aid treatments
were constantly changing.
The two snakes that my colleague and I had
disturbed that cool October morning were leaving the bottomlands to go into their winter den.
As we stood there discussing my potential as
an Olympic hurdler, another big snake, one
we’d not seen, suddenly made a dash for a
clump of ferns. Once there it began to make
threat strikes, trying to intimidate us from ten
feet away. Here were three snakes within ten
feet of one another, all three showing the gamut
of my experience with the species. One was
calmly unmoving, certainly aware of us, but
not too disturbed. The second was showing his
fangs with the gap-mouthed display that says,
“I’m here; I’m dangerous; leave me alone.”
The other was manically nervous and probably
dangerous. Snakes are individuals and even a
calm snake can get paranoid in the latter stages
of shedding its skin when it is partially blind.
We left the site rather quickly!
The cottonmouth can be found anywhere,
anytime. In the fall when cool weather begins
and the bottomlands flood, snakes seek higher
ground for dens; otherwise they might drown.
I once found a cottonmouth frozen stiff from
end to end on a miserably cold day in January.
I also have a picture of cottonmouth lying next
to a patch of snow. With warmer winters, the
snakes can be out anytime.
Years ago, I got a call from a neighbor with
a very small child that had been bitten. I arrived
at the scene moments later and there lay a viper
and a sick child. After I applied first aid, we
piled grandma, mother, and child into my truck
and away we went. We had called ahead to the
hospital let them know we were coming. I took
the snake with me to verify identification.
The staff were waiting and whisked the
child to treatment. Being a helpful sort, and
knowing the doctor would want to be certain
of the snake’s identity before he began treatment, I grabbed the deceased serpent and wandered down the halls in search of someone to
tell. I peeped around a door, saw a nurse and
asked her where they wanted the snake. She
leaped into the hospital bed, snapped the curtains shut and said, “Not in here!” The doctor
came out a little later, with what I considered
under the circumstances to be an inordinately
big smile. He said the nurse had “talked” to
him. I showed him how I knew it to be a poisonous snake, and he became dead serious. The
youngster spent three touch and go days in the
hospital.
Twenty years later I ran into the mother at
Wal-Mart and got a great big bear hug and kiss.
She said that the doctors told her the on-site
first aid had saved the child’s life. I won’t tell
you what that was, but it did include an ace
bandage that I keep with me.
Almost certainly a snake bite to an extremity will not kill you, but a venomous bite will
surely ruin your day. It’ll hurt, bleed, and make
you vomit. The wound will swell and might
turn black to the bone. But if you keep your
wits and get yourself as calmly as possible to
the hospital, you’ll have much less trauma.
Few people die from snake bites, but you need
to know what to do.
Snakes are hard to see and the old grayback
is no exception. One morning when I started to
reach down and pick up a beaver trap, my
“mental alarm” went off to warn me not to put
my hand close to the ground. I stood up and
reached for the trap with my beaver stick. As I
did, a medium-sized cottonmouth lying unseen
in plain view hit the stick with a hard strike and
then swirled off into the grass.
Beware and know what to do if one decides
to nail you. And be careful where you put your
hands!
Grand Junction: All About
Bird Dogs and Field Trials
By Captain Gary Lockee
States and cities around the nation have
their own specialties for which they are famous. Maine is famous for lobsters; North
Carolina, for the first airplane flight. Virginia is for lovers. Georgia - peaches.
Hawaii – pineapples. California is the nation’s vegetables and wine source. Nebraska is known for corn; Idaho, for
potatoes. Kentucky is known for Thoroughbred race horses; Texas, for cowboys
and longhorn cattle. Detroit, Michigan was
made famous by automobiles. Chadbourn, North Carolina is famous for strawberries. Galveston, Texas is the heart of
oil country. Nashville, Tennessee is the
heart of country music. Indianapolis, Indiana is synonymous with race cars.
Cooperstown, New York is home of the
Baseball Hall of Fame.
