Canines 'N Ewe: March 2014

A friend sent me a link that got me thinking. Yes the door is closed on the incident..and yes it still bothers me. If I said it didn't I'd be lying.

I am sure people are NOT wondering why I was banned from the USBCHA Finals this year..

Why are they NOT wondering you ask? With the rumors people have fabricated, they are confident they already know.

Does it bother me that they have sensationalized rumors that are no where near the truth?

In reality NO it does not...Why doesn't it? The answer lies beneath in the video I have posted..I KNOW MY CIRCLE.

I am not here to defend myself, just here to set the record straight. Will I detail every little thing? No I won't who has time for that shit...

Here is a timeline.. (very simple in a nutshell) as to the happening that got me banned..

1. Ran dog
2. Scored extremely low
3. Told by my fellow handlers to ask them to recalculate score sheet
(There had been mistakes made on the math in previous days runs)
4. Asked course director to please check the math; she sent me to the "technical tent" Asked those ladies to double check math.
5. Took sponsor picture.
6. Stood around chatting amongst handlers while dog cooled down.
7. Notice judge out of tent (figuring a bathroom break) handler waiting to send standing at post.
8. Judge hunts me down
9. Judge very firmly (not yelling, but very angry) speaks in my face for 20 minutes about why he thought my run sucked and continued to tell me about better runs he had seen previously in the day)
10. Handler still waiting at the post..spectators and handlers witness the tongue lashing but no one comes to my aid. No one tells the judge to get back to work.
11. Judge goes back to his duty.
12. I post on Facebook Status "That's the type of shit that makes you wanna Quit"
13. 200 comments about dog trialing.. In the comment (that got me Banned) "I say Lane got through, Soot is out fucking asshole" (Exact quote)
14. Sometime in the thread one of my "old circle" members copies and pastes that comment..not the 199 prior comments ..no names, no accusations, not even a mention what trial I am at..although most people knew what trial was going at the time. The whole thread was like a chat around a campfire that everyone has had at one time or another.
15. Next morning I am counseled by the Trial Manager (whom is a very nice person) I had no idea what she was even talking about. She wanted an apology..for the comment I had made the day prior.
16. Apology made..(I was thanked for that) She wanted me to apologize to the judge..I couldn't do that at the exact time because the trial was going. But did that upon arrival home.
17.We head home..along the road Ron and I talk about filing a grievance on the judge because of the coming out of the tent and lashing out..we decide "oh well that's dog trialing"
18. 3 weeks later I receive a letter..stating "although you have not violated any rules, we are going to call it unsportsmanlike conduct". I respond to the HA about the incident with the judge. That I did not approach him that he approached me..I was sitting in the grand stands when the incident took place. No one cared..At this point I am still thinking I was being punished for the incident with the judge..even though I said nothing during the time of the ass chewing.
19. They respond that this is going to the committee and they will decide what the punishment is. (I still have no clue it is about a FB post) After pulling teeth I get a copy of the complaint, signed by the director that filed it (no he wasn't at the trial) and I get a copy of the copy and pasted FB post...(Surprisingly enough it wasn't about the incident with the judge) It was because I said ^^ THE ABOVE^^ (refer to bullet point 13).
20. I am told to respond with a letter, and there will be a conference call. Well obviously I am not waiting I respond with a letter..sent certified mail to the person that sent me the letter certified and also responded by certified letter to the secretary..The first certified letter was never picked up..In other words I responded to the person whom sent me the letter, but my letter was never picked up at the post office. (Thank god the other letter was picked up.)
21. Receive a call that I get a letter OR a conference call, that I cannot have both..(but since I already sent the letter I basically forfeit my call...I didn't choose to "not show" for the conference call...I forfeited it with the letter..(another mistake I suppose).
22. I just want this to go away
23. Another month goes by. Receive a letter laying out my punishment (Which is I cannot attend the Finals this year and I need to send another letter of apology to the HA for publication on their website.) (There is no appeal process)
24. I send a very short note, apologizing for above incident. I no longer have strength to fight the allegations.. nearly hospitalized for illness and panic attacks I can no longer fight.
25. November 27 receive another letter stating my apology was not "good enough" that I show no remorse, and that they will pull the sanction for my trial. I have like 3 days to respond by US Mail with another letter that they can publish (after approval) or my trial will be canceled..and they will ban me for a year.
26. Another letter written sent overnight mail, LOST by post office, another letter sent overnight mail..finally gets there.
27. APPROVED..PUBLISHED on the HA website..The trial can happen.
(ps if you need copies of letters or correspondences that can be arranged on a case by case basis)

So the funny thing is the rumors I hear.."I STORMED THE JUDGE'S TRAILER AND CALLED HIM AN ASSHOLE" - no folks not even close.

