Range flocks in the west lead a migratory life following the grass and the weather and with them go the herders, camps, guardian dogs and herding dogs. Having spent the winter on the desert in Utah, in May the sheep trailed 70 miles eastward to Meeker where they will lamb and rest up for the next move to higher country.
Freshly shorn and heavy with lamb, the girls are able to take their time as they traverse the long road eastward to Meeker. Once a common practice for all flocks, the process of trailing involves day-herding the sheep on the “trail” to their next migratory stop.
Trailing in the spring usually involves traversing several miles of public highway. Moving thousands of sheep in one group requires planning for the well being and safety of the sheep and others on the road. The flocks are headed up by a flagger in front to slow oncoming traffic.
Loading up sore-footed ewes or those with newborn lambs, herders, dogs and trailers bring up the drag. They’ll stop in the afternoon, allow the sheep to water and graze before bedding for the night. When traffic comes along, herders will often help clear the way for the vehicles as they move through the sheep.
Guardian dogs will trail along with the sheep. Herders use their border collies to keep the sheep on the road, moving forward at a steady pace.
If you listen closely one can hear the sounds of bells ringing to the cadence of the moving sheep. The sound of the bells help locate the sheep when out on the open range.
It’s always nice to be reminded of why we do this, why we congregate – as handlers, volunteers, vendors and spectators in this ritual of the Meeker Classic that goes back over 30 years. This was such a day. It’s a partnership of sorts where man and dog work together to tend the livestock as they tend the land. Those who mind the sheep rely on the sheepdog to help manage their stock – be it moving through a corral system, from pasture to pasture, or on a migratory route traversing hundreds of miles, the intelligence and heart of the sheepdogs serve a purpose that can’t be duplicated or filled by machines or technology. Yes, this is the WHY behind sheepdog trials and the Meeker Classic – this is what we gather to celebrate each year! The object of a sheepdog trial is to test the dog’s ability to manage/maneuver sheep in a calm, controlled manner.
A special thanks to the Angelo and Tony Theos family of Swallow Fork Ranch, Meeker for letting us share this. Three thousand of their ewes made the 70 mile trek from Utah to Meeker where they’ve now lambed and will soon be headed up to the high country for the summer.