There’s a small town in West Tennessee
that is famous for hunting, shooting, bird
dogs, field trialing, and a multitude of related activities: Grand Junction, Tennessee. These activities have made Grand
Junction so renowned that the Tennessee
Legislature in 2013, by Resolution, endorsed by the Governor, designated it The
Bird Dog and Field Trial Capital of the
World. The welcoming sign to the town
signifies this fact.
A host of bird dog and field trial enthusiasts have sought to further honor Grand
Junction. So, a wall made from native
stone, landscaped with flowering plants
and shrubs, has been constructed at the entrance of the town highlighting this special
designation. A lighted flagpole flies the
nation’s flag and the state flag constantly.
Funds have been raised to produce and install four life size bronze bird dogs on the
wall. The bronzes will represent the three
major groups of bird dogs: Retrievers,
Pointing and Flushing breeds.
National Amateur Field Champion,
Hattie McBunn, will represent the Re-
trieving breed with a bronze sculpture of
Hattie, owned by Dr. J. M. (Mac) DuBose
and Mrs. Lynne DuBose. The Flushing
breed will be represented by Saighton’s
Scud – the only Spaniel to win the three
major Flushing Dog Championships in a
single season of field trialing. Dr. Janet
Christensen owned Scud. An English Setter, Shadow Oak Bo, will represent the
pointing dogs. Bo, owned by N. H.
(Butch) Houston, and Dr. John H.
Dorminy, won the National Championship
in 2013 and 2014. A bronze of English
Pointer The Hitch Hiker will also grace the
wall. The Hitch Hiker, owned by W. O
(Bill) Fitch, was the 1992 National Champion.
These four bronze sculptures will be
available for installation on the wall
pedestals in late spring, completing the
monument honoring Grand Junction, a
town with a long history of the many aspects of bird dog activity. These activities
include breeding, training, handling, hunting, some limited showing, and field trialing. The site will highlight these events
with a timeline of bird dog activities, so
that all visitors will see why Grand Junction has been designated The Bird Dog
and Field Trial Capital of the World.
Captain Lockee has been an avid bird
dog advocate as a hunter, field trailer and
sports promoter for over 85 years. He and
one of his dogs have been elected to the
Field Trial Hall of Fame. He was also
elected to the Robeson County, North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. He is a principal founder of the Bird Dog Foundation
and served as its President for ten years.
He has authored many articles on bird dog
and field trial activity. He is a survivor of
nine major campaigns of WW II in the Pacific Theater. He is a veteran of the Vietnam War as well as the Nation’s Cold War.
During his Naval career he commanded
three Major War Ships.
Judging the “National”
The 2015 National Championship Judges: Dr. Rick Carlisle, Grand Junction,
TN; Jim Crouse, Dixon, KY; and Bobby McAlexander, Holly Springs, MS
(Nancy Brannon photos)
Tonya Brotherton Leads Bird
Dog Foundation
Grand Junction, TN - The Board of Directors of the Bird Dog Foundation ratified Tonya Brotherton of Hickory Valley,
TN to serve as Executive Director of the
National Bird Dog Museum & Field Trial
Hall of Fame. She assumed official duties
March 1, 2014. Before moving into the
top slot, Mrs. Brotherton had previously
been employed by the foundation as Gift
Shop Manager and Secretary.
Originally from Tuscumbia, Alabama,
Mrs. Brotherton has lived and worked
near the Ames Plantation for more than 30
years. She and her husband, Rex, own
sporting dogs and have a fondness for
horses. The couple has a son, Clay, age 27,
who also lives in the Grand Junction area.
Mrs. Brotherton says,“I love sporting
dog folks and have met many new friends
Young Artists
and Writers
By Lucy Cogbill, Education Coordinator,
The Bird Dog Foundation
We had several
talented student art
and essay winners
this year. One particular piece of artwork stood out as a
great example of
bird dog portraiture.
The student artist is
Brody Herndon
who attends Rose
Hill Middle School
in the JacksonMadison
County
School System. His
art teacher is Ms.
Patricia Ayers of
Hickory Valley, TN.
Brody also produced an entry for the State
of Tennessee Duck Stamp contest and was
selected as winner for that this year.
