Pleasure, Trail, Versatility, etc.

Hey y'all............that's our friend Bubbadog and her Daddy in the above pics.

I can relate to this article since my father was into bird dogs and field trials as well. Even though we had horses, he preferred to walk instead of ride. I think he felt he could work with his dogs better from the ground. We did loan out a few of our horses for field trial judges on occasion though. I spent many a day as a kid casting a fishing rod with feathers on the end and feeding caged quail. We had Pointers and Setters.

"Wup!..........bird in there...............bird in there...........Wup!"

One of these days,,,how many years have I said that? I do want to go on a field trial. Though I don't want to see dead animals of any kind....just ride along. Is that reasonable on a field trial? Maybe I'm better off just to trail ride, I cannot even seem to work that in lately.

They shoot blanks at field trials so don't worry about dead quail. I remember C C Johnson decided he wanted a gaited mule to use in the trials. He got one and that mule dern near killed him. He went back to hosses soon after that experiment.

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Cuz and Sunday Social going for a short spin today.

MM, they only shoot on retrieving stakes so you can go on any of the other stakes at a field trial! Although I have heard a few handlers threaten to kill their dogs... (hehehe!)

:CS: I occasionally threaten my critters, too. But, they know I'm just kiddin' and pay me no attention.
Sounds like I would be safe on a field trial, maybe this will be the year that I DO IT!

MM if you ever have the opportunity to go to a field trial - DO - they are the most fun. And take me with you.

BubDog, find one somewhere in betwix north GA and AL! My trail horses are barefoot as they rarely get ridden, but should do ok to mosey around on.

Finding one might not be too easy - we a little out of the way I'm afraid.

MM...You need to get with Spiller or Tony & Becky Gibson. Robbie has begged me for yrs to go on a field trial. Tony & Becky have trials at their Union Springs Al farm...rather plantation. I'm sure you know the Gibsons and they still attend many TWH shows.

If you are really interested in going to some field trials, we have friends that are professional field trialers that train in Georgia and trial all over Georgia and Alabama during the Winter months. Let us know and we can get you some dates and locations!

OHM, I have been introduced to the Gipson's through Bob Lawrence. They are Shelbyville condo neighbors. But, doubt they remember me. I do knew Billy Renfroe quite well from his years in the TWH biz and he's from Union Springs. Now that I've thought about it, I think he does field trials, too.

TWHBoss, do they have scheduled events that can be found on line like horse show calendars?

I live in north central ALabama, just north of B'ham. Never heard of anything local.

MM, they should have. I'll see if I can find something.

Here's a listing of some clubs and contacts in Alabama. Don't know if they are close to you, but surely they can tell you what events are close to you.

Black Warrior Pointer & Setter Club
David McNeil
16552 Boothtown Road
Buhl, AL 35446

Bama Quail Club
Rick Wilson
Box 605
Hurtsboro, AL 36860

Blackbelt Field Trial Club
Thomas H. Barnes Jr.
P O Box 208
Demopolis, AL 36732

Calhoun County Bird Hunters Association
J. W. Eubanks
P O Box 63
Morgan, AL 31766

Central Alabama Birdhunters
Glen Vines
230 Price Road
Wetumpka, AL 36093

Central Alabama Shooting Dog Association
Sandra B. Justice
544 Cty Road 471
Selma, AL 36701

Cullman County Field Trial Club
Toni McNeal
3698 County Road 515
Hanceville, AL 35077

Charles A. Farquhar Memorial Field
Fred Scherock
232 Haggerty Road
Wetumpka, AL 36092-4809

Dixie Classics Field Trial Association
Dorothy Hyder
Box 162
Hatchechubbee, AL 36858

East Alabama Field Trials
Dorothy M. Hyder
Box 162
Hatchechubbee, AL 36858-0162

Fitzpatrick Field Trial Club
Marc Reynolds
2001 Drexel Road
Montgomery, AL 36106

Grassy Bird Hunters Field Trial
Mickey L. Allen
2174 Co Rd 136
Lexington, AL 35648

Hall of Fame Field Trial Club
Margaret Unwin
P O Box 191
Union Springs, AL 36089

Hatchechubbee Bird Dog Club
Dorothy M. Hyder
Box 162
Hatchechubbee, AL 36858-0162

Montgomery Field Trial Club
Hoyt Henley
P O Drawer 210097
Montgomery, AL 36121-0097

National Amateur Free For All
Ben Chancellor
6613 Heritage Oak Court
Montgomery, AL 36117

Panther Creek Field Trial
Martha Sanders
Route 1 Box 152
Fitzpatrick, AL 36029

Quail Run Classic
Sheila Maddox
415 Trojan Way
Troy, AL 36081

TWHBoss, THANK YOU so much.

A couple of the names are TWH folks...Hoyt Henley had great horses back in the 60-s and maybe in the 70's.

Several towns that I have NEVER even heard of....but one that is very close to me in Hanceville, AL. Will check it out.

Still laughing over a few of those town names....but just typed in Field Trial on Facebook and found the Field Trial Bulletin.

Here's a link to an article on the TWH and Field Trials:

http://www.wisconsinwalkinghorse.org/articles/fieldtrial.html

Here's another article. This one ran in Sport Illustrated back in 1963. The subject is Eleanor Livingston and the Dixie Plantation. Good stuff here.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1074532/index.htm

OHM has been a trail riding again. Another beautiful location; I think this one's called Rainbow Falls in Cannon County, if I'm not mistaken.

Look at Market's new handpainted browband by Beeswood!!! She does several different patterns on black or brown leather, or will do custom designs too!


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OHM & Boss, thanks for the photos. We want to keep this topic as active as possible. OHM, that first shot is pretty enough to be on a postcard or in a magazine or book. Boss, just curious...........is that a "McClellan" saddle you are using there???

Nope, that is an original Tucker Endurance.

Oh, how cute is that?!