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AHBA HERDING TRIAL DOG COURSE RULES

GENERAL RULES

NOTE: The standard AHBA course is not designed to be an arena course.  In an arena, fences can interfere with the position the dog needs to take in order to best handle the stock.  Because at times an arena may be the only venue available, however, special request may be made to the AHBA for use of an arena with a minimum size of 100' x 200' for the HTD I, II and III courses for sheep.  The following modifications will be used: The distance between the handler's post and stock set- out will be the same for all three classes -- approximately 150 ft. (leaving as much room at the top as possible and adequate room between the panel obstacles and arena fence), and the openings of the panel obstacles will be 8 ft. rather than 12 ft. All other requirements are the same.  The request to use this size of arena must be clearly noted on the sanction application.

As an alternative to the hold (taking a ribbon from a marked sheep or touching the back of a duck) in HTD III sheep and duck classes, a sponsor may request use of a shed instead.   The request to use a shed rather than the hold must be clearly noted on the sanction application; when approval to use a shed is given, information regarding the use of a shed must be provided in the premium list or flyers and marked on the scoresheets.   A shedding ring is to be marked out with a diameter of 30 to 40 yds. for sheep, 10 to 20 yds. for ducks.  The shed will be worth 10 points; scoring will be as discussed for judging a shed under "sorting exercises" on HRD courses.

HTD I COURSE

1. For the HTD I class, the handler may have the dog on lead while positioning it.   The handler may position the dog half-way between the handler's post and the set-out point of the stock, approximately even with the level of the panels.  The handler may remain with the dog, or may leave the dog and take a position at any point on the course between the dog and the stock, but must stop short at least 15 ft. from the stock.
2. There must be a pause after the lead is removed, before the dog is sent to gather the stock.  The handler shall signal the dog to begin the outrun, using any combination of voice, whistle, or movement.  The outrun may be performed in either direction.   When the dog reaches a position of balance with the stock, it may pause or briefly stop.  The dog then fetches the stock to the handler's post.  The handler may return to the post during the outrun, or may walk in front of the stock during the fetch.   Flanking and/or stop commands may be given as needed to bring the stock successfully to the post.
3. Once the stock have reached the post, the handler should stand at the post while the stock is taken around the post.  The stock should go to the right of the post if the first wear/drive panel is on the left, or vice versa.
4. When the stock have passed the handler's post, the handler may leave the post and accompany the stock and dog to the obstacles, which should be taken in the designated order.
5. The handler may take any position relative to the stock and dog. It is preferred that the handler not enter the obstacles, but only minor deductions will be given should the handler do so.  If one or all of the stock pass an obstacle closely without going through, they should continue on to the next obstacle.  Upon negotiating the second obstacle, the stock are taken to the pen.
6. In penning, after opening the gate the handler may move about and may assist the dog as needed, and need not hold the rope.  The stock should be completely inside the pen before the gate is closed.  All stock should be penned.  The gate should not be slammed.

HTD II COURSE

1. The handler removes the lead just inside the limits of the course and brings the dog off lead to the handler's post.  The handler may remain with the dog, or may take a position anywhere on the half of the course between the post and the line of the obstacles, not passing beyond the obstacles during the outrun, lift and fetch.
2. The handler sends the dog to gather the stock (the outrun may be done in either direction). When the dog reaches a position of balance with the stock, it may pause or briefly stop.  The dog then fetches the stock to the handler's post.  If not already at the post, the handler returns to the post ahead of the stock and dog, and stands there while the dog moves the stock past the post.  The stock should go to the right of the post if the first wear/drive panel is on the left, or vice versa.  The handler may then leave the post and direct the dog to take the stock to the first obstacle.
3. The handler may accompany the dog and stock, taking any position relative to them.   Upon reaching the first obstacle, the handler may not go through the obstacle but should go to an area within 5 ft. of the edge of the panel nearest the center of the arena.  While directing the dog to complete the first obstacle and to drive the stock toward and through the second obstacle, the handler may remain in the area next to the first panel or may move back along an imaginary handler's line running from there to the handler's post; the handler may go no nearer to the second panel.  If one or all of the stock pass an obstacle closely without going through, they should continue on to the next obstacle.  Upon the stock negotiating the second obstacle, the handler proceeds to the pen.
4. In penning, after opening the gate the handler must hold the end of the rope attached to the gate.  The handler cannot release the rope during penning, but may move about within its limits and may assist the dog.  The stock should be completely inside the pen before the gate is closed.  All stock should be penned. The gate should not be slammed.

HTD III COURSE

1. The handler removes the lead just inside the limits of the course and brings the dog off lead to the handler's post.  The handler stands at the post while the dog is sent to gather the stock.  After the outrun, lift and fetch, the dog moves the stock around the handler's post.  The stock should go to the right of the post if the first wear/drive panel is on the left, or vice versa.
2. The dog drives the stock toward and through the first obstacle, then cross- drives toward and through the second obstacle (If one or all of the stock pass an obstacle closely without going through, they should continue on to the next obstacle).  The handler remains at the post until the completion of the second obstacle.  When the second obstacle has been negotiated, the handler may go to the pen.
3. In penning, after opening the gate the handler must hold the end of the rope attached to the gate.  The handler cannot leave the gate or release the rope during penning, and should only assist the dog in penning through whistle, verbal or hand commands.  Any handler who physically assists the dog in penning will have points deducted. The gate should not be shut until all the animals are completely inside the pen.  All stock should be penned.  The gate should not be slammed.
4. After penning, the animals should be removed from the pen and the gate closed.  The dog should then hold the sheep to the handler so that an easily- removed ribbon may be taken gently from the neck of the marked sheep.  This may be done anywhere within the lower 1/2 of the arena (where the handler's post is located), preferably not too near a fence.  The ribbon may not be taken as the stock are coming out of the pen, nor may the exercise be done near an exhaust gate.  The sheep may not be held by hand or by a crook. Once the ribbon is removed, the run is over (In the case of ducks, rather than removing a ribbon, the handler should reach down and gently touch a duck on the back, NOT the head or neck.).

Modifications for cattle: When cattle are used, pen dimensions should be 16 ft. on each side.  The handler is not required to hold the rope for penning at any level. The handler need not remain at the post as the cattle are brought toward it, but may move to either side along an imaginary line running across the arena at the level of the post.   Rather than holding any animals to the handler, one animal is to be split off (shed) and briefly held apart from the others; any animal may be split off, and the fence may be used in this.

COURSE DIAGRAM

The outrun may be done in either direction at all three levels.

HTD I
For the gather, the dog may be set out here * ; the handler may move closer to the stock.

HTD II
For the gather, the dog is set out near the post; the handler may move forward but not past the panels.  After moving the stock around the post and to the obstacle, the handler remains here t or anywhere behind the handler's line while the dog moves the stock through the second obstacle.