The Ups and Downs of Agility

[Alifaire]

It could've been a MACH weekend...
It should've been a MACH weekend...
So much potential... so much hope....Just needed 2 double QQs
And on the first run, Victor did not finish the weaves - unusual. Then on the 2nd run he just stopped running at jump 5. What was wrong with my dog?!
A review of the video showed he wrenched his back The on-site massage therapist said: Ice, heat, only walking, arnica, repeat thru out the night and 'then we'll see if he can run in the morning'.
Victor ran well and qualified in the Standard ring. We iced immediately afterward and ran Jumpers. It would have been a double Q had I not been so happy that he was running again that I sent him to the wrong jump! If I can figure out how to load the video to the website from my camera, I'll share it.

Decided to be happy with that and skipped Sunday so that he could rest and recover. We trial again on Friday and hope to get the double Q.

[Alifaire]

Hopefully, the link works for you.

http://imageshack.us/clip/my-videos/192/wd9u.mp4/

If you see a lot of pink it's because there were over 160 exhbitors wearing pink in support of the Cure for Breast Cancer activities going on that day.

[Lisa]

Nice run! So sorry about Victor's back injury. You'll get it next time!

By the way - nice blind cross between the two winged jumps! I'm always afraid to do blind crosses...I've managed to do a few at tunnels, but I know Buster would take me out if I tried it between jumps.

[Cindy]

Decided to be happy with that and skipped Sunday so that he could rest and recover. We trial again on Friday and hope to get the double Q.

I'm sure you're disappointed but the important thing is that Victor is OK. Next time ... next time!!

[Alifaire]

Recipe for a blind cross...
-Take 1 course already NQ'd
-Add 1 Britt that will send out to a jump
-Stir in a straight shot across the ring and no time to 'twirl' for a front cross [or so it seemed]

I don't usually use Blind Crosses, but it seemed like a good place to try it since we had already NQ'd and I thought it would keep his eye on me as he went over the next jump.

[rtropeano]

That was indeed some fancy footwork....the MACH is going to come - just glad Victor is okay!!!
Rose

[AuntieMom]

Hope Victor's injury is better! I so enjoyed the video and he looks fantastic. I was just smiling watching him he looks so good.

[Alifaire]

Thanks!

Victor is doing well - he's on a homeopathy routine of arnica and Ruta grav.; ice after every run; more warming up before each run. We could have had our MACH again but my handling is not quite right. I think I'm choking on the self-induced pressure. We trial again at the end of October.

[Lisa]

We could have had our MACH again but my handling is not quite right. I think I'm choking on the self-induced pressure. We trial again at the end of October.

Ah well. You'll get there! Just stop making it about the MACH and the Q's and go in with the attitude that you're going to have fun with your boy.

Buster and I START trialing again in two weeks, our "season" is picking back up. Unfortunately, finances have dictated that I can't trial as much as I'd like. So, we're going to focus on USDAA for the most part. At this rate, we'll never get out of Open in AKC...'cuz I'm just not entering those shows.

[Alifaire]

go in with the attitude that you're going to have fun with your boy

I try... I really do... but somewhere on the course that nasty voice says "WE'VE GOT THIS"... and then we don't.

Good luck with USDAA!

[Lisa]

I try... I really do... but somewhere on the course that nasty voice says "WE'VE GOT THIS"... and then we don't.

I've finally learned to tell that voice to shut up, and keep working it, keep handling it, and not even think of celebrating until we've cleared the finish jump! The lesson sank in when I celebrated too early, and Buster got all happy and took my legs out from under me. He still Q'd, but I kissed the dirt and it hurt! So, painful lesson, but I learned it!

[Alifaire]

Buster got all happy and took my legs out from under me

OUCH!

I usually finish the course and wonder why I can't think quickly enough to make a handling adjustment - but I can have the 'We've got this - NO - shut up - work the course - WE'VE GOT THIS Q! - NO, SHUT UP - RUN!!!" conversation going in my head!

[rtropeano]

I get a kick out of you two

I went into the little tunnelers competition thinking, "Daisy, you really have a chance at finishing this fun run and getting a prize"

Guess what happened - she did not even take the first tunnel - stuck her head in looked and backed out and started sniffing the top of the tunnel?

ah hello, WTH???? I'll post the video once youtube is back up -...
Rose

[Alifaire]

uh oh!!! Tunnel Monsters!!!!

[AuntieMom]

Daisy, I don't like running in long dark places either.