We caught up with Spring Hill Riding Club’s Janie Easton who is busily getting set for the second installment of what she hopes will be an annual event.
The event was mounted last year by popular demand following a one-off Pony/dog show of several years ago. “It was a great success and people kept asking,” Easton said. Proving the truth of the event’s popularity, roughly 50 dogs competed in 2010, and though surprised by the high level of interest, Easton also noted that “people are very proud of their animals and they love to show them off.” The event, a joint fundraiser for animal rescue PAAWS and Spring Hill Riding Club which works with horses and riders, the event has attracted expanded sponsorship from Pedigree via local distributor Hutchinson.
They’ll be sponsoring the preparation of a proper agility course for dogs – jumps, tunnels – in addition to rosettes and numbers, and, of course, prizes. Easton assures that notwithstanding the sponsor’s name, dogs of all types will be accepted provided owners can pay the EC$5 registration fee on the day and the animals are well-behaved. Speaking of well-behaved the day’s activity will begin with a live training demo by professional U.S. dog trainer Nershon Beach; “she will take a dog that is untrained and will show you in 15 minutes how to get the dog to be under your command.” Sound impossible? Be there on May 14th at 1 p.m. to find out.
While there, stay, and take in the various contests; the most challenging of which is expected to be condition and movement given its adherence to strict international standards. Are you a dog owner? Here’s what you need to do in the mean time; get your dog used to walking on the lead, make costumes for the fancy dress competition, teach them tricks if you can.
