Friday, September 25, 2009

Field Trip Friday ~ Sheep Herding Championships

For the last seven years, Solider Hollow (Midway, Utah) has held the Soldier Hollow Sheep Herding Grand Championships and for the last seven years we have talked, and talked, and talked, about going...until this year. On Monday we finally went, we drove up to Solider Hollow and watched. Now, I do not want to sound over dramatic about this, but I was entranced, enthralled and on the edge of my seat the entire day. Watching the border collies and their handlers...was a sight to behold.


Solider Hollow is an amazing venue, it was created for the 2002 Winter Olympics and was home to several events: biathlon, cross-country skiing and nordic combined. It is picturesque and beautiful with Mt. Timp in the background.

If you have ever seen the movie Babe, then you know what I am talking about. The border collies herd the sheep through a timed obstacle course and at the end, corral the sheep with the help of their handler to a white pen in the middle of field.

Not only was there sheep herding, but duck herding, a dog trick show, vendor demos, and splash dogs (if you have never seen splash dogs before, which we had not, take a look at this video.) Splash dogs was our boys favorite, they could have watched that all day.

I have been to alot of spectator events and never have I met more friendly, lovable, helpful spectators then at soldier hollow. Our boys had so much fun watching all events.

Participants came from around the world: Scotland, So. Africa, Canada and America. The man in the middle with the black hat and tie won the entire sheep herding competition with his border collie Sly!

3 comments:

tammy said...

I find this subject totally fascinating! I loved Babe. Why don't I actually go see this? Jason once made 3000 cookies for this thing....

Fahrenheit 350° said...

Now... I want a border collie!

Thimbleanna said...

This looks so cool Pamela -- what a great activity to do with your kids!

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