In addition, the Bird Dog Foundation
holds an annual College Scholarship
Essay Contest, which is open to all college
bound high school level seniors who reside in TN, AR or MS. The First Place
award is $1,500 towards tuition and the
Second Place Award is $1,000. Students
must write an essay of approximately 9001,000 words on one of the several topics
listed in the Contest rules.
Allyson Lee Flaherty of Westside
High School in Hartman, AR won the
essay contest with her article, “Save the
Truffula Trees.” Flaherty writes, “This Dr.
Seuss children’s story symbolizes the progressive problem of deforestation in our
world today…. Seventy percent of the
Earth’s plants and animals live in the
forests. Trees provide various benefits to
the environment.” But she lends extensive
in my new job. This is an exciting opportunity for me; there is such a rich tradition
here.”
The Bird Dog Foundation operates as a
museum dedicated to the history and development of nearly 40 different sporting
dog breeds. It is open to the public Tuesday – Sunday. Visit online at www.birddogfoundation.com
descriptions of deforestation, both historic
and present, and the consequences of
global deforestation. She concludes, “If
we strive to fix our mistake of deforestation, we can put a halt to the negative effects that we have put on our environment,
and ourselves, so that we can look forward
to a healthier future with trees.”
Brody Herndon artwork
Leslie Shea Gould was a winner with
her essay on “Endangered Species,”
specifically the effects of White-Nose
Syndrome and habitat destruction on the
rapidly declining populations of bats. She
reports on the restoration projects by the
Fayette Academy Ecology Club for bats in
Tennessee. In 2010 the group built 18 bat
houses, and in 2011-2012, the year she
was President of the Ecology Club, she
oversaw a fifth grade class project in the
Disney Planet Challenge. She mentored
the students, informing them all about bats
and how their efforts can make a difference in helping bat populations increase
and thrive. She concludes, “Bats play an
important role in our ecosystem, and it is
up to the people to help protect these animals….Do not be the person who only
leaves their footprint on the Earth, but be
the person who opens their wings and
soars to make the difference.”
Owners Of Dogs Running In The 116th National Championship
Emily Allen
Dave Anderson
Herb Anderson
Ray Black
Thorpe McKenzie
Dr. Fred Corder
Ric Peterson
Mary Devos
Scott Griffin
Scott Griffin
Dr. Davey Deal
Dr. Ron Deal
(Jamie Evans photo)
Sean Derrig
Dr. John Dorminy
Vick Etheridge
Charles & Raegan Williamson
Dr. B.J.Kelly
Ryan Westfall
Will & Rita Dunn
Maeve Derrig
Owners Of 2015 NC Dogs
Gary and Becky Futch
Chuck Kunde
Scott Griffin
Rick Stallings
Harold Ray
Peg Fornear
Dan Hensley
Bob Walthall
Owners Of Dogs Running In The 116th National Championship
Butch Houston
Gary Lester
(Jamie Evans Photo)
John Sayre
Dr. J. D. Huffman
Raines Jordan
Dr. B.J. Kelley
David O’Connor
Richard Peterson
Franz & Karen Rowland
Steve Scott
Preston Trimble
Eddie Sholar
The Field Trial Review regrets that photos of all owners were not available to us at press time. When you find out that your dog has qualified for the 2016 National Championship, please consider sending us a photo of yourself, your dog(s), and your handler, if available.
We request high resolution (300 dpi), large photos. You may e-mail them to our Field Trial Review address: [email protected]. Thank you very much!
Athens, Ohio. www.lancestrailersales.com.
• Pleasant Hill Productions 2013, 2014, and 2015 National Championship DVDs. www.pleasanthillproductions.com.
Approximately 15,000 tickets will be available starting in February. Tickets sell for $10 each or 3 for $25.
Tickets can be purchased through the Bird Dog Museum
either by phone or online. 100% of the money raised will
go to the endowment fund for the Bird Dog Foundation.
Read more about The Road to Ames fundrailing project on facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Road-toAmes
The Road To Ames
Bob Bertram is sharing a special journey with everyone as he works his magic on a canvas painting of
Shadow Oak Bo, the 2013 and 2014 National Champion.
