Bill invited my family out to watch a NSTRA trial in Katy.
I have to say everyone there makes you feel welcome.
We rode with the judges and they didn't mind answering all my 50 questions.
There was an open spot in one of the braces so Cash got his first taste of a trial.
I was worried, it was going to be his first time on birds with no ecollar and it was going to be in front of a crowd. His brace mate went on point and Cash backed. Then he started to creep. Luckily your required to hold the backing dog.
He handled good in the field and scored 70 points out of a possible 75 on obedience. He covered the field well and had a find. Then I breathed a sigh of relief. Don't know why I was so worried its just birds in a field.
We all had a great time and look forward to doing it again.

On a side note there was a lady named Maggie with an outstanding Brittany .
It was almost an art form to see her dog work the field. Then to top it off she never missed a shot. I believe she was shooting a 28 gauge.

Cash caught a bad break on that first back. The bird ran and would not fly. It caused both dogs to break. He did great overall. I did not look at all the scores, but the 70 on obedience was probably the highest for the trial. His ground coverage looked great from the gallery. I rode the brace after Cash ran. The judge really liked him.

You, Cash, Scott, and Lauren typify what NSTRA can be for a family. Lauren got to ride and watch her pup run. You could also, have ridden the brace, except for your nervousness, but more importantly you could have judged, the full day while Scott handled Cash. You really need to consider that, especially when you get your new UTV. Our region really needs judges, as well as more help in the Houston area.

Maggie, the shooter, Parsley have a full plate. She was the the trial chairman, ran two dogs, and kept her husband in line while he was cooking lunch both days. She needed more help.

The Lonestar Regionals are in Corsicana this weekend!

Yes, I was nervous with it being their first run.
I also didn't want Cash or Scott to look to me for guidance.
I think they worked well together.
As far as judging I need to learn all the rules.
Ride with a judge a few more times and see if we score the dogs close to the same way.

That's all part of the judging certification process. I'll use your family as an example, but here's what can happen and does happen in NSTRA, except that most have more than one dog. The wife judges, using her UTV, or ATV. She gets $200 for judging, and $140 for the use of her vehicle. Your entry fee for 4 runs would be $140. You do the math. You take home $200 for buying more birds etc. Our region comes out ahead, because we don't have to pay traveling and lodging expenses for out of town judges. You eventually become so involved that you'll chair a trial. That's the part I like.

We have a really good region, but the Houston area members act like a bunch of spoiled brats. They'd rather drive 400 miles and stay at a motel over the weekend, than to spend a couple of hours on Friday, setting up the field. We need more Houston trials, and more help for the Houston trials. That helps our entire region because it shortens the drive for the south Louisiana handlers.

You met Kris Sparks. He chairs two trials each year and does it all. Same with Scott Thomas.

It was nice meeting you guys this weekend. I wish I could have watched cash run, but I needed to start heading home. It sounds like you have the bug. I got the bug about 5 years ago and now look. I have to commend you guys for running your dog. It sounds like he did great. Keep up the hard work!!

Hooked is a good term, but I believe that addiction is a much better word to describe NSTRA, maybe even pointing dogs, but especially NSTRA. It's just like dope. First you try it as a fun way to pass time. It doesn’t cost much and you pay for it out of pocket with mad money. You then try to offset a little of your expenses, by judging, just as the dope users start dealing a little on the side. You become addicted, and maybe start a little training on the side. We have at least one full time trainer at most of our trials, and maybe a half dozen part timers.

Before you know it your career and family life are down the drain. Your house is decorated with ribbons and trophies. That's why we don't have many young family men like Kris. His dope is selling birds. I think I heard him say that he'll hatch out 5,000 this fall. He's thinking about running a few hunts, which is double dipping. It brings in money and helps get his dogs into more pen raised birds.

You should hear what he named his son. I'm not telling it on here, but I'll the entry fees for our next Katy trial to the first who can guess. Hint!!!!!!! It rhymes with cage, but has to do with shotguns.

My guess is Gauge. Assuming I'm correct, I guess I need to go buy a pointing dog now

Don't think you have to be hooked or addicted.
You just have to enjoy being outdoors and watching good dogs work the field. The company's not bad either.
I like the venue. It won't replace my hunting. It will just give my dog more time in the field with more bird contacts.
It will also put him with different dogs in different fields.
I'm thinking this will help him be a well rounded hunting partner.
Now as far as Scott he maybe addicted.

Where the dogs tracking the atvs?

Nope, didn't see one dog track the ATVS.
Mind you there were 15 braces in one field and 14 in the other.
I think it would be hard for a dog to pick which trail to follow.
Now we humans have a hard time doing things in a random order.
If you used the same person to put out birds at every trial, no matter who was holding it.
Then there would be a better chance that the dogs would pick up on their pattern.
Now this is only my opinion.

The birds from Benny? I assume so and that they flow well with no dogs catching any.