Barbara Ray and Grant working a shed at the 2022 Meeker Classic – courtesy of Paul Turner
2022 Meeker Classic Reserve Champions
Barbara Ray & Grant, 7-Year Old Male
Millboro, VA
Barbara Ray’s name is a familiar one
in the Meeker Classic winner’s circle. Over the years she has qualified for the double lift finals ten times – beginning with Mirk in 1993, Barbara and her dogs are always strong contenders. Four of those years she’s qualified with 2 dogs (2016, 2018 2021 and 2022). Qualifying for his first double lift in Meeker as a 2 year-old nursery dog in 2018, Grant placed 8th overall that year and Reserve Champion in 2021 and 2022. In 2023 Barbara and Grant are headed to the World Trial in Ireland with Team USA.
Grant as a puppy – photo courtesy of Barbara Ray
Grant is out of Barbara’s Stella
and Amanda Milliken’s Monty. He, Maverick, and Amanda’s Howell are from different litters, but the same breeding. Grant won Canadian Nursery Championships went on to take the 2018 USBCHA Nursery Champion title. Grant is kind to sheep and easily biddable, which makes challenging runs easier to negotiate.
“It was a pleasure to run Grant a year older and wiser
at Meeker the past season,” says Barbara. “he adjusted well to the sheep and was there for me when called upon. Both of us have learned so much over the years, like don’t overreact in this unfamiliar terrain, and be careful not to upset the touchy sheep. Such emotional highs and lows have been experienced at that post in meeker. I’m sure going to miss the Meeker family and experience this year.”
Barbara Ray and Grant – 2022 Meeker Classic Finals – photo courtesy of Toby Leavitt
Sadly, Barbara explains,
that Grant sustained a soft tissue injury at Meeker in 2022 , the results of which were noticeable in his performance in the finals. After that, he received five month of crate rest and stem cell therapy. He and Barbara are now thrilled to be staging a comeback. During his down time Barbara purchased a few stared dogs and concentrated training on the in-house youngsters as well. “Nothing makes you appreciate a seasoned dog, until you’re without one,” says Barbara of the past months of Grant’s recovery from the injury he sustained in Meeker last September.
Barbara started with her first border collie
in 1979 shortly after graduating from college. She purchased a flock of 300 pregnant western ewes and was desperate for help managing them. She spends most of her energy and time raising sheep and cattle on the farm with the help of her dogs. The livestock provide new and varied experiences for her dogs while teaching them to both think and obey. Completing tasks she couldn’t and wouldn’t do without her dogs, Barbara’s favorite part of working dogs is the teamwork involved.
Barbara Ray and Grant – International Shed – 2021 Meeker Classic courtesy of Paul Turner
When asked what she would like to communicate
to the general public about the sport, Barbara answers, “Every culture in the world tends to develop one or two truly unique ways to solve a problem. These methods stand out because they take on their own life and evolve beyond simply “getting a job” and become their own distinctive art form. It’s my firm belief Sheepdog Herding is one of the most extraordinary cultural practices to emerge from the British Isles. Anyone who’s struggled to get their pet to follow basic obedience commands can’t help but stare, slack jawed, as they watch an experienced handler work with a talented dog. You don’t see this level of control, trust, and cooperation between a person and an animal anywhere else in the world. While technology often makes traditional stuff like this obsolete, I’d challenge anyone to name a more efficient and elegant way to work livestock on a working farm today. Sheepdog Herding is one of the few cultural practices of its kind that not only survives but continues to thrive in the 21st century. As a handler with a passion for the sport, thinking about that brings a big smile to my face!”
Barbara Ray and Stella, Grant’s mother – 2017 Semi Finals – by Toby Leavitt
Barbara is looking forward to attending the World Trial
with Grant this coming September 2023. She plans on arriving in Ireland early so that both she and Grant can get acclimated, and perhaps find opportunity to practice before the competition. Since she’ll be away close to three weeks for the World Trial, Barbara has decided to skip the USBCHA National Finals in Carbondale this year. Farm and work obligations make it difficult to get away for very long stretches. Barbara will follow both Meeker and the Finals on the live stream though.
Barbara, we commend you on your achievements in the sheep dog trialing world, but more so on the working relationships you’ve established with your dogs on the farm and on the trial field. It’s a journey and a task that many aspire to.
