Sheepdog Trials Wednesday 6th August At Pennywell – Devon Tourist Attraction
Wednesday 6th August see the welcome return of Sheepdog Trials at Pennywell Farm Sheepdog Trials Wednesday 6th August At Pennywell – Devon Tourist Attraction. This annual event, now in its twentieth year, attracts visitors and competitors from all over the country. More than 40 sheepdogs and their handlers will be put through their paces in this open driving trial which will demonstrate the skills that the dogs use every day of their working life.
Organised by the Devon and Exmoor Sheepdog Society the daylong event always delights the visitors, leaving them full of admiration for the skills of a well-trained dog.
Pennywell’s owner Chris Murray says: “I always look forward to this event tremendously. “You can tell the dogs really enjoy themselves by their eagerness to work and sheer enthusiasm and when they have successfully penned the sheep, that fiercely wagging tail is a great indicator of a job well done.”
The first recorded Sheepdog Trials were held in Bala, North Wales In 1873. It was not until 33 years later that the International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) was formed.
Shortly afterwards the first International Trials were held in Gullane, Scotland and except during the war years, have continued to be an annual event, as have become at Pennywell Farm.
The dogs use their natural instinct to keep out of the sheep’s sight. By keeping to the edge of the field and gradually gathering in the sheep, the dog doesn’t alarm them.
If you are planning to come and watch, admission to the trials is included in the Pennywell admission price and the action begins at 10am.
You may want to take a look at some of the traditional commands that are used to help follow what is going on:
“Away” or “Away to me” – Move around the sheep in an anti-clockwise direction
“Get back” – Keep out and give the sheep more room
“In here” – Move through a gap between sheep to separate them (when shedding)
“Lie down” – Stop, lie down, slow down or just stand still (intelligent things Border Collies – good ones can usually tell which the handler means)
“Stand” – Stand still – the dog must stop but remain on its feet
“Take time” – Slow down
“That’ll do” – Return directly to the handler
“There” -Stop flanking and move straight towards the sheep
“Walk up” – Move straight towards the sheep
This story appeared on July 7, 2014
Hi pennywell. When do the entertainers start at pennywell?
We have Dan the Hat on Mondays and Tuesdays with Nutty Noah on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from now until the end of August. We hope to see you soon.