What would you folks estimate the average age is for people running in field trials? I've only been to a few field trials and it looks to be an older crowd than is typically seen at hunting tests. If I had to put an average age say in the Amateur, I'd have to say it's around 50 as it seems for every 35 year-old I see, I see two 50+ year-olds. Is that the case everywhere or is it just that my exposure has been limited? Thanks.
the number will probably be skewed in the Open stake because of all the pros but in the O/H Amateur it might be high 40's....I think mainly because its not exactly the cheapest sport to play...read the thread about what people do for a living and you will see many are self employed or retired...then you have the independently wealthy, trust fund socialites...and then all of us working stiffs
Joel there are a few outliers in the group. You can find junior handlers as young as 12 years old, there is one that runs the Midwest circuit with her grandfather. I also know a handler here that has to be pushing 85 years of age! Regardless of your age, it comes down to the dog that is running.
If I had to guess the average age I'd probably say "29"!!!! Yeah...that would be it!!!!!
I know if I were to ask the folks running trials and training that would be the most popular answer.
I really don't have an answer for you but I wanted to Congratulate Mr. Goodrich as I know he celebrated his 90th birthday at the end of December. Yes he is still training and running dogs and recently brought home an 8 week old puppy!!!!
After my "29th" birthday (for the 40th time)...I hope I'm still able to get out of bed in the morning!
That's how it goes, most people get started then quit and do all the other things, work and family, then get involved again, work and work at it and you're old...
I'm think of all the sponsors the FT clubs should be soliciting. The Clapper, Medic-Alert, Joint Replacement Center, Lawrence Welk, the local Polka band just to name a few.
I started this crazy sport when I was 27 now I'm 36 and still don't see many people my age at all in the south. I keep thinking I might be the last generation but then most people can't afford to play this game until they get some money saved up or they don't try to play until there kids are grown up. These FT's are very demanding on a young family. I sure wish there were more people with kids who attended trials, so my kids would have some play time also. It sure would make it more inviting to get more people involved. Its not alot of fun for kids to sit around all day and watch trials. I have had a few trials were my buddy Eric Gawthorpe brought his daughter or Forrest Faulkner brought Wyatt and it sure made the weekend alot more fun for the kids.
Chad
I was talking to a couple of our "older" participants at the last trial. One of the women said that it use to be the norm to see 8-10 kids off playing behind the trucks. I agree, it would make it easier for the younger guys if there were more little ones around.
Appreciate the words of wisdom sir, but I would not ever sacrifice my family for a dog game. If it wasn't for my careeer as a fire fighter and the available time that I have I wouldn't be playing dog games at all. And when the day comes that my boys are in baseball/footbal, T ball, or golf ball, I will be there and the dogs will be sitting in the field watching with me.
I would say the FT crowed is a good 10 to 15 years older then the HT / HRC crowed. It is definately 2 things: Time and Money. You just cannot be competitive unless you are dropping 10-15,000 per dog per year. Also trials run thursday and Friday and with the average vacation time of 2 or 3 weeks the 20-40 year olds just don't have the time to take off to run trials that often.
It is interesting that the HRC and AKC hunt test has grown so much. I think it is due to the face that it can pull in the 20-40 year old crowd. It seems like the new path is you run HT for a while and as you get the money and time you move FT.
Started running hunt tests junior year in college and trials a few years later. Actually had plenty of time to train then.
30 years old now with a 2.5 year old daughter and 5 month old son. Hoping they will enjoy being around the sport and the dogs but for now children are the priority.
By the way, for those who subscribe to Retrievers Online my daughters pic is in the new issue. Fun opening the issue yesterday and seeing her in there.
I agree with Chad Baker we need some young folks in the South to get involved in trials. Very few are, but it is understandable with families, economy, etc...
I am gonna be a "newbie" to the FT game this Spring. I finally got old enough to participate in them. I'm just 39 for the 30th time..........LOL. I have always been a big advocate of getting the young ones involved with the "game" my whole time in the HT only field. One of the cutest things I think I have ever seen was Cliff & Helen Romain's young daughter run a puppy stake with their MH Golden and was so in control of the dog. She must have been about 5 or 6 at the time. Being that I have been involved with both HRC and AKC HT's I seem to have seen more youngsters at HRC events than the AKC events. Just my observation. The younger parents play where they can afford and it again seems like the HT game is not as demanding on their time and resources as the FT game. Back before I had my heart surgery I ran 6 to 8 dogs per HT. Now I will have to pick and choose where to be able to run just 1. I think that one of the reasons that HRC has more youngsters involved is their YRP program where a child can be given a pup by writing an essay and having a sponser. I have donated 4 pups to that program and they were mostly titled out by the kids.
My peer group (40 something), and there aren't many of us, talk about the future of the sport all the time. It still makes me happy to be referred to as "young man".
No see-um blinds requiring the handler to "sprint" to a vantage point, priceless! Hearing aids and very LOUD whistles. The "old" crowd, for the most part, are all wonderful people and it's sad to see them passing away. Pete Simonds, Jay Sweezey, Bob Larsen, Whitney Ralph, et al.
I think the sport will be fine, I also think that most are spot on about the life stages the age groups that run trials are in.
I ran trials in my twenties, great job and no kids...3 kids later in my late thirties I am training a dog with my oldest, he is 9, who is signed up with the AKC junior handler program. We'll be hitting some hunt tests this year with our dog. You better believe that later down the road when their teenage years are just memories, we'll be doing trials again.
I'm 47 have kids 20,16,12 and very little time for FT's right now. Have a nice dog I'd like to run more often but just don't have the time to do it. With current economic situation decided paying a pro 10 months a year and being able to participate very little was not the thing for me to do. When I could be an active amateur I enjoyed it. But sitting at home waiting on one call at the end of the weekend was quickly losing it's appeal. And it is just not a priority for me right now. In years past I would take my young son and middle daughter to trials and try hard to keep them entertained and having fun. Pretty tough to do. Also when they are in school can't take them out of school on a Friday so I can run a trial. And truthfully I just don't care to leave them behind either. I decided a little over a year ago to wait until my kids get a few years older and then get back into it. I still keep up to date on what all is going on but have chosen not to devote the time to it right now. I am looking forward to getting back. Will likely always keep a lab or two and will start a pup out before to long since my old dog has slowed way down. Just won't hit the trial circuit for another few years. At that time I'll be near the average age as I see it here in the Southern circuit. I think many folks with children just get committed to other things on the weekends and it makes field trialing tough. We do baseball, football, softball, turkey hunting in spring, deer and duck hunting in fall and winter. It was easier when the kids weren't so busy on the weekends. Right now this is the way I want it. But, we'll be back.
Gene
Even if I'm not in FT (I run HT in Quebec Province), I observed that the average here is around end of 40's, may be 50. Many retired or wealthy people. I'm 38, one 5 m.o. girl and a baby to come next summer. Between the litters, courses I give and writings (magazine and book), I have some time to train and run HTs but not that much. This will slightly change the day kids go to school so I'll have a little more spare time for training during the day.
What I like to see is younger people getting into HTs in the past couple of years (quite a bunch of guys in the 20s) !
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