Be careful what you wish for . . . creating OH for an OPEN?
1) Honestly now ~ AS A GENERAL RULE, Amateur trained dogs, run by Amateurs are not as high caliber as a Pro trained dog. So, an amateur gets a win at an OH Open ~ sure he/she would feel GREAT, but what's the downside? An eventual FC that doesn't fully measure up to national caliber competition. Then you throw in the ultimate "breeding frenzy" that happens with a new FC and you begin to dilute the quality of pups for the next generation of field trials.
2) Adequate field help @ field trials. Most of the clubs here in the midwest circuit have a very difficult time finding enough help to run their trials run with smooth mechanics. As a judge I can say ~ it makes time management easy when you have good help, so your tests can go off without too many interuptions, etc. The folks I know around here are tired and ready for some good R+R after 2 trials in a year ~ and you all want to add a 3rd? What, have you all lost your collective minds?
3) If you really want to limit your numbers - do what RMRC did this fall and throw a Restricted Open . . . it made judging very easy ~ Ted, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe our actual competing number was 57 dogs.
4) The OPEN and the AMATEUR stakes are not the place to attract "new blood" or "hook someone" into the game. This has generally been reserved for the Derby ~ which is why it starts on a Saturday (generally) and most often gives the young competitor a chance to play for at least 3-4 series . . . green ribbons are encouraged in the Derby so folks who are just beginning, want to come back for more.
So be careful what you wish for . . . it just might bite you in the end.
1) Honestly now ~ AS A GENERAL RULE, Amateur trained dogs, run by Amateurs are not as high caliber as a Pro trained dog. So, an amateur gets a win at an OH Open ~ sure he/she would feel GREAT, but what's the downside? An eventual FC that doesn't fully measure up to national caliber competition. Then you throw in the ultimate "breeding frenzy" that happens with a new FC and you begin to dilute the quality of pups for the next generation of field trials.
2) Adequate field help @ field trials. Most of the clubs here in the midwest circuit have a very difficult time finding enough help to run their trials run with smooth mechanics. As a judge I can say ~ it makes time management easy when you have good help, so your tests can go off without too many interuptions, etc. The folks I know around here are tired and ready for some good R+R after 2 trials in a year ~ and you all want to add a 3rd? What, have you all lost your collective minds?
3) If you really want to limit your numbers - do what RMRC did this fall and throw a Restricted Open . . . it made judging very easy ~ Ted, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe our actual competing number was 57 dogs.
4) The OPEN and the AMATEUR stakes are not the place to attract "new blood" or "hook someone" into the game. This has generally been reserved for the Derby ~ which is why it starts on a Saturday (generally) and most often gives the young competitor a chance to play for at least 3-4 series . . . green ribbons are encouraged in the Derby so folks who are just beginning, want to come back for more.
So be careful what you wish for . . . it just might bite you in the end.
