These photos are from Sunday. This is "proof" that I was actually running!!! Naturally, I was pretty sore and achy after the weekend, but for once it was a good sore and achy. The weather was still very cold, but the wind was substantially less and thus the windchill effect had greatly improved.
I did learn that it is not fun to haul two 400 size vari-kennels in and out of the show grounds. We ended up buying two wire suitcase cages to use at the shows. I am sure that I will learn about more things that I can do to streamline as much as possible so the hauling load is kept manageable. I am only showing one dog, two dogs maximum if we do Rally or Obedience competition.
What words cannot convey is how very important this weekend was to both Steve and I. I have been struggling with health issues for a very long time now and this weekend represented my success at trying to get myself back into life a bit more. I have much work ahead of me, but I have crossed an emotional barrier by just getting out there and doing it. My hope and dream is to do many things with Rider including obedience and herding as well as the current conformation. He is my boy and we are growing together in the journey through life. Our next show is March 2-4 in Scottsdale. I have no idea if we will be successful in earning the coveted Champion points, but I do know that we will take the lessons and move forward with hope and determination. I know that Rider is competitve as a very nice Australian Cattle Dog and that I am the weak link, so I will work to improve as much of me as possible. |
