Gettin’ Back On That Horse
I like to run retriever Hunt Tests, but, over the last 2 years, I’ve not been to the line 1 time. I’ve judged a few HRC, SRS and WRC events, but I’ve not gone to the line as a handler at all.
This past Sunday (October 15th 2006 to be exact) I ran my first test in over 2 years. It was at Northeast Florida Hunting Retriever Club. A lot of people have sent me notes saying ‘Glad you're back” and “It’s like riding a bike”, but, I’m going to use the simile of running a test being like riding a horse. Over the years, I’ve jumped on that horse many times and some rides have been great, some good, some not so good and others down right awful. But, each ride has been fun in itself and sadly, each must end. With luck, this past Sunday will be the start of another great ride. There was not an incident of being ‘knocked’ or ‘bucked’ off of the horse, I’ve had the opportunity to run tests, wasn’t afraid to run again, but life sort of happened to get in the way, other priorities and ‘burn out’ kept me from it. I’ve often compared it to being pecked to death by 10,000 baby ducks, one duck is nothin’, but get attacked by many and it adds up.
Gettin’ back on wasn’t as hard as I expected. Sunday Morning rolled around and the nerves I expected weren’t there, neither was Blu, who had accompanied me on so many trips in the past, a flood of emotions caught me off guard and I thought of him often throughout the day. Now, I’ve never been a great handler, I’ve known it virtually since the first time I stepped to the line, nerves have always been my Achilles heel. But this weekend was different; this weekend was about finding the fun in it again and results weren’t of great concern. Berry and I hadn’t been to the line together since she was a year old, back then, she passed 3 started tests. I felt that she was well prepared for what the judges could throw at her and for the most part, I was right, she didn’t let me down. And I found that the line still feels great, still feels like ‘home’, I’m glad to be back on that horse, I’m glad that I took the chance and climbed back on.
This was my first chance to check out the HRC family in Florida and I will tell you that the family is doing well! I was welcomed in and made to feel right at home. I’m always amazed at the HRC being like one big family, one big family that share the love (or should I write obsession) of our retriever breeds and NEFHRC was no different, they put on a great test and welcomed all to it, new or old. I really enjoyed hanging out with the people that are just starting out, many of them were on their first or second rides and to see their excitement, their anxiousness and desire to succeed as well as improve was a true pleasure.
I plan on staying on this horse, plan on riding this one the for the full ride, next stop with her is Seasoned, so, if you see me down this road, on this ride, join me, share the ride with me, share your stories, share your past rides, share your training, share your lunch, let’s enjoy this ride together and look towards the future, towards more great days with the ‘Family’.
About the Author:
Cray Stephenson lives in Milton, Fl with his wife Michelle Stephenson, DVM and their 2 sons, Patrick and Kelton. Together they own and operate Creighton Kennels Hunting Retrievers; a breeding and training facility dedicated to improving our hunting retriever breeds.
He was a founding member and Vice President of the Central Kentucky Hunting Retriever Association (http://www.ckhra.us), Has been active in the Hunting Retriever Club, the Super Retriever Series (http://www.superretrieverseries.com/) as both a judge and a handler and was one of only four judges chosen for the Inaugural World Retriever Championship (http://www.worldretrieverchampionship.com) in Oxford, MS, March 2005.
Cray can be reached at 850-983-0943, http://www.creightonkennels.net and contacted via email at patchio@bellsouth.net
a Special thanks to Avery Outdoors (http://www.averyoutdoors.com/)
