<\/p>\n
Mia Stovall has worked with herding dogs since getting a start in 4-H at age 14, and this year she shared on some of her knowledge at the 2017 Four States Agricultural Exposition.<\/p>\n
Stovall, 52, was one of four clinicians at the expo who taught classes on animal care and training. The Bayfield trainer was the expo\u2019s only herding instructor from the Four Corners area, and the only one to work exclusively with dogs. She conducted herding instinct tests on Thursday and participated in stock dog trials on Friday and Saturday. On the last day of the event, she gave farm dog certifications, a new program run by the American Kennel Club.<\/p>\n
About 20 people competed in various classes of the stock trials, which tested dogs\u2019 agility and discipline in herding sheep and geese, as well as the owners\u2019 ability to work with their canine partners. Cathy Sumeracki and Anita Ramsey judged the main trials, and Stovall taught the clinics preceding them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a small trial, but that\u2019s to be expected for the first time in a geographically isolated area,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Sasha Ortiz, a dog owner from Rocky Ford who won first place in Friday\u2019s sheep and geese herding trials, said she was glad to participate, even though she hadn\u2019t heard about the Ag Expo until about three weeks ago. She and her dog, Edge, have competed in American Herding Breed Association trials for about three years, mostly out of state.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, at least for what I run \u2026 there\u2019s not a ton in Colorado,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Stovall said she believes the sport of herding is important because it allows a special bond between owner and dog.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe dogs are actually out there doing something that they\u2019re bred for, hardwired for,\u201d she said. \u201cYou\u2019re out there as a partnership. Your deal is that you\u2019re teaching them rules of the hunt. They already know how to hunt \u2013 you\u2019re teaching them rules of the hunt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stovall has four dogs, two of whom she\u2019s trained for herding, and they participated in some of the trials on Saturday. Getting to work in the arena with her dog is her favorite part of a herding event, she said.<\/p>\n
Although she said she\u2019s not sure if she\u2019ll return next year, Stovall said she hopes the herding trials will grow. Besides working as a veterinary technician for 20 years at the Bayfield Animal Hospital, she offers dog training classes in the Bayfield area and travels to AHBA trials in other states.<\/p>\n
She advised propsective competitors to find a good mentor.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s often a good idea to find an experienced handler to get the real basics on your dog,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd then at that point, I encourage people to step into the ring and start getting that relationship with their dog.\u201d<\/p>\n