This unique painting will be called “The Road to Ames.”
This painting will be the grand prize in a raffle drawing being held over the coming year. Tickets for the raffle go on sale during the 2015 National Championship
and will be available all year. The drawing for the painting will be held during the running of the 2016 National
Championship. In addition to the painting, there are additional prizes valued at more than $5,000.
There are a large number of second tier sponsors, many
of whom are giving gift certificates valued at $100 or
more. Other sponsors/supporters have donated in excess
of $2,000 towards this project. Some examples are:
• Greg Poole and Field Trial.com donated a new M&W
saddle in loving memory of HOF Clyde Queen and Lillian Queen.
• David Munson of fineartlight.com donated a custom
art light to highlight the “Bo” portrait.
• Sportsman Pride donated a $1000 U.S. Savings Bond.
• The English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Club donated a $250 Gift Certificate to Red Lobster.
• $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond- Sportsman’s Pride.
www.sunshinemills.com.
• $100 Gift Certificate from Gun Dog Supply.
www.gundogsupply.com.
• $100 Gift Certificate from Dogs Unlimited.
www.dogsunlimited.com.
• $100 Gift Certificate from Lion Country Supply.
www.lcsupply.com.
• $100 Gift Certificate from Ugly Dog Hunting.
www.uglydoghunting.com.
• Tri-Tronics Pro 550 donated by John Rex and Diane
Gates
• $500 cash donated by Delmar Smith, Sonny Piekarz,
Dr. Allen Dunbar, Nick and Valerie Mellon, Rick Smith
• $500 Cash donated by Blake Kukar, Dr. Fred Corder,
Dale Herndon, Keith Wright, David Williams.
• $400 Scholarship to a Rick & Ronnie Smith Bird Dog
Training Seminar donated by Rick and Ronnie Smith
• Air Line Ticket (coach) to anywhere in the continental U.S. donated by Kaye Davis
• Twelve 37.5 lb. bags of Purina Pro Plan Performance
Sport Dog Food. www.purinaproplan.com
• Golden Eagle Coin 1/4 oz. sponsored by the Labrador
Retriever Hall of Fame Board of Directors
• Golden Eagle Coin 1/4 oz. sponsored by the Brittany
Hall of Fame Board of Directors
• $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond sponsored by the National
German Shorthaired Pointer Association Board of Directors
• $150 Gift Certificate to Ray’s Tack Shop sponsored
by Ray Riehl of R&R Supplies. www.raystackshop.com.
• $150 Gift Certificate to Lance’s Trailer Sales in
Artist Bob Bertram and his painting of Shadow
Oak Bo.
Welcome To Fayette County
Best Wishes to All Competing
in the 116th National Championship
2015: the 100th Anniversary at Ames Plantation
We Hope your Time Here Is Enjoyable!
Fayette County Mayor
Rhea “Skip” Taylor
© FTR
Website: www.FayetteTn.us
Email: Rtaylor@ FayetteTn.us
Erin KEnnElS and STablES
16414 1000 north avenue
Tiskilwa, illinois 61368
Congratulations To All Competitors in the
Erin's Whiskey River
Erin's Braveheart
Erin’s Bad River X Erin’s Gypsey
Owner: Maeve Derrig • Handler: Sean Derrig
Erin’s Bad River X Erin’s Wild Rose
Owner: Sean Derrig • Handler: Sean Derrig
Established in 1989 by
Sean Derrig, Erin Kennels
is home to the Erin line
Erin's Kentucky Gambler
of Field Trial Pointers
Erin's Dog Soldier
Erin’s Tin Soldier X Erin’s Tiny Dancer
Owner: Dr. William Bruchey • Handler: Luke Eisenhart
Erin’s Tin Soldier X Erin’s Tiny Dancer
Owner: Sean & Deb Hauser • Handler: Luke Eisenhart
Erin’s Wild Justice
Erin's Full Throttle
Whippoorwill Wild Agin X Sparrowhawk
Owner: Allen Linder • Handler: Sean Derrig
Erin’s Stoney River X Erin’s Pretty Penny
Owner: Scott Jordan • Handler: Luke Eisenhart
© FTR
Erin Kennels congratulates Dunn’s Tried ‘N True, Three Rivers, Shadow’s Full Throttle - participants in the 116th National Championship
www.erinkennels.com • email: [email protected]
Rocky Run (farm): 815-646-4640 • Office: 773-271-2327 • Home: 847-236-9634
Ranch Land in Tennessee
379 +/- Acres
- $1,100,000
•Hunting, fishing, mature timberland, open pastures
•Hardeman County near Chickasaw State Park
•Two lakes, w/ fish & waterfowl
•Deer, turkey, quail & other small game
•8-stall horse barn
•Fenced & cross-fenced
•House trailer w/ screened porch + carport
Mac Fawcett
731-609-3982
MOSSY OAK PROPeRTieS
Dixie Land & Wildlife
Information on this Property:
www.mossyoakproperties.com/land/19525
©FTR
Your Dream Is Waiting...
