Hey Mo - onwards and upwards with just a wee hiccup along the way. I train, hard, for comp ob and we are still some way off (despite hints of greatness). I have dusted myself down a fair few times already and will be doing the same next season. We all stress in a test situ and it transmits straight across, so cut yourself some slack.
I am inspired by the progress you have made - look forward to your next stages.
Oh dear, don't give up. a couple of rubbish trials for a fault you know is there and that you're working on isn't a good enough reason!
As you know I don't know much about all this but rabbit pen sprung to mind as I read your post, have you got access to one? There's a good one just off the M6 at Kendal http://www.verstone-gundogs.co.uk/training.htm#rabbit_pen Been there a couple of times with Scrumps.
Just a thought albeit probably not a very helpful one
Mo, sorry that you had a bad day with Boots, but you CAN'T give up. Bouncing Bamber (sorry don't know his/her name) has summed it up perfectly. I know how hard you train with Boots and the saying that you only get out what you put in is so very true - your time will come, of that I am very certain. When it does come, it won't be down to luck, it will be through sheer hard work and determination. So give yourself a break Mo, but please stick at it as you are both a pleasure to watch, and to train with - Hey you Jimmy
Not speaking for Mo at all, just going some way to mitigate how she is feeling. The social pressure to have a dog perform appropriately in a trial is bone crushingly present up here, and I'm sure likely in ever trialling situation. It's double trebled and quadrupled if you are "new" and trying to fit in, probably again multiply by 10 for being female!!! You just can't trip up without having that overwhelming feeling of not being worthy. It's a huge shame and a massive turn off to the sport too. There just isnt any other way for a true novice to get a start without trying and potentially failing.
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O.K Mo.... we see the pics... excellent... now that we know you can take and post maybe we can have some of the team.... would be nice to see the line up and I'm sure Ice has grown since the intro....(don't want much do i )....
Sorry to read that you had a head-banger of a day.... and no it wasn't a "woe is me" thread at all. Sometimes life stinks but hopefully this morning it will all be a little less raw, the emotions a little more subdued and all in all a more "normal" feeling day..
Onwards and upwards chuck.... if you stop now what hope is there for the rest of us "newbies".....
God I feel like that after every test, let alone a TRIAL!
I have MASSIVE respect for anyone who enters a trial. I've made peace with the fact that Fin will never be a trialling dog (despite both his parents being trialling dogs) so I will have to make do with tests. But, for even making the draw - all I can say to you is WTG!!!!
You've made it further than Fin & I ever will - trials are very very hard so don't beat yourself up! What doesn't kill you and all that..... I know how it feels, but don't give up
Now, on another note - please feel free to share any running in tips you get!
Not speaking for Mo at all, just going some way to mitigate how she is feeling. The social pressure to have a dog perform appropriately in a trial is bone crushingly present up here, and I'm sure likely in ever trialling situation. It's double trebled and quadrupled if you are "new" and trying to fit in, probably again multiply by 10 for being female!!! You just can't trip up without having that overwhelming feeling of not being worthy. It's a huge shame and a massive turn off to the sport too. There just isnt any other way for a true novice to get a start without trying and potentially failing.
I can only imagine how hard it is Fee, never done anything like it myself but get nervous enough when I try anything new let alone in front of other people your competing with.
Its a shame there`s still a stigma with women doing things like this as more and more when I look at results here I see ladies winning and getting places in these trials.
I guess these people forget that they were once new to the sport and had to learn an awful lot before they started seeing success from their efforts.
I feel sure that Mo will reach this stage if she keeps on trying but can understand her feelings at the moment.
Mo, at this present second I know absolutely exactly how you feel. I had two trials Monday and Tuesday. I'd worked my arse off, the dog was ready, I wanted it SO BADLY for all sorts of shallow and deep reasons to go well... and both screwed. One was diabolical one was just a really poor showing.
Two days in a row. You are so right, you leave deciding you just cannot cut it, you are a crap handler, crap trainer, crap owner. It hurts, it actually aches. It makes you want to cry, but then if you cry you look like you are just a pathetic weed. You feel like the dog let you down. Then you let the dog down. Then you let each other down. Then you let the FT sec down who gave you the run. Then you let the friends down who send you six million 'go get em' texts. Then you let the breeder down. then you let your trainer down......
But its addictive. Its all we strive for day in day out in almost everything we do, and when we aren't doing *it* we are slogging away earning money to do *it*.
There ws nothing anyone could say to me yesterday. Today my personal priorities are elsewhere and put things into perspective. But i felt your pain in your words and I promise that you can come through this with pride and sanity intact.
one point only. The fact he is such a sensible confidence giving dog does make us trust them sometimes just a little bit too much. I have one now having done a few years of 'extreme trialing' with a fireball in a brown coat who i would NEVER have trusted or been suprised whatever she did! It can lull you into a false sense of security. You don't need my advice but I would get him out as many times as possible picking up before you trial again and don't let him have a single bird till late in the day a long time after the horn has gone on a quiet drive. But thats just how I would deal with it.
Hugs....for what its worth. yesterday if someone hugged me I probably would have punched them. Today I feel a bit better on that front and I promise you will not feel like this for long.
Di xx
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The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
Evening all! Business as usual has resumed and I'm back to my normal chirpy self.
I think what Di has said has hit the nail on the head about just why I felt so bad. I really do see trialling as a privilege and not a right. It's a privilege to be offered a run and invited onto private land to participate. It's important to me that I'm of the required standard and ability, as I know how much work and time and dedication goes into organising and running the trials that we go along to. The least I can do is be of the appropriate standard.
I'm fortunate that so many individuals and clubs have been supportive and encouraging of me and others. I think there absolutely is recognition and understanding that everyone has to start somewhere. All the trials I've been to so far as spectator, helper, or competitor have been very friendly and welcoming, and yesterday was absolutely no exception
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