delraindex

I was given my first Aussie by a neighbor who also raised Quarter Horses for a graduation present in 1971. In the early days, our Australian Shepherds were registered with the National Stock Dog registry by our last name "Wilson.". While growing up and showing Quarter horses in a nine state area, the little blue dogs were very popular. It was back in 1974 when I hauled a big gelding, Buddy Bar Bailey, for a National title in Amateur Hunt Seat that I got to see so many Aussies at the horse shows. They were a great traveling companion and good watch dog. (Helped excercise and load horses, and kept an eye on the tack and the motor home.)

B/R Quarter Horses is no more. My stallion, Boston Supreme a 1975 colt, died August 28, 2003. We enjoyed many years and a lot of great experiences showing and breeding him and even stood him at Quarter Horse Congress on "Millon Dollar Stallion Avenue" a few times. His off spring have gone on to make their owners proud and he is even listed as a leading earner as a maternal grandsire!

I enjoy hearing from all of you who email to tell me of your horse experiences along with how you were introduced to your first Aussie. Darla was actually my first Aussie that I showed in performance, then Baron. My Aussies have always been family companions first and then a "show dog" if they enjoyed it. I have raised Whippets and Great Danes and that's how I was introduced to showing conformation at AKC shows. We would show horses all summer and dogs in the winter. It wasn't until Baron came along and I made a comment to my herding instructor that I was going to neuter him (he was 6 months old or so at the time) and she said to take him along to a show and put him in. Well, that's pretty much how this all got started. Judi Bigham, my herding instructor, and I laugh over that now! Baron's mother goes back to Judi's Hado Bar Jill.

Plans are in the making to turn the farm into a herding center. Ducks, sheep and even cattle will be available. My family has recently purchased a small herd of Dexter cattle and I can't wait to get the dogs on them. We had a few Holstein heffers here a few years ago and that was fun. I have raised Indian Runner ducks and have St Croix and Barbados Blackbelly sheep for the dogs to work.