2 Magnificent Houses
• 2 & 3 Car Garages
• 92.52 Acres of
Beautiful Farmland
• 2 Serene Lakes
• Huge Workshop
• Hay or Storage Shed
• Plenty of
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Field Trial Review
BULLETIN BOARD
OLD HATCHIE
VETERINARY
CLINIC, PLLC
1017 N. Main St.
Bolivar, TN 38008
Office & Emergency No.
731-658-3555
Business Hours
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m
saturday 8 a.m. - noon
Charles Mercer, DVM • Chara Short, DVM
Megan Forris Hunt, DVM • Keri Camp, DVM
J.V. Wilhite, DVM
F.L. Wilhite, DVM
K.D. Pulse, DVM
Phone: 662•893•2546
6740 CENTER HILL RD • OLIVE BRANCH, MS 38654
Clinic Open: Monday - Friday • 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Phone:
901-294-3400
W elcomes
the
P.O. Box 475
342 Hwy. 70
Mason, TN 38049
116th NatioNal champioNship participaNts
We support the Field trials
916 West market st. • Bolivar, tN 38008
©FTr
731-658-7888
Rise & Shine Bird Farm
FOR SALE
82 NANcy DRive
MilliNgToN, TN
901-835-2559
Rich & Suzanne Avery
©FTR
Quail • Pheasants • Ducks • Chickens
©MSHR
$800
www.facebook.com/RiseandShineBirdFarm
Do You Provide Equine Related
Goods or Services?
The Mid-South Horse Review is
the most widely read equine
publication in the region!
Call 901-867-1755
Or email:
[email protected]
call (256) 766-7881
14 yo, 15.1 h
Reg. Arabian gelding
• Trained in both
English & Western
• Loads, bathes, clips
• Stands for farrier
• Great on the ground
• Excellent on trails
Field Trial Review EVENTS
EVENTS
FEB. 7: Bird Dog Museum. Field Trial Hall of Fame Ceremonies. Beginning 9 a.m.
FEB. 8: Bird Dog Museum. Kick Off Party 6 p.m.
FEB. 12: Bird Dog Museum. Fish Fry. 6 p.m.
FEB. 16: Ames Plantation. Bryan Hall. Brunswick Stew
and Barbeque. 5 p.m. or following the afternoon brace
FEB. 21: Or last day, after the last brace. Ames Plantation
Manor House. Winners Ceremonies.
WELCOME TO AMES PLANTATION
Rules to remember while you are at the Ames Plantation:
1. Park off the road in areas designated for parking for those not officially involved
with the competition. Do not unload on the shoulder of the road. Do not block
public roads!
2. All horses must be accompanied by acceptable proof of their current negative
Coggins test.
3. Ames Plantation assumes no responsibility for injury or loss of property. Ride at
your own risk.
4. Ride on blacktop roads only when absolutely necessary. It is easy for a shod
horse to slip on these surfaces, thus increasing the likelihood of injury to animal
and rider.
5. During the competition you must not interfere with the judges. It is essential that
you stay with the main body of the gallery. Those lagging back will be escorted
off the property.
6. Running horses by members of the gallery is not permitted. Boisterous behavior
between riders increases the chance of injury and is not acceptable.
