Coming Events

Inaugral Great Cattle Dog Muster

Article by Belinda Carter | Photos by Western Sydney Dog Lovers Photography

September saw Muswellbrook, the home of the Australian Cattle Dog and the Australian Stumpy Tailed Cattle Dog, host the Inaugural Great Cattle Dog Muster. As part of the event The Working Cattle Dog Association of Australia took the opportunity to run a trial solely for both breeds. Over 5,000 spectators attended the event with the trial proving very popular. Primary sponsor was Mangoola Mine, along with Muswellbrook Chamber of Commerce, JBS Australia (Scone) & Advanced Pet Food. Sponsors certainly make these events possible, and their support is always gratefully received.

The campdraft arena at the showgrounds was reconfigured to provide some corners and the course designed to suit the breeds working characteristics – driving, pushing, force work. Dogs were required to start with pushing cattle out of a corner before walking them through several fence line obstacles to an obstacle designed to send the cattle towards the centre of the arena requiring the dogs to push at the shoulder to drive them back onto the fence. A clear hold in a three-sided pen was the mid-point of the course before doing the whole lot again in reverse before penning. Considering these breeds are predominantly driving dogs the course proved very suitable. The cattle supplied did require some cover and control at the head though, being roping steers who have been trained to run into an arena, then turn back and exit back towards the holding pen gates. They very much had a draw so it was pleasing to see how many dogs could capably turn back breakaways. We couldn’t have asked for a better judge in Kenny Robinson. The course walk with him calmed many first time trialler nerves. Everyone was so supportive of each other, it was a wonderful atmosphere with the challenge in most people’s minds being the stock and course, not the ‘competition’. Many left the arena absolutely hooked and would compete weekly if we could run that many trials. The feature class was the Open Cattle which was impressively won by Karen Edwards, from South Gippsland Victoria, with her 6 year old bitch Erudite Vintage Cowgirl (CJ). Karen hsixs successfully trialled CJ in the ANKC system on sheep, ducks and cattle. She has also had credible runs in the Kelly Country Cattle Dog trials. CJ is a gritty dog who Karen has done an outstanding job, having a polished handle on her. We couldn’t have run the day without our wonderful helpers - stock handlers, scribes, timekeepers and announcers. The trial will be run again in September 2023 at Muswellbrook, and we have learnt a few things to make 2023 even better. The trial is open to any Australian Cattle Dog and Stumpy Tailed Cattle Dog regardless of registration or pedigree status. The dogs must be phenotypically pure with the judge’s discretion being final in that decision.

Overall it was pleasing to see a trial course built to suit these breeds and the hopefully the beginning of an ongoing, regular trial series. From little things big things grow.