In speaking to the folks that actually asked me about it at our trial it was so interesting to hear the responses. Responses such as "SO AND SO has never liked you guys" really? Such news to us...Like why? What have we ever done? Like I am a loose canon running around dog trials harassing people? I guess our hospitality to those who never liked us was their gain..and we were the fools.

So really in the light of the recent happenings..we are still trialing, we are still smiling. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger. For the folks who thought this had no impact on us...you have it all wrong. To the folks who thought I didn't care, you don't know me, so please don't claim to. For those of you who have never liked us please don't come to dinner at my camper during big dog trials, We now know who you are.

Please enjoy the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUYVVIC0wFs

I know it's been since January since I have blabbed ( I mean blogged).. so I thought I would mention what's been going on around Canines N Ewe. (Not that anyone gives a shit) but I do..

Hmmm..shall we go back to September?

Let's see we spent the summer traveling the west..Soldier hollow and Meeker.

In a nutshell...it was a bad move; dog trials were great..drama..yes..social network was a dis service.

The lynch mobs had fun with me..at my expense..however skin thick as leather..we move forward..there is no shame in this kennel.

January.. The closing of snowbirds..trial was amazing, many attempts to derail us..to no avail it went without a hitch

The blowing of Ron's truck engine...$14,000.00 later back on the road and sexy as ever..

February..Lambing...with minimal loss (everyone that has ever lambed knows every minute is critical) Mother Nature was kind to us this time..she slaughtered us last year.

My grandma died..that pretty much sucks..but the gold at the end of the rainbow is this guy .Meet NACHO

After the funeral we returned a cooler to a friend of the family..There was this mini draft horse...(Stormy at the time) Nacho now. I fell in love with this guy.. and damn it he needed a home!

Nacho is now being trained to pull a cart...we love the new addition to the ranch..this little man is a fire cracker...never a dull moment when playing wit Nacho! Stay tuned for Nacho and his border collie hauling buckboard...

March..Starts out like a lion...Ron tears a muscle in his back...flat out for 2 weeks...off to a dog trial come hell or high water.

Purchase of the New guy.."Cord" ..don't let him fool you he is evil..

Off to Arizona for a new dog trial....WONDERFUL time..Soot won the Open..Chip and Plaid acted like they had never been trained..sigh..Nursery dogs.Ron and Sly had a decent finish

The screening of the "show"...what show you ask...SHEAR MADNESS..Nat Geo wild has done a show..a REAL SHOW about a friend of ours. Natalie owns Lacey..(Sweep x Jesse) and lacey helps her with her long wool fiber flock of 200 sheep. I filmed an episode helping with...yes of course the dogs..anyhow critics in this business think there is drama, there is hollywood...the reality is there is nothing but reality. Yes she wears dresses when shearing who cares? Have you ever sheared a sheep? my clothes are the least of my worries...they say there is drama..well have you ever had a sheep disease on $2000.00 ewe's you just purchased? (well no we don't purchase $2000 ewes)..anyhow...the show is all real, Natalie Redding of Namaste Farms is nothing but real. Jealous woman watch and criticize as this 50 + bombshell shows people the ropes on her sheep farm. She has 5 children and a delightful husband Sean..who keeps the home fires burning when Natalie is too involved in the sheep. Border Collies are new to Nat and she has taken to them as a natural. Please watch the show it's amazing...Nat Geo Wild on Saturday nights at 10:00 with Encore screenings on Wednedays! This show will make you smile, frown, cringe and laugh..just think you will see me too real soon!

I guess that's it in a nutshell on the happenings of Canines N Ewe..

Happy Herding.