7. Alcoholic beverages, regardless of container, are not permitted on the grounds or
in the parking areas. Failure to observe this rule will result in your being asked
to leave Plantation property.
8. Take your trash with you. Do not litter the grounds.
9. No cooking of any type is permitted on the Plantation.
10. Children under 12 years of age will not be permitted to ride in the gallery unless
accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and no more than one rider to a
horse will be allowed.
11. No stallions allowed in the gallery.
12. SPECIAL NOTE: Road traffic will be regulated along Turner Road and National
Championship Drive from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and along Ames RoadPlantation Road from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
13. Sheriff’s Deputies are present to enforce these and other appropriate restrictions
to maintain a safe environment and to enhance the conditions for the main
objective, field trial competition. If you do not understand these rules, contact a
deputy for a more detailed explanation.
2015 Hall of Fame Inductees
Pointer and Setter Field Trial Hall of Fame
People: Jack Herriage and Dr. Pat McIntweer
Dogs: Whippoorwill Wild Agin (Jack Huffman & Terry Terlep)
Miller’s On Line (Chip McEwen & Mike Furney)
Brittany Field Trial Hall of Fame
People: Mary Karbiner
Dogs: Just Call Me Roy (Tom Ettinger)
Poki Dot (Meam Floyd)
Retriever Field Trial Hall of Fame
People: John W. Thomas Jr.and Bill Eckett
Dogs: Clubmeads Road Warrior (Frank and Christine Kashevarof)
Candlewood’s Something Royal (Ken Neil & Brenda Little)
English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Hall of Fame
People: John Isaacs
Dogs: FC AFC CFC Ru-Char’s Jr. Regent (Glenn & Carol Ferrara)
Tanya Brotherton congratulates Jack Huffman at the Bird Dog Museum Hall of
Fame Inductions. He is co-owner with Dr. Terry Terlep of Whippoorwill Wild Agin,
who was inducted into the Pointers and Setters Hall of Fame.
German Shorthaired Pointer FTH0F
People: Frank Alexander and Joe Vicari
Dogs: Rusty’s Blue Earth Rex (Steve Lithgow, Darwin Oordt)
Red Setter FTHOF
People: Colonel Ed Schnettler
Dogs: Chantilly (Dr. Roger Boser)
Cocker Spaniel Hall of Fame
People: Elias C. Vail and Henry Berol (dec’d)
Dogs: Warrener’s California Quail M.H (Paul McGagh)
Creignant Mordred (Ramon Rustia)
Mike Furney, Courtney Fiveash, Rick Furney, and Harold Brock accept the Hall
of Fame award for 2004 National Champion, Miller’s On Line.
Contribution Form
My gift as designated below signals my support to the field trial, wildlife research,
education, and public service programs at Ames Plantation which benefit sportsmen
and citizens throughout the United States.
My desired participation level is as follows:
( ) $1,000
( ) $500
( ) $250
( ) $100
( ) $50
( ) $25
( ) Other
February 7, 2015
________
I desire that my contribution be allocated as indicated (make check to appropriate
organization):
( ) Hobart Ames Foundation - Funds to be used to enhance physical
facilities, field trial venue, and quail habitat.
( ) The University of Tennessee for Ames Plantation Development Fund Monies to be used to support wildlife research on Ames Plantation with special
emphasis on quail management.
Name:
____________________________________________________________________
Address:
___________________________________________________________________
City: _________________________________________ State: _______
Zip:_______________
RETURN ALL DONATIONS TO:
Ames Plantation
P. O. Box 389
Grand Junction, Tennessee 38039-0389
CONTRIBUTIONS TO EITHER OF THE ABOVE ORGANIZATIONS QUALIFY
AS CHARITABLE DEDUCTIONS UNDER CURRENT FEDERAL INCOME
TAX LAWS.
Field Trialers
Dear Friends:
Mrs. Julia Colony Ames established the framework for our giving program by creating the
Hobart Ames Foundation in 1950. Many years ago we offered persons and organizations
interested in field trialing and other parts of our operation an opportunity to be a part of this
charitable giving program.
We are striving for charitable donations to strengthen our goals of providing superior
conditions for the conduct of all-age field trial competition while increasing basic understandings of wildlife, especially bobwhite quail and related predator species. We have enlisted the
support of several commercial sponsors for the National Championship but still need your
help to continue this important work. Not only will your contributions help support muchneeded research but it will also help support the maintenance of the field trial courses for this
historic trial.
Funding received to date has resulted in several intensive scientific investigations by
research scientists and graduate students from The University of Tennessee, Mississippi State
University, Tall Timbers Research Station, the Albany Area Quail Management Project, the
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and
Parks, and the University of Memphis. Results of these studies are being prepared for
scientific publications and also in a bulletin for field trialers.
We urge you to complete and return the contribution form with your donation, and/or call
me at the above phone number to discuss the research underway on Ames Plantation.
Sincerely,
R. J. Carlisle
Pictorial Snapshots of the 2014 National Championship
First Week of Running • February 9-14, 2015
Dog
Brace
1
2/9/15
Steve Hurdle
P
M
Gary McKibben & Jim Crawford
Weldon Bennett
Lester's Jazz Man
P
M
Dan Hensley
Randy Anderson
Lester's Bodacious
P
M
Franz & Karen Rowland, Gary & Becky Futch
Rick Furney
Quester
P
M
Jim Fornear Family & Keith Wright
Ike Todd
Game Strut
P
M
Steve Scott & Vick Ethridge
Tommy Davis
Erin's Kentucky Gambler
P
M
Sean & Deb Hauser
Luke Eisenhart
5
2/11/15
Audubon Americus
S
M
Mary McConnell & James McConnell
Rich Robertson
Erin's Brave Heart
P
M
Sean Derrig
Sean Derrig
6
2/11/15
Erin's Dog Soldier
P
M
William & Daretta Bruchey
Luke Eisenhart
Touch's Knight Rider
P
M
Keith A. Wright
Ike Todd
7
2/12/15
White Powder Grip
P
M
Ed Mayhew
Rich Robertson
White Dollar
P
M
Scott Griffin
Randy Anderson
8
2/12/15
Three Rivers
P
M
N. G. (Butch) Houston
Robin Gates
Erin's Wild Justice
P
M
Allen Linder
Sean Derrig
(above) Tucker Saddlery awards an
engraved Montreal Royal Trooper saddle to the winning owner at the National Championship.
(below) Dr. Ray Black and Dr. Douglas Guthrie provide a Christie Enterprises Trooper saddle to the winning
scout. 5 Star provides 3 saddle pads to
the winning owner, handler and scout.
9
2/13/15
Raelyn's Skyy
P
M
Brad Calkins
Andy Daugherty
Touch's Adams County
P
M
Richard Peterson
Randy Anderson
Big Sky Pete
P
M
Dr. Everett Crouch & Dr. B. J. Kelly
Robin Gates
Utah's Red Rock Express
P
M
Herb Anderson
Rich Robertson
Miller's Happy Jack
P
M
Scott Griffin
Randy Anderson
Westfall's Rampage
P
M
Ryan & Bill Westfall
Andy Daugherty
Scooby Doo
P
M
Preston Trimble & Emily Allan
Allen Vincent
Caladen's Rail Hawk
P
M
Dr. Fred Corder
Fred Corder
4
2/10/15
10
2/13/15
11
2/14/15
12
2/14/15
P
M
Stardust Chazz
S
Coldwater Warrior
Handler
M
3
2/10/15
Dunn's Tried 'N True
Owner(s)
Will & Rita Dunn
Robert Craig, Scott Kermicle, John Sayre &
D. Raines Jordan
2
2/9/15
The Huffman family accepted the
award for Whippoorwill Wild Agin,
who was inducted into the Field Trial
Hall of Fame, February 7, 2015.
B S
Luke Eisenhart
Note: S indicates Setter. P indicates Pointer. Dates may change, depending on the weather and other factors.
(right) Veteran handler Jack Herriage was inducted into the Field Trial
Hall of Fame, February 7, 2015.
(far right) Artist Bob Bertram was on
hand at the Hall of Fame inductions
with his painting of Shadow Oak Bo for
The Road to Ames fundraiser.
Second Week of Running • February 16-21, 2015
Dog
Brace
13
2/16/15
14
2/16/15
15
2/17/15
16
2/17/15
17
2/18/15
18
2/18/15
19
2/19/15
20
2/19/15
21
2/20/15
22
2/20/15
23
2/21/15
24
2/21/15
B S
Owner(s)
Handler
Whippoorwill Blue Blood
P
M
J. D. Huffman & Keith Wright
Larry Huffman
Just Irresistible
P
M
Mary Devos
Jamie Daniels
Rapidan
S
M
Mary McConnell & James McConnell
Rich Robertson
Highground Jax Jabba
P
M
Chuck & Kara Kunde
Lori Steinshouer
Dazzling
P
F
Thorpe McKenzie & Bob Walthall
Steve Hurdle
Whippoorwill Wild Spec
P
F
Dr. Fred Corder
Larry Huffman
White's Solid Reward
P
M
John & Susan Ivester
Robert (Lefty) Henry
Miller's Dialing In
P
M
Gary Lester
Gary Lester
House's Yellow Jacket
P
M
Rick Stallings
Steve Hurdle
Rikki's Rockin Rik
S
M
Jerry Erickson
Sheldon Twer
Erin's Full Throttle
P
M
Scott Jordan
Luke Eisenhart
Shadow Oak Bo
S
M
N. G. (Butch) Houston & Dr. John Dorminy
Robin Gates
Connor's EZ Button
P
M
David O'Connor & Lindsey O'Connor
Steve Hurdle
Texas Wild Agin
P
M
Dr. Douglas Guthrie & Ray Black
Allen Vincent
Lester's Tom Cruise
P
M
Brad Calkins
Andy Daugherty
Lester's Skywatch
P
M
Mark McLean
Raelyn's High Cotton
P
M
Eddie Sholar
Charles & Raegan Wiliamson,
David O'Connor
Skyfall
P
M
Thorpe McKenzie & Bob Walthall
Steve Hurdle
Southwind Jetset Drifter
S
F
Dave Anderson
Travis Gellhaus
Zorra
S
F
Hal Meyer
Sheldon Twer
Cassique's Boss
P
M
Rick Stallings
Steve Hurdle
Erin's Whiskey River
P
M
Maeve Derrig
Sean Derrig
Stallion
P
M
Dr. Ron Deal & Dr. Davey Deal
Tommy Davis
Shadow's Full Throttle
P
M
Larry Lee
Robin Gates
Allen Vincent
(above) Sumptuous fare at the Ames
Manor House from Catherine BowlingDean and Me and My Team Room.
(above) Field Trial Photographer
Vera Courtney
(below) The 2015 Joe Hurdle Top
Dog Award went to Erin’s Wild Justice,
owned by Allen Linder and handled by
Sean Derrig. The winner receives a
hand crafted pin by David Kelley Jewelers of Somerville, TN.
The
GAME WINNER
Purina® Pro Plan® is the winningest food for sporting dogs nationwide!*
Owners and handlers stand by our dry foods because these bioavailable formulas
start with real meat, poultry or fish as the #1 ingredient,** deliver optimal
nutrient absorption and an optimal protein-to-fat ratio to help dogs maintain their
ideal body condition and energy in the field. Simply put, it’s outstanding nutrition
to complement your sporting dog’s genetics and training.
Our more than 30 formulas in four unique platforms are proudly manufactured
at Purina-owned U.S. plants and sold exclusively in pet specialty stores.
®
Find more winning reasons to choose Purina® Pro Plan® at purinaproclub.com/proplan
*Based on National, World, Regional and Species Championship Winners during the 12 month period ending April 15, 2014
**Excludes Purina® Pro Plan® SELECT™ Adult Rice & Duck Formula
All trademarks are owned by Société des Produits Nestlé S.A. Printed in U.S.A.
®
N U T R I T I O N T H AT P E R F O R M S™

field trial - Mid-South Horse Review

Transcription

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